Aren't there more important things to do
why have so many, mostly male, players, placed so much importance on learning to play a board game well?
And why view that as some testimony of intellectual superiority?
I wouldn't say "many" men. The vast majority of men don't care about chess at all.
I also wouldn't say anyone places "importance" on it. In no particular order: health, jobs, and relationships are the most important things to the vast majority of people (chess players included). Hobbies are fun because they're not important.
As for "intellectual superiority" that's one of the main misconceptions among non-players. Chess is a skill like anything else. If someone plays a musical instrument or ball sport well you don't think they're intelligent, you think they're skilled. It's the same for chess.
A woman of a certain age wants to know what the point is. Aren't there more important things to do with our time than try and play a board game well?
I mean, a little recreational fun is one thing but, why have so many, mostly male, players, placed so much importance on learning to play a board game well? And why view that as some testimony of intellectual superiority?
I can understand spending hours on my doctoral degree but, it seems a waste to me to spend hours of intellectual brain time playing a board game.
I don't get it.