The "Alienated Chess Loser" Stereotype

bob and dave

ftw

I didn't say anything about kids.  You lack reading comprehension.

Chess players are a VERY eccentric lot.  On that there should be no debate.

Chess attracts all types, even people with a tendency towards OCD.  No surprise there.

So everything in moderation, except perhaps chess.   

No, I do not, in fact I might have better comprehension than you

You said "The stereotype of the geek nerd awkward anti-social kid that plays chess is only true in movies and tv shows. It seems that you have took fiction and made into fact."

Tell me where I said anything about "anti social kid[s]".

Thank you.

I was using it as an example

1. I'm in college.  You'd be surprised by how inaccurate your assumptions are, as the people I know are mature enough to understand that colege is too expensive to waste on idiotic decisions.

Tell me where I used that example.  You were commenting on what I said.

Then you say "It seems that you have took fiction and made into fact."

when you were the one that brought up the "anti social kid[s]" in the first place.  Not me.

I can tell that you are not exactly "Debate Captain" are you?  Once again:  work on your reading comprehension before commenting.

Just because the people you know don't have any fun in college doesn't make my statement "inaccurate."  It is you who is missing out on life.      

I don't want to argue with you, but why would I not want to miss out in large groups of arrogant, intoxicated fools, wasting their money on drugs and alcohol, getting heavily fined when they get caught by their RAs?  Why not use my time more effectively studying, getting an engineering degree and a job that I will enjoy, working in either robotics or aerospace, whichever I enjoy the courses more?  Why would I want to waste all my money on drugs when I can save it up so that I get out with only $10,000 of dept instead of double or more and many nights forgotten, assuming I must have had fun?  Why would I not want to use any extra money to buy pizza and spend the night with friends hanging out and eating instead of being in a room full of intoxicated people acting like idiots?  Why would I not want to have a girlfriend instead of engaging in certain 'activities' with random people, hoping that a condom doesn't break and that I'm a father?  What exacty am I missing out on?

* debt.

That's a pretty scary post in #32.  Glad you have it all figured out.  Yikes.

I've felt like a blind man walking in an endless field since I've graduated highschool so I don't know about the figuring it out thing, but I know what my priorities are, and partying is most definitely not one of them.  College is too expensive and valuable to act like an idiot throughout it.

With a little discipline you should be able to "party" and maintain your GPA.  Not necessarily an either/or situation.

Of course I was a History/English double major so I know those are relatively easy degrees, especially when your professors like you for being "quirky" or whatever; however, I did have science/engineering major friends that did party and get high all the time and still maintained 3.5+ GPAs, did their internships, etc.

Being an old man, I have met a handfull of "chess losers" over the years.  They come in all age groups.  Because 70% of active US chess players (those who play in at least one tournament a year) are under 21, I meet more in that age group in any given year.

The best laid plans of mice and men...

You're creating a false dichotomy between "thinking about your future" and having fun in college.  

It's one of those "secrets" in society that the kids that party, have fun, and perhaps even get mediocre grades tend to end up in leadership/management/elite positions in society. 

Those that "stay serious", work hard, and get good grades in college at the expense of fun and the social experience tend to get good jobs as well, but usually are forever the "worker bees" of the corporate world, topping out at around $100k a year then wondering why their classmates that just goofed off and partied all through school are getting promoted, making $250k+, becoming vice presidents, getting into the best clubs, etc. etc.

This is something people don't want you to know, obviously.  This is the way it works in the more "elite" New England colleges; I don't know if this holds true in Middle America state U. or whatever.

I am sane, contraty to what you think.  I find it idiotic to waste away my life drowning in drugs, alcohol, and relations with people I don't know or would not hang out with if I were of clear judgement.

You need to lighten up, brah.  You do realise that some of the older people telling you the same are Harvard grads (not me)...  we're just trying to help.  

Having a stick up your butt is no way to operate, especially when you are young.

I have no idea if this is true or not, but do you have actual stats to base this on or is it just conjecture?