How life intimidates chess

This is gonna be more of a share your experiences thread. 

As many of you may assume I'm unemployed. And I'm using my real name as my username. 

In the real world it's intimidating to play chess because it's considered a lame sport, or a nerd's sport. I'm wondering if me using my real name is actually decreasing my chances with future employers. As you all know, employers nowadays check social media sites to scout future employees, and I'll fear they will check this site as a part of the application process. Now 2 things can happen. 

1. The employer doesn't play chess, and doesn't hire me because I play chess 

2. (Rare case) The employer plays chess, sees how low my rating is, and doesn't hire me because I'm bad at chess. 

So it just seems to me that I can't win in the real world by playing chess. Please share your stories on if playing chess has hindered your other life goals. 

Thanks everyone

I understand of course there is intellectual benefits to chess, I only mean how it's hindered you socially. Just a clarification. 

An ever worse possible scenario is you beat the crap out of the employer over the board.

I created this account to play chess, and then discovered the forums, and got addicted to them.

So chess has made me waste a lot of time improductively, time I could have used to become a less isolated nerd.

Pulpofeira, 

I appreciate the input but I used the 2 things I mentioned because they are the most realistic, and likely outcomes. kingofshedinjas, the forums are addictive, I've learned a lot about chess on here. I've also learned about classical music (not on purpose). It's a great community filled with people who are willing to help. I just hope that one day my bravery in exposing my name, will allow them to do the same. I dream that one day chess players won't have to hide out of the fear of being ostracized by society. 

Maybe in England, but in a "cool" country like Canada I wouldn't encourage it. 

Maybe I should move to England

I asked my family to play a few casual games of chess after thanksgiving dinner, I am no longer invited back. 

Look I wouldn't encourage chess to anyone, and I'm not pushing it on anyone. It would just be nice where I could live in world were I'm not judged, or seen as "second tier" just because I like to play chess. 

Best you keep your identity hidden in the case you are a complete jerk on the internet. 

One of my previous life goals was not to waste time playing chess. Playing chess has severely hindered my achievement of that goal.

I have no idea whether this s a joke or if its serious.  

The only joke is the sort of play on words I used in the title. You see Kasparov has a book called "How life imitates chess"

If your potential employer thinks chess players are smart, he probably won't hire you. Most people won't hire someone they think is smarter than they are.

Hi Alex thanks for the question. I don't think it's far to compare chess.com to North Korea. It's not really their way or the highway. In North Korea its Kim Jong Un's way or the highway. Here in the forums I find a lot of differing view points, so there's many ways. 

You mean "How people are sometimes intimidated by smart people who play chess."

Yeah, I guess it could happen.  Nobody hires me, ever...  I don't even get asked for an interview.  Of course I wouldn't consider a lot of what I write here on these forums to be good reads, however, I am good enough to be considered decent by some at chess.  One of my biggest problems is I am a bad speller and bad with grammar.  I have my grammar books out, though, I havn't used them for over 15 years.  These forums are hard to comb though, as time goes on, the threads you write can me harder and harder to find.  I mean it would probably take someone a very long time to find out the personal information I wrote about myself on these forums.  I guess they could use datamining, however, one would have to create a special case project just to researsh this stuff about me.  They would have to hire a programmer to write the program, and a data miner to use it.  Sounds to me a pretty expensive task for people who lay off people to save on wages they would have had to pay someone.  If you ask me, I think you may be reading into this a little bit.  Calm down, perhaps it's another reason why you arn't being hired?!!

Thanks for the response, the title is a play on words. There is a book by Kasparov called "How life imitates chess", I was just trying to be clever. 

I'm aware of the book

what I doubt is that there is any social consequence for people playing chess, outside of middle school- where in many places it is uncool.

I suppose you could say the time is productively spent elsewhere.  but what of the forums!?  chess is hugely useful compared to spending time here.

on the whole the forums aren't instructive.  and if people have questions they can inevitable learn things better seeking other sources of information.

Don't ever doubt the importance of this forum. Maybe you don't learn all the things you want to, but I have learned plenty. Also, you discount the most important thing: human connection. 

Ha

I doubt the importance of the forum.  but... your still tickled with it.

I've been here too long.

I've seen every conceivable topic- twice!

and a few rerun topics many dozens of times.