Your argument is based on this premise, ..."This seems to show that the negative emotion of anger is far more common in chess than people want to admit..."
I am, however, quite sure that many of those just lose interest in a game that they are losing.
I agree with you that it's not a good way to play chess and those people should either play the game fully or resign.
Just saying....
Seriously people?
There is no concrete rule to how to have fun. Basic Psychology tells of many different forms of people and personalities. In chess it is: Play weaker/stronger/harder/faster/slower/in person/online/over a long time/only as white/only as black/give them a show/play for the gold//having fun is decided by the person.
The point I am attempting to make is it does not matter what style you play, who you play, when or where, but whether you have the desire and ability to improve regardless of whom you face off against. Facing a weak player can help you improve - strong player - equal player - it does not matter. If you pay attention and if you enjoy yourself enough to take the game, win or lose, as a learning experience, then you will improve. Stick to your (cliche) guns and play for fun. Do this and your rating will ever so slowly improve.
Chess is a game of patience. This patience must extend beyong the board. Human beings are competitive by nature and emotions are constantly at play. So play for you, don't play for image; improve through patience and you will leave that anger behind.
And you can lose to a stronger player playing far below your own playing level. What's your point? The only thing that determines if you play to the best of your ability is you, the opponent is irrelevant.
It can be just as challenging trying to play a perfect game against a weaker player, and you will blunder just as much, the only difference is the blunders will be ones of offense and missed opportunities. Though since you can also learn from your opponents mistakes any chess lesson is one in both offense and defense.
By the way, the "you get better by playing people stronger than you" myth has been thoroughly debunked. People get better at an intellectual skill by having fun with it and being motivated to learn, and it's easier to have fun when you play against people equal to or less than you, not play againsts stronger people and get discouraged.
Where and how did this get debunked?
By the way, the "you get better by playing people stronger than you" myth has been thoroughly debunked. People get better at an intellectual skill by having fun with it and being motivated to learn, and it's easier to have fun when you play against people equal to or less than you, not play againsts stronger people and get discouraged.
Where and how did this get debunked?
Lemme debunk that quoted statement Ubik.
Pretty simple actually - Its called, "Having Fun While Playing Someone Stronger than Yourself." Not only that, but basic psychology points out that the very competitivness that most people appreciate becomes a staple in learning. IF you want to learn, then it doesn't matter who you face so long as you take the proper steps to walk away better for it.
This thread is truly much ado about nothing.
Buy hey, it's the InterWeb. Knock yourselves out.
By the way, the "you get better by playing people stronger than you" myth has been thoroughly debunked. People get better at an intellectual skill by having fun with it and being motivated to learn, and it's easier to have fun when you play against people equal to or less than you, not play againsts stronger people and get discouraged.
Where and how did this get debunked?
Lemme debunk that quoted statement Ubik.
Pretty simple actually - Its called, "Having Fun While Playing Someone Stronger than Yourself." Not only that, but basic psychology points out that the very competitivness that most people appreciate becomes a staple in learning. IF you want to learn, then it doesn't matter who you face so long as you take the proper steps to walk away better for it.
I was hoping for a double blind study or something. I dont see anything debunked, one way or the other.
Playing against better players does not help one improves. Unless you analyze the games you lost and discover the mistakes. Without discovering the mistakes, the same mistakes will be repeated again and again.
Seems to be working for me.
Playing against people who punish your mistakes is bound to improve your chess. Playing against people who don't punish your mistakes (weaker players) will not make you better as a player. Often times you can beat a weaker player even if you play far below your own playing level.