Comments on: Chess player wins Beauty and the Geek http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/ The latest chess news online Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:13:40 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Thomas http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102239 Thomas Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:06:52 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102239 @John Boon: That's not very respectful towards an advanced amateur player, what's your own rating? When my own rating was above 2000 (currently it's 1956) and non-chess players asked me about my level, my standard answer was "about half-way between beginner and world champion" - and I know at least a little bit about opening theory. @John Boon: That’s not very respectful towards an advanced amateur player, what’s your own rating?
When my own rating was above 2000 (currently it’s 1956) and non-chess players asked me about my level, my standard answer was “about half-way between beginner and world champion” – and I know at least a little bit about opening theory.

]]> By: John Boon http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102230 John Boon Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:03:11 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102230 I wouldn't have thought that ELO 1892 rated being called a geek. A middle rating like that suggests that he pushes the pieces about, but doesn't really play the game, and he plays the Rubbish Defence.... I wouldn’t have thought that ELO 1892 rated being called a geek. A middle rating like that suggests that he pushes the pieces about, but doesn’t really play the game, and he plays the Rubbish Defence….

]]> By: test http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102186 test Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:47:24 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102186 You have a girlfriend?! J/k ;) To be honest, I don't really share that opinion. If you divide the world into either "jocks" or "nerds", than sure: there will be more nerds than jocks at a chess tournament. But the real world is not divided black and white like that. The majority of people at a chess tournament, including amateur chess tournaments, are just normal people. Sure, the average IQ is probably higher than that at a football match, but that does not make all those participants at a chess tournament into nerds, just like it does not make all spectators at a football match into jocks. Next time take your girlfriend to a football match and ask her to take a close look. I'll bet she'll be astonished as to the amount of retarded cavemen present. ;) All that being said, the bright side is of course that now maybe* Reading has set the record straight. ;) * I haven't seen the show. I don't watch much TV in the first place and "reality" shows being the last thing I would watch. I have read interviews of participants of these kinds of things, and the general tone almost always is that what you eventually get to see on TV almost bears no resemblance to what actually happened. They can make it look however they want with editing, and usually what they want does not look pretty. You have a girlfriend?!
J/k ;)

To be honest, I don’t really share that opinion. If you divide the world into either “jocks” or “nerds”, than sure: there will be more nerds than jocks at a chess tournament.
But the real world is not divided black and white like that. The majority of people at a chess tournament, including amateur chess tournaments, are just normal people. Sure, the average IQ is probably higher than that at a football match, but that does not make all those participants at a chess tournament into nerds, just like it does not make all spectators at a football match into jocks.

Next time take your girlfriend to a football match and ask her to take a close look. I’ll bet she’ll be astonished as to the amount of retarded cavemen present. ;)

All that being said, the bright side is of course that now maybe* Reading has set the record straight. ;)

* I haven’t seen the show. I don’t watch much TV in the first place and “reality” shows being the last thing I would watch. I have read interviews of participants of these kinds of things, and the general tone almost always is that what you eventually get to see on TV almost bears no resemblance to what actually happened. They can make it look however they want with editing, and usually what they want does not look pretty.

]]> By: Arne Moll http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102185 Arne Moll Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:25:19 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102185 Actually I'm afraid there <em>is</em> something geeky about many chess players. As long as i've taken non-chess playing girlfriends to chess tournaments, they've been absolutely astonished as to the amount of nerds present in the playing area. They can't all be wrong ;-) Actually I’m afraid there is something geeky about many chess players. As long as i’ve taken non-chess playing girlfriends to chess tournaments, they’ve been absolutely astonished as to the amount of nerds present in the playing area. They can’t all be wrong ;-)

]]> By: test http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102184 test Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:18:11 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102184 <i>>>...they refused Smerdon...</i> Interesting. But for arguments sake: that does not really change anything imo. It does not matter to the producers how good they play chess, they probably don't know the first thing about chess anyway, all they (and the general public) know is that they are geeks. Apparently. >>…they refused Smerdon…
Interesting.
But for arguments sake: that does not really change anything imo. It does not matter to the producers how good they play chess, they probably don’t know the first thing about chess anyway, all they (and the general public) know is that they are geeks. Apparently.

]]> By: Arne Moll http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102178 Arne Moll Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:31:59 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102178 Well, test, you may be right but the fact that they refused Smerdon, also a chess player, perhaps indicates that Reading being a chess player was not the most important factor in their decision. Well, test, you may be right but the fact that they refused Smerdon, also a chess player, perhaps indicates that Reading being a chess player was not the most important factor in their decision.

]]> By: test http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102176 test Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:26:43 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102176 <i>>> What I like about the story is that he is not just a ‘chess nerd’</i> Sure. But the producers needed a geek and chose a chess player, reaffirming the stereotype. The funny thing is that people whom I consider to be a geek usually do not know how to play chess. >> What I like about the story is that he is not just a ‘chess nerd’

Sure. But the producers needed a geek and chose a chess player, reaffirming the stereotype. The funny thing is that people whom I consider to be a geek usually do not know how to play chess.

]]> By: Poek http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102090 Poek Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:15:54 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102090 For the Dutch version some grandmasters were asked, but alas they refused :) For the Dutch version some grandmasters were asked, but alas they refused :)

]]> By: Inventorist http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102088 Inventorist Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:33:41 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102088 'The first two teams to find their friends and return to the mansion were Emma/Jeremy and Hadassah/Xenogene, who were eventually eliminated by Emma and Jeremy.' Actually, the first two teams to find their friends and return to the mansion were Lisa/Corin and Emma/Jeremy. Hadassah/Xenogene were eliminated as they were the last to arrive. A very good article, well done Peter :) ‘The first two teams to find their friends and return to the mansion were Emma/Jeremy and Hadassah/Xenogene, who were eventually eliminated by Emma and Jeremy.’

Actually, the first two teams to find their friends and return to the mansion were Lisa/Corin and Emma/Jeremy. Hadassah/Xenogene were eliminated as they were the last to arrive.

A very good article, well done Peter :)

]]> By: Arne Moll http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/chess-player-wins-beauty-and-the-geek/comment-page-1/#comment-102084 Arne Moll Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:25:32 +0000 http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=19259#comment-102084 What I like about the story is that he is not just a 'chess nerd' because he plays for the university team or knows the rules or something (like in the Revenge of the Nerds movies) but is an actual chess coach. Reading, in other words, is a real chess player, like the rest of us. Also, the fact that he has won as much money as a good pro in a world cup tournament is interesting. It shows that chess not only has potential when you're world class. Pity that most sponsors still do not realize this. Perhaps it will change after this show. What I like about the story is that he is not just a ‘chess nerd’ because he plays for the university team or knows the rules or something (like in the Revenge of the Nerds movies) but is an actual chess coach. Reading, in other words, is a real chess player, like the rest of us. Also, the fact that he has won as much money as a good pro in a world cup tournament is interesting. It shows that chess not only has potential when you’re world class. Pity that most sponsors still do not realize this. Perhaps it will change after this show.

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