Is chess really for kids?

uh-oh, we've managed to be sensible until now, why the giant Linux symbol?

I'm sure you know the answer to this given you play chess yourself and surely understand how limited it would be if it was for kids. It is somewhat more understandable for people who have never done so before to have this perspective, but even then it's hard to imagine people truly judging others without understanding a little bit about what they are referring to. 

just my personal input. I find there is so much pattern recogition in chess that switching between 2D and a real board causes me to miss/take more time to see things if I am playing under blitz time controls.

Apart from the all the things I heard about Chess being a great tool to develop your kid's brain etc. I would rather have my kid play Chess for a couple of hours every day than be stuck in front of World of Warcraft...

This is why we have chess clubs and places like chess.com; to be in the company of those that understand our obsession.

Incidentally, having spent most of my life skateboarding, I learned some time ago that being overly concerned with what people think about us is rarely helpful and in the end amounts to one large distraction.

Seriously, it's hard to get into and enjoy and give something your all when you're worried about how cool you look. ;)

I don't believe that's a good example...if your wife makes that sort of demand, it's not about chess, but about her controlling every aspect of your miserable life.

I'll bet you're not talking about a punctuation championship.

 Did you get that buyer's guide the USCF sent with the last Chess Life?  Page 1:  $15,000 ivory chess set!

It's mammoth ivory, and there's also a cheapo plastic set under $3.

It was because of the sudden rise in the popularity of chess back in the early Holocene that mammoths became extinct in the first place.

I agree. I agree.  I agree.  Games are for everybody.

Games are a real good way to socialize.

If you're afraid to socialize you can always say,"Do you know how to play this or that..."  Right away everyone brings up a game they know.

Before you know it you have too many people.

                                                      That's cool...

I've seen that before. I was was independently wealthy, that's someting that I would probably splurge on.

Not this puppy!  Reminds me of the old saw, "how do you become a millionaire; you start as a billionaire!"

Women (some - not all) can be notorious hobby-killers who think a man only exists to sit around the house waiting patiently to be given the next chore she finds for him.

I've seen it, my mother is one of those women, and her relentless harping on at my step-dad about his 1 game a week of golf finally got him to cave and give it up.

The light soon started fading from his eyes.....  

Women aim to domesticate you, they don't mean to, it's just how they are. You must fight to keep your manly ways!

Thankfully I'm pleased to report that he later found the cupboard where she keeps his balls (no, not golf balls....) and plays even more often these days, and is a much happier chap for it.  

I played a lot of chess as a kid but sucked then and still suck now, but I'm trying to get better and better as a I find enjoyment in a new hobby. My other two hobbies are motorcycle racing and online poker. I broke my wrist in a race in August and am spending a lot of time playing chess while I heal. The communities for those other sports wouldn't even sympathize with you in regards to the disapproval of your family and friends!! Gamblers and motorcycle riders have it bad, not chess players.

There's absolutely no reason to bring such sexism and ignorance into an otherwise rational conversation.