English Chess Forum

Hi

I have a question to ask all chess players.

Is chess an addiction?

My answer to this is "YES", can this have an effect on a person's character and personality at a young age I think it does personally and can take control of the young persons mind.

What do others feel about this?

Matt.

It is undoubtably the case that for many people Chess is an addiction.

Many people, particularly males, have addictive personalities. This might be to alcohol, cocaine, sex, collecting postage stamps, playing the piano, etc. Chess is one of the least damaging such addictions. A sufferer would probably have had an alternative outlet.
'I pity anybody who has no knowledge of chess. Chess, like love, like music has the power to make people happy.' Tarrasch.
'I pity anybody who does not have at least one abiding interest.' Reuben in 'Poker 24/7'.

Stewart Reuben

chess is not an addiction though it can be addictive.

Very addicting - I’d say Chess takes up a good 50% of my life - when I’m not playing OTB I’m down the chess club practising, studying books or making moves on RedHotPawn.com

I have in the past turned down the offer of a weekend in a hotel with an old girlfriend from uni, who fancied a bit of fun, because I was entered in a tourney

The correct term is obsession.

Jon Mahony wrote:Very addicting - I’d say Chess takes up a good 50% of my life - when I’m not playing OTB I’m down the chess club practising, studying books or making moves on RedHotPawn.com

Making moves on RedHotPawn.com

Could I live without it? Yes.

Would I want to? No.

As somebody else once put it to me.......

"Chess isn't my whole life by any means - but my life wouldn't be the same without it"

Online chess is a pernicious addiction. Two of the characters in Sir Anthony Glyn's novel, "The Dragon Variation," say, "Chess has ruined my life." It hasn't ruined mine. And my life would be poorer without it. But I can say the same for other interests.

Gavin Strachan wrote:chess is not an addiction though it can be addictive.

Gavin, does this not contradict yourself and the whole thread?

Matt.

MY life has a good amount of chess in, however without it I'd save a amazing amount of money and I wouldn't be wasting my time trying to improve at it either, because I don't have enough time to improve which is very annoying.

Matt.

matt_ward wrote:

Gavin Strachan wrote:chess is not an addiction though it can be addictive.

Gavin, does this not contradict yourself and the whole thread?

It does not. The point I think he is trying to make is that calling chess an addiction is a category error; an addiction is the state or quality of being addicted to something, not the thing you are addicted to itself.

IM Jack Rudd wrote:

matt_ward wrote:

Gavin Strachan wrote:chess is not an addiction though it can be addictive.

Gavin, does this not contradict yourself and the whole thread?

It does not. The point I think he is trying to make is that calling chess an addiction is a category error; an addiction is the state or quality of being addicted to something, not the thing you are addicted to itself.

"Historically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances (for example alcohol, tobacco, heroin and other drugs) which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.

Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences associated with it. Pleasure and enjoyment would have originally been sought, however over a period of time involvement with the substance or activity is needed to feel normal. Some psychology professionals and many laymen now mean 'addiction' to include abnormal psychological dependency on such things as gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, internet, work, exercise, idolizing, watching TV or certain types of non-pornographic videos, spiritual obsession, cutting and shopping."

Wikipedia definition.

Although chess has some of the properties of being addictive it probably isn't fully fledge addictive as firstly it has not been scientifically proven - no real case studies out there that I know of. Also, someone who plays chess a lot and is seen as an addict is probably not dependent on it and could potentially seek other forms of entertainment to satisfy themselves with. So in conclusion: chess is just mildly addictive like chocolate. People who play games in general a lot (like 10+hrs a day) could well be seen as addicts though inherently will most likely have some other underlying psychological issue.

and Jack is right as well.

LozCooper wrote:

Jon Mahony wrote:Very addicting - I’d say Chess takes up a good 50% of my life - when I’m not playing OTB I’m down the chess club practising, studying books or making moves on RedHotPawn.com

Making moves on RedHotPawn.com

Lol or ChessAtWork.com - but the bloody NHS have even blocked that now