Are Chess Players Outsiders?

Do you believe the fact you like chess already makes you different from society's usual tastes?

Let me explain better.

Some friends of mine and other people I know, who really like chess, didn´t fit in normal/traditional jobs, even being qualified for it. Some went to poker, others for another unusual thing. 

Is there a specific reason for it? 

Well, I say this because I saw this phenom over and over again. 

Chess players who are very capable and competent people not getting into promising careers, actually, trying to be away from it. The effort they put into chess could make them capable to do a lot of other things.

There are exceptions, of course. 

Most of the people play chess for fun. Some people use chess as a mind game to nourish their logics. Only a few prefer competitive chess. For me, I play chess just for fun.

Yes!, When we are relaxed and play chess in a relaxed manner, we don't feel like under powered. And when we don't feel like under powered, we can achieve our goal sooner or later. Even if we couldn't achieve our goal, still we will be happy and content. 

Absolutely and I love being different 

Such is the hardship of being a somewhat stereotypical nerd, sorry buddy. We live in a society. (I know from experience.)

Although at my current school, my friends look up to me, and my math teacher has nicknamed me, Chess Boy, (he's like a GM or smth himself) so being different has its ups and downs.

well chess makes me more a strategy person than my friends, but i think we have the same powerful imagination so yea

As for a specific reason ... really simple. It has been long known that chess players have an analytical mind and problem solving skills and some people are afraid of that. Intelligence isn't a thing to be scared of it is to be embraced and nurtured. 

I see the same way, Otto, most of my chess friends look like they don't fit in any "normal" category in society. ( me included)

Layman often see people with high intelligence as part of the “elite”. That can put a lot of people off. 

Agreed. It is the biggest reason I was unemployed for so long cuz I attended interviews and cuz I knew my way around the interview it scared them :/ 

Yes, they see the futility of working for somebody else at an unfulfilling job, so they play chess, death comes soon so may as well do what you like.

Outsiders?

I spent 20 years making children's cartoons for TV. My next job after that was working as a Mentor at the Canadian Army's Combined Arms Tactics School.

You make the call.

But, you still play chess!

Your opinion sustained!

It's off topic, but with your rating your NM title looks pathetic really, you should have minimum FM title by now , by the way in Russia NM or CM considered not even a title.

You have a nice teacher =). "Chess Boys" is kind of funny. At least you´re not alone. 

But you and your friends have similar goals in life for the future? 

This is a point too. Looks like people, in general, don´t like to think, just to reproduce. Chess, as a brain exercise, certainly helps you in this aspect.