4 ms·
Slightly tangential - there's this quote I've been thinking of: "The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sig
by Scene_Cast2 2y ago
Slightly tangential - there's this quote I've been thinking of: "The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life."
On one hand, chess is pretty well regarded. On the other, it's pretty memorization heavy - not just openings, but end game strategies and patterns in general. It takes up brain space.
I've been trying to frame it in terms of enjoyment. I see a lot of people strive for higher ELOs, but I sometimes miss the silliness of low triple digit ELO blitz.
- richrichie 2y agoNice quote. Perhaps it applies to programming, sports, etc?
- dieselgate 2y agoAgreed it’s a good quote, have heard it more generally as “be careful what you get good at”
- TeMPOraL 2y agoI had a variant, "clean house is a sign of wasted life". I find it hard to disagree with it.
- red-iron-pine 2y agobeing adaquate at programming and able to pick up IT stuff quickly got me a job, and eventually, a really good, well paid job. That put me in a new house. being adequate, even good, at rowing didn't get me anything but sunburn. had a good time, mind you -- love being on the water -- but I probably could have spent that time learning Ham Radio, carpentry, ceramics, or vollyball -- or some combination of those. might never have been good at rowing, or ceramics, etc., but it's one of those Opportunity-Cost things
- schlick 2y agoMaybe life should be about more then capitalistic success? You enjoyed being on the water, wasn't that enough of a reward?
- tucnak 2y agoThey say "misspent youth" when referring to snooker players
- robocat 2y ago> It takes up brain space. It is a strange modern metaphor to think of our brains as hard drives that fill up. The precious resource is your time and attention invested (another odd metaphor), not the "capacity" of your brain.