Are you shy about chess?

I've found that chess gets nearly every reaction possible... Sometimes people hear you're a tournament chess player and say "Wow, you're a chess player? That's so cool!" But many times people comment on how you're a nerd/dork or say it's stupid. Most common is a confused expression, not really knowing how to continue. For a long time I didn't mention chess to people for fear of getting insulted. But recently I decided if people are going to be jealous because I'm intelligent enough to be a competitive chess player then I don't care if they're friendly or not. I'd like to know other people's opinion on the subject: Are you shy about being a chess player?

I meant something more like if you're having a conversation with someone and you're talking about what you like to do.

I'm not shy about anything I like, who doesn't like it are allowed to look away. But I understand your point, some non-chess players have an ambiguous opinion about the game. Despite the fact they are not interested, they have the idea is a special game and you could have a feeling of superiority, with the result of being hostile to it. Besides, some occasional players seem to be putting their self esteem on it, they say things like "I haven't played for ages" or "sure you will win", just to heal health. But it's a game, no more, nor less.

Actually I don't talk about chess to others because I'm a very weak player. But if I manage to become a national master then I'll have no more problems.

No, joder... you can talk about whatever you like. What's the problem?

Excuse me while I go off topic for a minute and ask Pulpofeira, isn't joder an offensive word in Spanish?  Or am I getting it confused with something similar?

Not in this case.

Chester is a port.

Chess at it's highest level is an art, a science, an intellectual domain - not a mere sport.

chess is not a cool thing to do but i like it. society is going to judge you no matter what. instead of doing things just to fit in it's better to be yourself. i like people who are passionate about anything, thats cool to me. 

Yeah, because men really care about what a woman's hobbies are.

I'm more shy about being a serial killer, to be honest.

For me chess is an addiction that flares up at times and goes away for periods too.  I don't tell people I play chess, it doesn't exactly make the panties drop.

Yeah, nobody every says that crap when you tell them you are a guitar player or something 'cool' like that.

i find intelligence and passion to be sexy. i like skateboarding and smoking too but those are a given in what society deems as "cool". chess is something unusual for people to like and people who like chess are interesting. 

Once I'm long enough with a person I'm comfortable with, I might ask them: 'You play Chess?' or something inconspicuous like that. There's kind of a social stigma attached to the game, for whatever reason, and I don't ever mention it again if they negate the question.

Well, you certainly are in the minority... 

So it's like hemorrhoids?

All very intersting points. I've heard many opinions I expected to hear and some that came as a surprise. I'd be interested to hear some more points of view.

I have never been shy about letting people know I am a chess player and if they ever come into my home they know without me telling them .  I have had many comments , when I was younger , that I don't look like a chess player though .