Nigel Short: Women's brains not chess brains

Nigel isn't everyone's cup of tea, true, but at least he doesn't just bore the pants off people by only playing chess.

Have an autist in the family, and it's interesting that you can see some of the same traits in "normal" people. Some of the the autistic things seem to me to be normal traits that are just "blown up" in autists.

For instance, if he experiences a sudden change of plans, something that isnt particular inconvenient or bad in itself, but just unexpected and new, it really hits him hard, he can be in bed 1 day with headache because of some small thing. It's from stuff like he made a mistake and doublebooked himself to a family thing ad a doctor on the same day, so he has to call the doctor and reschedule.

Then again, normal people can also get a bit irritated "oh god why this had to happen" from such things, it just doesnt hit us hard so we dont notice it much. And we still can get irritated even though its just a 2 minute call to the doctor and it is solved.

Many things in superstition also reminds me of his things, like he has to put his things in the exact same order all the time, and most people also can develop these habits, and get irritated if someone moved a chair or out of its normal place or hung a jacket in a "new" place and such.

Interesting feedback.

"Hahaha! You don't fool me, there ain't no sanity clause!"

http://poochiecoochie.lucasstuff.com/images/doggiechess.jpg

I have been really tempted to take the low road with this...but I won't second guess Mrs. Short's taste in men.

SheridanJupp wrote:

Azukikuru wrote:

trysts wrote:

You have a bunch of people in a room. You let Nigel Short walk in. Your social intelligence score will be rated by how quickly you leave the room

Do you mean that it takes social intelligence to tolerate all kinds of people and opinions, even if they differ from your own? So the longer you can tolerate to stay, the more intelligent you are? I guess you're right... Throwing your hands up in despair and saying, "I don't get this guy, I'm outta here" is pretty much the same as saying, "I don't get math, I'm outta here" and walking out of the exam room.

No no. She's saying that the quicker you leave, the higher EQ you have. (Emotional Intelligence)

This. Right here.

Oh ok were not going with tolerance ok thats cool.

Elubas wrote:

Oh ok were not going with tolerance ok thats cool.

That was a JK. As long as you can entertain a thought without taking it home and marrying it, then ur ok.

But then again, I have very little emotional intelligence. I have much more intra personal intelligence.

Although...if you are being insulted by someone, does it show a great deal of Emotional Intelligence to listen as they go on, and on, and on? Because I'm sure I can pull out of the garage much better than Short. (Alright, that sounds vaguely blue.) I may also have a bigger set, but idk. I'll have to check the attic. :)

"Although...if you are being insulted by someone, does it show a great deal of Emotional Intelligence to listen as they go on, and on, and on?"

Well yeah I would say it's a virtue. This would be similar to reading a person's entire forum post (if it's long) before responding to it, even though you know you strongly disagree with it already.

No, he's not. But, he's good at chess, and rather brave, to be able to fully express controversial opinions regardless of how people will react to them. Short does that all the time in his column. This time it was with women, other times it's about religion, chess politics, just about anything.

Elubas wrote:

"Although...if you are being insulted by someone, does it show a great deal of Emotional Intelligence to listen as they go on, and on, and on?"

Well yeah I would say it's a virtue. This would be similar to reading a person's entire forum post (if it's long) before responding to it, even though you know you strongly disagree with it already.

Logical intelligence instead of emotional? I mean, if you are into that kind of thing. Is emotional intelligence the ability to read body language and intent? I don't think it's so much "being nice" and getting along with people. I think,that may be where people get it wrong. I mean I can read body language and intention quite well, but that doesn't necessarily mean I will use my powers to get along and be a people pleaser. Just saying. I think,when people say women have emotional,intelligence they use it to get along with each other...which...I'm not sure is the case. One can use one's powers for whatever purpose I'd say.

Elubas wrote:

bb_gum234 wrote:

Regardless of gender, Nigel doesn't seem to be a very likable person.

Hmm, that sounds like Short had a sex change... I didn't mean it like that.

No, he's not. But, he's good at chess, and rather brave, to be able to fully express controversial opinions regardless of how people will react to them. Short does that all the time in his column. This time it was with women, other times it's about religion, chess politics, just about anything.

Brave depends on how much you stand to lose. I don't think he personally stands to lose anything, so not that brave.

Well yeah to be honest I'm not really into putting everything into categories. Logic and emotion can overlap. But the example I gave, with listening to the other side before responding, even though you don't, psychologically, always want to, that's a virtue and you do make things better in the long run if you can do that.

I would say women tend to do at least focus on body language more. And they are more open to people expressing emotions/weakness. That can be helpful, because men might feel pressure to hold things back and make it harder for them to face a problem -- but if women are letting men express their emotions, then it makes it easier for them. On the other hand letting emotions out too much can be distracting and make it harder to look at things rationally. So lots of pluses and minuses.

That's another thing. Being the best at something only has as much cache as people value that skill. Wasn't it Varys who said in one of the Song of Ice and Fire books that power is only resides where men think it resides? It was a very good explanation, but I can't seem to find the exact quote right now.

I don't know, that's a little cheap, don't you think? Hell, I think it's hard to make objections even when you're in the majority -- even minority backlash isn't so easy to deal with. So to just dismiss this with one rationalization "oh well he likes it so whatever," is kind of unfair, I think.

To like it in itself takes courage. Because you have to view negative attention positively somehow. You still have to have a mindset that can avoid being scared of it. He has bad characteristics too, but I do admire his courage in that way anyway. There are probably many people who think what Nigel thinks (to some extent) but would be too afraid to express it so blatantly in public.

"And while there's virtue in saying what's on your mind, there's also virtue in holding your tongue."

Yeah but that wouldn't apply to expressing opinions that are underrepresented. Holding your tongue is just going to limit the amount of opinions the public is exposed to. I think one ought to express their opinion respectfully, and Nigel is not the best in that regard, but perhaps not the worst, either.

I think that, no matter how that article was written, it would get backlash just based on the conclusion. It might get less if it was written differently, but it would get backlash.

I'm not sure if that's true about the body language. I know men who are masters of it...if for no other reason than getting dates. haha Anyway, I don't think emotional,intelligence equates with being more emotional, which I think a lot of men mistake it for. Emotional intelligence could be used to be a master manipulator, and both men and women have proven to be able to do that quite well. Letting your emotions out by being "emotional" seems to have nothing to do with how you judge other's emotions. I could judge other people's emotions perfectly and be cold as ice one way or the other. Just thoughts.

Yeah, like I said, this is why we have to be careful not to clump all things with one label like "emotional" or "emotionally intelligent."  There are lots of nuances which you point out.

And same goes for "rational," "logical." You can be very rational regarding some things but in certain situations if you are attached to something you can be very emotional and irrational while handling it.