Is "Chess",An obsession,puzzle,passtime or profession?

It is true. But they are trying to force us to race against automobiles in a marathon or a sprint race. Centaurs (computer+human) are auto drivers and we are runners equipped with socks,t-shirts and shoes. We just want to race with runners only. They have the power (money+technology) and all sponsors are forcing us to become a centaur of some kind. This is sick!

@silver_light, it is not about winning. It is about a race between athletes and racing cars. There is no meaning. Most ironic part of it starts with a force to humans to become a part of this race. In order to feed a family, an athlete must accept the condition forced by the authorities. So, I'm talking about current correspondence chess conditions and allowance of computer engines to the competitions. You have to become a centaur if you want to be a part of that competition. What is this? Chess? I don't think so.

silver_light, I totally agree with you about the current OTB and CC GM's highly siliconized. But the problem, I was trying to reveal is different. I'm not against using computers as a storage of the games or moving pieces without a real chess board, it really helps a lot and give us winning extra time for study. My problem is the playground. Do you agree with me about the centaurs and their power to change us? They all force us to become centaurs. Is that a right thing?

Try to enter an offical correspondence chess tournament and see yourself what are your options. Nothing! You have to become another centaur to compete other centaurs. This is not right.

If you entered an Official CC Chess tourny I doubt you'd get over 1900 with all the computer help you can get - what does that tell you?

It simply means centaurs dominated to CC world with their super-computers and/or cloud powered chess engines. It also means there is no room for real human players. Why are we forced to play against centaurs? Do you have a logical response?

There is still auto racing, horse racing and human racing in the world with separated competitions.

I'm not against centaur championships. I just wanted to have an option for human only cc competitions.

If the best CC player/s had a rating of 3500+ and it was easy to get a ICCF title just by switching on a computer everyone would have a massive rating and title to boot.

You could argue using an opening book/database or looking at similar master games is also unfair in CC chess - the problem is how do you police it?

By allowing everything under the sun to aid you (at the ICCF for example) it shows that to be good computers still don't help that much - you have to have some talent and real understanding of the game.

I think you've obviously lost some games to a few centuars at some point and are very bitter that you lost to a man/machine. I understand and admire your desire to play ONLY against a human - but its just unfeasable in this day and age.

No I'm not against it. It is a soul of the correspondence chess. I'm against super-computers and/or cloud-computing supported computers' invasion to human CC world. Let them compete each other: Centaurs Vs Centaurs.

I understand your analysis about the impossibility of the detection of engine usage in rated cc games in this age. But there is something out of the box can help the humanity. Is there any hope here?

I believe the truth is the bat was $1.05, and a nickel for the ball.  I didn't need a computer to figure that out.  

Some would rather use a computer.  I don't understand the reason when it comes to chess.  Consider that when you play against someone using extra support, even if you lose you're often the one learning more than your opponent.

For me chess is a passtime; usually a friendly recreational activity.

As a participant, a game.

As an observer, a sport.

Chess is a way to meet people and start new arguements

Thats wrong too.

The ball is $.01 and the bat is $1.01

Everyone forgets about the 8% sales tax.

What I enjoy my self is the challenge that arises with each new game,with each move,the thrill sometimes when I make an excellent move that as out-witted the opposing player and sometimes the frustrations as well when I make a bad move,climbing up the ratings knowing my game must be improving and then losing a string of games and watching the points tumble again. I only started playing at Xmas the first time for 20 plus years since my school days and I wonder to my self why because chess is such a great game/sport/pastime or whatever people want to call it and i for one will never desert the board again now I've re-found the magic of it and after 3 months is turning into the greatest most enjoyable hobby i could imagine. Thanks to everyone on chess.com and all the great people i play the games with and groups I've joined with all the great people in them,i enjoy it all so much,thank-you.

well it keeps the mind active, bobby fischer had a very healthy mind. He had an awesome memory, just look at Romand Dzindzihashvillis video about Bobby Fischer. Fischer knew his game better then he himself and he wasnt the only won that was impressed by Fischers memory. Ofc he is right with what he said about chessplayers, Spassky said he was a friend and then Spasski said: oh i only plaid a bad move so Fischer doesnt leave. I mean come on, who has some of the friends like Bobby FIscher doesnt need enemies.

Not at all. Fischer was neither senile nor had Alzheimer's. 

he didnt lose his mind.