Einstein called chess a waste of time, what do you think?

Albert Einstein is credited with describing gambling as a waste of time. But it seems that he did not call gambling a total waste of time, but an activity he engaged in when he needed a break from his work.

Given his other eccentricities, this statement could be seen as a reflection on his use of time and not as a comment on other people playing the game

It would be easy for him to say that it's a waste of time when he inevitably lost. He is credited with being a poor player. Even so, Lasker, Einsein's friend, was an amateur player who devoted his energies to many things. Einstein knew that, so saying that chess is a wate of time would be both insulting to his friend and inaccurate. It may be that Lasker challenged him to study more and improve and he retorted that would be a waste of time, which would be reasonable.

As some are aware, I dislike Einstein and therefore am not supporing him due to any kind of hero-worship.

As. Professor Hans. Gniesunt -Bumsadazy concurred. With the error. Re. The Theory. Of. Relativity perhaps. AE should have. Stuck. To chess

In this context, "weak" doesn't mean "weak compared with the average person". It means "weak compared with the norm for someone considered a mathematical genius".  It's thought by many that Mileva Maric was the better mathematician of the two. She was his wife.

Ah, Professor Hans. Gniesunt -Bumsadazy. I wouldn't worry about him ... he didn't play chess.

When you brought this up before, people said this was also debunked.

Einstein was an 1800-ish player.  Perfectly adequate for a dabbler, I would say.

There's really no arguing that chess isn't a waste of time...I mean, that's what leisure activities are, "wastes of time".  So are family events, friendships, falling in love, etc.  All the best things in life are "wastes of time" .

I wonder if you know what "debunked" means?

I don't think you do. It isn't quite "refuted". It means having the bunk removed. Or the fake news removed? Since there's strong evidence that she was the stronger mathematician, it isn't fake news. Just someone's opinion.

Maybe even your opinion? So do check your facts.

Turns out opinions change over the course of 50 years.

Also, in their separation agreement, why did he promise to give her the entire Nobel Prize money, provided that she never ever spoke about their early work together? There were other conditions, too.

It seems there would be no reason to gag her, if she had no input.

A meaningless comment.

- "Einstein called chess a waste of time, what do you think?"

It seems to me that... in the long run... everything is just a way to fill in time.

And if you watch the right documentary, you'll come out believing the Kurt Cobain didn't kill himself.

As far as conspiracy theories, if it's something I don't care about, then I'm fine with believing what most people believe because it's an easy way to filter out nonsense. It's a fun idea that Einstein's wife was the real genius, but real life is usually not nearly so entertaining.

I actually read a piece once by somebody who was saying the women from The Imitation Game (played by Kiera Knightley) was the real brains behind Turing's Enigma breaker.  I had to let them know that Hollywood spruced up that character to represent the impact of a number of women that contributed...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Clarke

You will note the lack of mathematical chops in the article above, and the calls for citation.

It's amazing what people will accept as fact without any evidence.

Please note that this is no way means I don't think a woman could have done this ...but in this case, not.

Hiding from possibilities by turning them into extreme examples of themselves and then rejecting them because the reality you invented is a bit extreme does not, to me, sound like a balanced reaction. Sounds like the wrong person is the conspirator here!

Anyway, please do calm down and stop being so judgemental.

Ok, well, you'd think it would have been something I'd heard before, yes? How great Einstein's wife was, but I haven't. The only person I've heard that from is you, and if I changed my mind every time a single person said something I wouldn't have much of a mind.

IIRC the first time you mentioned it, I googled, and found some 50 year old book. Ok, well, it's been 50 years and apparently it didn't gain any traction. So I'm not interested.

Our old friend (Christine's and mine) who sculpted Turing's statue in Manchester took his own life last month, probably because he had a nasty form of cancer. He was also an inventor. He is responsible for Squashed Philosophers too.

I've watched at least two films on Turing and read a book. One of the films portrays the female mentioned as having had a very good idea, which put them on track and, possibly, saved the project from being shut down by impatient, government officials.  She is protrayed as having a strong intellect ... maybe as being brilliant; but in no way the leading person, who designed and built the first electronic computer, a few miles from where I am now. That was Turing himself.

Was it the "Heil H" idea? Can't remember. A constant phrase that would always be present.

Why should you have heard?
OK you aren't interested: another, fascinating fact. Keep them coming.

Talk about killing a conversation.

Actually, I've heard of this "Einstein's Wife" business, too. Not sure of the veracity.