Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Online chess is a waste of time?

35 replies

ExtraFox18 · 31/01/2020 17:36

If you play at often as you can and late into the night every night rather than doing anything else is this not a complete waste of time?

OP posts:
Original poster
ExtraFox18 · 31/01/2020 17:45

Or any chess for that matter beyond the odd game?

OP posts:
QuarterMileAtATime · 31/01/2020 17:49

My DS (10) would disagree with you. He has recently started entering tournaments and has done really well, selected for a team, got a really high first ECF grading, etc. He has other hobbies too, so I think it’s quite a good one amongst the others he has.
So I suppose I agree with your OP, but not your second post.

GladAllOver · 31/01/2020 17:52

A damn sight better for the mind than watching soaps and reality TV all evening.

AllergicToAMop · 31/01/2020 17:53

Depends what is it you think they should be doing instead

altiara · 31/01/2020 17:54

You’ve not said why it is a waste of time. And what the other options are for using the time, if it’s nothing, then no it’s not a waste of time.

Bluewavescrashing · 31/01/2020 17:55

I play scrabble (words with friends). It's relaxing. Can't see a problem tbh.

Shadowcats · 31/01/2020 17:56

Well what should they be doing? Watching TV?

[off the back thread of this I’ve decided to find a chess app as I fancy playing a game]

CalmFizz · 31/01/2020 17:58

Are they playing to the detriment of everyday life taking place? Or you just don't deem it a worthy use of time?

bridgetreilly · 31/01/2020 18:00

Any hobby is a waste of time. That's the point. It's a pastime: a way to pass the time that is fun, but not productive. If whoever it is enjoys the chess, then it's as good a way of spending their leisure hours as any other.

Stop being so judgmental.

Babymamamama · 31/01/2020 18:01

Compared to playing PS4 or whatever I'd say it's a lot more useful to play chess.... but.... anything to excess can be unhealthy. Is this your DP or DC OP?

Original poster
ExtraFox18 · 31/01/2020 18:10

Just playing compulsively for HOURS after spending most of day at work on a computer. This person doesn’t exercise, doesn’t have any other hobbies which are not screen based except playing chess at tournaments.

OP posts:
SapphosRock · 31/01/2020 18:11

It's good for developing a strategic mind. Love a bit of online chess me.

Original poster
ExtraFox18 · 31/01/2020 18:14

Yes SapphosRock I know that’s their reasoning too but it’s ALL they do except watch TV.

OP posts:
user14928465 · 31/01/2020 18:16

Everything we do is a waste of time really.

SapphosRock · 31/01/2020 18:17

Oh dear ExtraFox18 you might be my DP!

Slydiad · 31/01/2020 18:19

Doing anything at all "rather than doing anything else" is a waste of time, yes.

Chess in general isn't a waste of time, though. Doing well at it requires strategy and serious thought. It helps people develop their minds. That's not a waste any more than, say, running to develop your body or sketching to develop your creativity would be a waste.

If somebody's playing so much online chess that they're missing out on other important things in life, that's a problem with their priorities, not with chess itself.

BlueJava · 31/01/2020 18:19

YABU there are far worse things than on line chess. Everyone needs down time and if that's away of doing it then I don't see a problem.

cabingirl · 31/01/2020 18:20

What would you rather they were doing?

Cyberve · 31/01/2020 18:20

What would you prefer them to be doing?

Hahaha88 · 31/01/2020 18:22

It's only a waste of time if it's taking them away from things they need to do, housework, self care etc. Otherwise it's no different to any other hobby

Slydiad · 31/01/2020 18:30

It sounds like this person might be chatting with their fellow chess players online and at tournaments. If that's the case, there's nothing wrong with that. Plenty of people find it easier to socialize over a shared interest.

If you want to say that in general it's probably a good idea to go outside and get physical exercise every so often, I don't think you'll get much argument. But the problem would then be that someone isn't spending any time on exercise, not that they are spending lots of time playing chess.

JosefKeller · 31/01/2020 18:32

online games are a complete waste of time

great if you do need to kill time because of health issue or travel delay. Otherwise, yes, complete waste of time and life.

chomalungma · 31/01/2020 18:37

A weekend spent debating probability on MN is probably the very definition of a waste of time. But it was fun

jellybean85 · 31/01/2020 18:39

Surely mn is a waste of time too then? @josefkeller you sounds like a eight barrel of laughs! Pray tell what thrilling hobbies do you have that are deemed worthy and not a waste of time

safariboot · 31/01/2020 18:41

It's only if it impacts on essential aspects of life that it becomes a concern.

In terms of becoming a better chess player, just playing online blitz/bullet (fast paced chess) is questionable.

Swipe left for the next trending thread