Chess attitudes from around the world

When I was in high school in the US during the late '80s, kids in the chess club were the nerdiest, geekiest kids in school.  No "cool" kid would ever get near the chess club.  I think this attitude has softened a little bit (just a little though) as people grow up.  I don't think my co-workers will beat me up for my lunch money if they find out I play chess, but I think the nerdy image is still there for chess players.

My question is, do other parts of the world have this same image of chess players?  Are high school chess players in Russia just as popular as the star athletes?  In India, are chess playing kids beat up for being nerds?  Is a Nigerian child who wants to learn chess looked up to for wanting to improve mentally?

Definitely geeks in Britain. As an adult I couldn't care less about that, but I didn't play at school.

I didn't play in school either and now I really wished I did.  It sounds like the earlier people start the better they do, something about young minds.  It is unfortunate there is a stigma with playing chess.

I was hoping other parts of the world didn't have the stigma and maybe over time the "un-educated" parts would catch up.

Chess clubs are rare in state schools in the UK, probably for this reason. Definitely considered geeky. My school had one, but mainly because a bunch of my friends and I wanted something to do on a lunchtime.

What always amused me, though, was that some of the rougher kids that were in detention in the same room were up for a game to relieve their boredom. Of course, they were careful not to show to their peers that they were enjoying it or anything.

I think different parts of the world have a different philosophy though. In Armenia/Azerbaijan, top chess players are celebrities, I've heard. And hasn't the Philippines put chess on the national curriculum?

Isn't chess part of the Russian school curriculum too? Just asking.

Maybe Wowbagger will answer my question.

I thought I read somewhere the Russia did have chess in the school curriculum, so I wondered how that might change attitudes.

Waller, that is a great story about the rougher kids sneaking in some chess games.  It is a great game, I just can't understand the negative attitudes.

I might have to start a world wide crusade to change the way people perceive chess!  Now, where to start, hmmm.  Ok, I am overwhelmed, I give up.

I'll help!

Ok, ok, we have a team now, that should help with the mission to change the world.  Let's see, step 1...  Now I am overwhelmed again.

Step one: Let me help!

Step two: TV ads for chessplayers depicting chess players as the new cool and elite of the world, using the same propaganda techniques as in any advertisement. Now, how do we write the ads?

Step three:

Teach Zuckerberg how to play chess and advertise "Beat Zuckerberg".

Step four:

??

Step four: play human chess.

And what do the captured pieces do while they wait?

THE CAPTURED PIECES DIE!!! MUHUHAHAHAHAHA

Very funny.

With human chess, when one piece captures a nother, the capturing human piece should punch the captured human piece.

In South Africa, kids who play chess are respected and regarded as smart.

そうだな？

That is encouraging to hear.  All hope is not lost for my crusade.

Really? No wonder Russia has been the dominating chess power for such a long time. 

And why are you "international" instead of Russia?

In the USA chess is being introduced as part of the curiculum in many grade schools= in every class group you have all styles