Hi there guys!
I have observed a lot of chess players to have this universe-wide ego with them and this is the main reason why I'm bringing out my paper and pencil plus a little of my research skill to conduct a Study on The Relationship of Psychological Conditions and Chess. I really hope I could come up with an objectively researched results.
I took up chess in 2003 to occupy my boredom and somehow it brought me to a situation where I want to make something out of what Chess really is. I can say that I play around 1500+ and I am contented with it. Very happy with it!! As long as I use my time wisely by playing chess, teaching chess among my students and of course, playing chess with my wife and young kids. It frustrates me so much whenever I get to meet players (mostly locals) and actually talk to them, try to connect, and all I get are those nonsensical blurbings of how chess should be played, how he is much better than the others etc. It gets me to think twice whether I would escort my kids into chess or look for another sport.
Just this week, the ever expansive ego of this player made me shiver and chill, literally as what my friend Boyet told me after the incident. We were in this place, with Boyet, we were posting some CAAP (Chess Arbiters Association of the Philippines) announcements in our NCFP Forum when this poor little fellow (poor because I pity him, but very rich ego, as in a zillionaire) came in, gave me really this who-are-you-and-what-are-you-doing-here-look and said? "Who are you? are you with this _________ company?" and I said, "sir no, I'm with Sir Boyet". Then he looked at me again, stared at the screen I'm working on and said "Don't you know me? I am "_____________________" I am also a National Master!"
It really felt strange for me. The years I spent dealing with Persons With Special Needs didn't help at all. Not to mention the million of hours it took me to earn the passing grades for my 60 units in Psychology Subjects in College and Graduate School. Yes, not even the work related hours I've logged in to better understand the Human Soul. I have worked for the last 6 years mostly in multi-cultural settings (teaching in international schools would give me that chance) and I have always felt that the Europeans maybe a snub but their sincere, Americans are cerebral and tend to be level headed with a smile of boastfulness, but this guy, He is really a specimen. Someone we can study inside the laboratory and learn all about ego from skin down inside. Yes, he's the man!
Right at that moment, I wanted to feed his ego all the more, but I guess he's really THE ONE because after declaring and flaunting his title, he didn't look at me at all, not at all. Manners!
NM ____________, may the force emanating from you come back to you. May all the glory you long for be directed to those who deserve it and be given only to those who can handle such titles.
I know he's just a drop in the bucket. But he happened to have demonstrated his skills to me, which is why I find him the subject, yes, The Subject.
Watch out for the results of the study... if ever I survive the choking ego of such people. I pray that I don't get run over by these people's personality disorders/conditions.
Want a hint who this guy is?
The guy looked like one of my students in my MR/Down's Syndrome Sped Class!
Ego? Its not "only" in chess you would see such bloated ego. Just recently Morales his pride and ego smashed by a lowly Filipino he once beat in a lop-sided decision tried to somewhat redeem some of it on their third match. But ego is not enough in such fight and so is the trash talking, even how unrelated to boxing it might be.So he went down with his ego like an egg being smashed in to is head!
ReplyDeleteA La Salle player together with 2 teammates confronted an Ateneo basketball player just after their game, and proceded to make the the Pacquiao-Morales tiff as just a preliminary bout. And to make it worst they are already years past their varsity basketball and now donning the jersey of their respective commercial team in the PBA. Even the vaunted billiards hall of famer Bata Reyes, Django Bustamante and Pagulayan have hard time duplicating what they have done in other international tournaments in their own turf, that is winning the World Pool Championship and other major titles. Pride and ego, is what they stress as the culprit, it puts too much pressure on them to perform in front of their own countrymen.
As you can see ego and pride is a vital part of any sport, it adds up to competitiveness, to pursue excellence and to be sure that one's self is better or best among the others, its just that in chess its very hard to find alibi's when you lose. In physical sport you can always go to injuries, contract dispute and various sudden illnesses. But in Chess some of us doesnt buy such alibis, in this game of cerebral neurons, its either you win because your stringer or you lose because your a weakie, a certified patzer. I think i will still bring my kids to tournaments and chess classes, and let them play in tournaments. Ill rather see their pride and ego tested and teach them how to handle such, it will only be beneficial in the long run. Not only in chess we see super bloated ego my friend.
Somebody call Bantay Bata 163 or maybe better, National Center for Mental Health.
ReplyDeletethat mentally retarded a-hole must be sent back to the iggy bin of this beautiful world . . . .which he's not accepted as one of the members of humanity.... tell him to try searching for his long lost friend . . . . "the graveyard" . . . buwahahahaha
ReplyDeleteEgo during the fight is something everyone needs to have, but outside of the playing arena, in real life, its another thing. When I last visited Bobby Fischer's site, there was this letter from a boy saying "just because your a genius in chess doesn't mean your a a genius in real life"
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