Why do people return to Chess

I keep coming back after a few years of a break, and everytime I ask myself the same question (after around a couple weeks of playing), Why in the heck did I come back to playing.  I couldn't remember my last account so I started a new one, it's bad when your BAC x 100 is higher than your rating.  I guess I will just hang it up again. 

I always enjoy the games and watching much more talented people than I, but the frustration and irritation just isn't worth it.  Next time I think about coming back, just need to hit myself with a hammer in the hand.

I will say its a great community on here!!  Good luck to all.

Chess is a funny game.  If we learned as children, but never really studied the game, we can sometimes think that it's a game that doesn't require study to be enjoyable.  Not really.  There is a minimum level of skill necessary for an adult to enjoy playing the game.  Otherwise it just gets frustrating and the only thing you perfect are your errors.  

Now studying chess as an adult doesn't mean you'll ever get really good of course; at least not in a titled way.  But you don't have to get that level of good; you just need to get beyond pathetic.  Of course it's not easy; it takes time and commitment.  Yes, the task may seem daunting, but it's doable.  Mediocre is fine in chess, but even mediocre takes work.  Try a diamond membership.  Do the Lessons; they're really well done.  Bang out a few dozen tactics puzzles each day.  You'll get better, and as you get better, you'll start to enjoy playing.  My $.02.

I think thats one of the biggest issues, it's really easy to get a defeatist mentality when playing so many games.  I do enjoy playing, but chess does really make you feel like an idiot the majority of the time (at least for me).  I guess it's like everything else, individual perception.  I have been playing off and on since I was around 7 and am now in mid 30's.  

It's just funny how you can have a very high intellect for problem solving but yet chess makes you feel like your intellect should be on the level of wearing a helmet and licking walls.

Being bright doesn't help with chess unless you figure out very early on that only hard work, and a lot of it, can get you anywhere.  Like you, I started chess early and found it an easy game to understand on a superficial level.  It took me 50 years to get beyond that point, really until I discovered chess.com and the possibility of getting better through every day exposure to chess concepts.  The old Chess Mentor (today's Lessons) was an absolute Godsend to me.  Over the years I'd tried various books and picked up a smattering of knowledge, but nothing to really tie it all together.  Of course I'm way too old now to ever get "good", but I think I may finally be approaching genuine mediocrity.  No reason you can't do the same or better.

I guess one of the biggest misconception or expectation is that I could come back and beat mediocre players and that know where the case.  Maybe that was biggest issue, expectations.