Why are people talking about getting a title when they're complete beginners?

chess playing monkeys are a dime a dozen..

no need to waste $ in research...

the "Government" already owns the highest ratings 1 thru 100

NASA is awesome though. 

I'll take two!

Too funny !

I think, it is like with everything: when you start playing chess, you think that becoming a master is easy-peasy - but the more you play, the more you see how much you need to know to even start looking towards the master title.  Players at 1000-1200 might think that the title is at hand, just a tiny bit more... Players at 1500-1600 think it is a matter of a few years. Players at 2000+... "Oh well, not in this life!"

+1 at 63 and only 1600-1700, I said oh well not in this life a long time ago....lol.

Nobody was born a GM. Even Magnus after he was born, he had to study chess to become number 1 in chess. But you have to work hard, even if you are talented in order to achieve mastery in any domain. Sky is the limit!

Magnus was born a GM.

He studied and became WC.

Yes, I agree with @jengaias... Let's people dream!!! It is natural and good!!!

The reality is, once someone realizes their hopes and dreams are crushed because they don't have the time, youth or most of all, talent, then it's important to them to crush everyone else's as well. Misery loves company. 

Ok then, every beginner can be a master in any domain. 

lol the whole point of life is that anyone could become anything... Otherwise whats the point of living?

There are millions of people who defy the "odds" every day. so...

True. You can be optimistic and realistic. After all, dreams can come true!

Do stupid people ever know they are stupid?

No!

Ask any stupid person, "Are you stupid"?

Same principle.

Relative. To a smart person, yes I am.

But you need to have higher IQ than my 147.

Hey, stop! Why in this forum you are arguing like kids... Stop it!

Everybody can be the next Lewis Hamilton, Magnus Carlsen, Serena Williiams, Roger Federer, Vladimir Klitchko, John Cena, Leo Messi, Anthony Hopkins, Einstein.

Anyone can dream of being President, an astronaut 'a famous actor, things that don't require exceptional talent, a talent that the savants of music, math and chess are born with.

The 13 yr old girl who just graduated with a masters degree from University in mathematics, the 12 year old winner of Julliard music competition or the 11 year old GM.

These savants perform at a level with no special training in a very short time. We could study and train for 10 years and never begin to approach the level they naturally perform at.

If these savants train and study in their gifted field, they become near the very best.

Math, music, chess.... we were not all created equal.

Nobody's arguing.

Guess I should use a less graphic example that doesn't ruffle EGOs.

But the point is, no one ever knows until they have worn the shoes firsthand.

That is why we have this thing called Life.