Chess Addiction. Consequences

Empirical evidence has lead me to believe that chess is addictive, and that many users of this site suffer from it

This would not be a major problem if chess were one of those "harmless drugs" like tobacco or alcohol. But it is not the case.

Chess is a dangerous drug, probably even more than cocaine, LSD or mobile phones. We are talking about a game that gets all your attention and distracts you from reality. And in some ocasions, it may cause mental issues.

At this point, I know it, most of you do not believe what I am saying. Let the evidence speak for itself

Paul Morphy. Unofficial world champion. At the end of his life, oh surprise, his mind simply did not work. And he died hating chess.

Wilhelm Steinitz. First official world champion. The prophet who developped positional chess. And, oh surprise at the end of his life...mad. And he imagined himself playing chess against God.

Robert Fischer. You know the story

So, what do these examples tell us?

A high percentage of chess world champions suffered from mental issues.

As we all know, conclusions from a reduced group of people like "chess world champions" are always true.

So now you know it. Chess addiction could be dangerous for you. You should try to do something.

And we will talk about what to do in our next thread.

Please share your stories about your chess addiction.

I hear trolling the 'net forums is addictive too.

What's that common phrase? Ah yes, correlation is not causation. I spent years of my life arguing that point in many discusions without ever knowing that it was a commonly used concept that everybody recognises from just those four words.

P.S. The Morphy you're describing hardly sounds like he was addicted to chess. Didn't he only visit Europe to play because he legally couldn't yet practise law? He never prioritised chess highly...

That may or may not be true.

kingofshedinjas is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chess is probably addictive.  So are all things we enjoy doing

Chess is REALLY addictive and you are correct: all things we enjoy are addictive too, included sports.

Trolling is addictive also and I need to police myself to not become a deep trolling addict.

About chess, I am not a chess addict, I just enjoy playing it.

Here in chess.com foruns there are dozens of threads about chess addiction.

Be careful.

https://www.chess.com/forum/search?keyword=chess+addiction

Chesd addiction for me is not an addiction, when I was so young I used to prefer chess than other kinds of games, well it is a hobby that becomes a profession and that is all for me with all my respect to your opinions.

Yes, but i have never heard of anyone dying because of a "chess overdose"...

Its an addiction and a waste of time. I regret ever playing this game, but I'm hooked now. Help.

Chess is worse than PokemonGo. 

I'll tell you about the only consequence of being heavily addicted to chess is a certain painful LACK of interest from the wife and kids. pretty benign.

unfortunately, addiction to the chess.com forums are more serious.

think the scaring effects to your personality might last a life time.   you guys are all like becoming terminally ill.   Your EQ will drop to half what it was.  your develop hair in bad places and warts all over the place.

if you knew what this was going to do to your life, you'd close your account just to avoid tempation.

.....

still here?  thought so. so am I.

Chess is the best. No addicton.

Interest is more important. I am playing chess more seriously than before. In fact, I played chess for fun, AFTER I LOST THE STATE LEVEL tournament. I became serious.

I especially like the positionaly manoevers. They are amazing! 

what you need to do is just to control chess or if you fail to do it otherwise chess controls you,and that's the big problem

its somthing that you always hope to do better and the most classic game ever. 

as said in another thread the topic is supernatural channeling for chess moves.  or "famous" grandmaster chess Cheating.

"is it addicting", "does it matter how you channel" (maybe the great Fischer will not give me good moves as I am trying to cheat..."does it matter how often you channel and what you ask about".

(as in "Mr.Tal, you should spend all night drinking and doing blitz??").

and generally dealing with the addiction of having famous grandmasters of the past "spontaneously warning you of blunders"....

("Ze bishop musst remayne on Knights Knight 3" from Nimzowitch).

and yes I'm a little bored.