Chess 'fever'.

I was talking with a friend from Canada and we agreed that chess is highly addictive.  The great American Morphy himself referred to as a kind of fever, 'chess fever'.  Who of us has not spent a considerable time contemplating some position possibly for hours even days in the case of correspondence chess or engaged in a blitz marathon (I once had my wife bring me breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper to a blitz marathon and man it was awesome) and yet despite beating after beating after beating we come back for more!

As an artist I can appreciate the aesthetics of chess, it is the beautiful game.  Even as a modest chess player one can appreciate beauty of an imaginative combination by way of example.  But I also like Titian and Carravagio and yet I am not addicted to looking at their paintings, well not much.

I thought it might be the confrontation that people enjoy, but even the World champion stated that he likes to avoid confrontation by nature, so I dunno.

Anyone hazard a guess as to why chess is addictive?

Not speaking for everyone but for me it's the personal challenge, sociable, sometimes cheeky, sometimes mean, but always a learning experience which is why I find it so addictive. Happy Easter to you and your family Robbie 

Thanks Miss Carter but as i skulk about my home there is not a chocolate egg to be found, hopefully if i visit my mom she has bought me one, either that or ill need to visit my sister, her kids usually have 'a wall', of chocolate eggs literally!  So for you its the personal challenge, yes i can see why that might be addictive.

Have you tried some Tylenol for your fever? 

By definition, what you have described does not qualify as addiction. Addiction generally includes the requirement that it has a negative effect on your life or well being.

It's funny, because I think of all the hobbies out there, chess is the only one people say these things about. I've never heard anyone talk about being addicted to playing guitar or growing dafadils.

Here is a song that will help you understand addiction a little better:

I reject your assertion on the basis that chess may indeed have a negative effect.  Here is a video to help you be more flexible in your approach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYxe6-KWX-M

Sure, it can. But is it having a negative effect in your life? This is what addiction is.

It is obvious that this site has many who have an unhealthy addiction to chess. But that is much different than a healthy, productive interest. Which is what you were describing in your OP.

Kaynight...it's Easter...play nice for once!! ;-D

I could explain the artistic process to you but you would struggle to understand for art has many levels and the higher echelons are reserved for those initiated into its mysteries. Its not for the East Lothian peasantry to concern themselves with such things, you have bread and circuses!

Whether an addiction may be deemed healthy or unhealthy remains to be seen. Surely if it produces meritorious or desirable outcome for the adherent then it may be considered healthy. If on the other hand it produces negative and undesirable traits then it may be considered unhealthy? Let us not be dogmatic but flexible, not assuming anything, merely reasoning.

Robbie..........Why did you block this little chap? MuhammadAreez10

I've never known him to be nasty or anything.

Be kind, unwind, it's good Friday. 

A valiant attempt to reach him my dear friend. I have tried everything from semi clad ladies in cabbage bikinis to philisophical arguments.  He remains wired! and yet even water if it drips with constancy may make a hole even in a large rock.

Funny you would block azree but not K.

Free azree!

Free azree!

Why? Two reasons, he stated that he was going to block me and that he would not miss me! whether he did or not i cannot say but he threatened it. So justice cried out that what he was measuring out to me should be measured out in kind. Secondly because he is a pedant and was always correcting my Urdu and trifling over proper names for Pakistani cities.  If he was my little brother I would definitely tie him up and ping him on the ears with elastic bands!

If you want him unblocked say the word and it shall be as you wish.

Let's not crucify anyone today hey?! Anyone would think it's Easter....

What kind of an artist are you, by the way?

K is not a pedant although he can be quite annoying. He just pushes the button, launches his cyber rockets over cyber space, waits for them to hit and then waits for your cyber rockets to hit him back, seemple!  I really dont mind people telling my I am this or that or that I suck or I am a dumba$$ etc etc for i realise that their posts are more a rfelection of them than the people they seek to vilify. Azree threatened or may have banned me, surely the arc of the universe tends towards justice and he should be treated in kind?

I paint and draw, charcoals, pencils, pastels, acrylics.  Here is a design i recently have done for lichess.org for a t-shirt.  Why do you ask? know anything about Art?

MuhammadAreez10 is now free! Hes been busted from jail. His friends may rejoice.

Nay, of course I know nothing about art.

You are a chess player that makes you an artist!