Is chess bad for kids emotional status?

Question

Today I was in the park just running and I saw over in the chess arena where people gather to play chess,checkers, etc. I see my 5th grade math teacher who got me into chess. I challenge him to a game and beat him. 3 of the most popular boys in my grade came by and saw that I outsmarted my 5th grade math teacher who is a very strategic (can't spell) person. The teacher leaves and the kids start to call me a dork, loser, and a nerd for playing chess. Especially against a teacher and winning. I don't think they know how to play... but what they said really hurt me. And I kinda knew it was true...a typical school has the nerds who are chess people... and they meant what they said...

I mean, my mom tells me that I have a 'freaky chess gift' (she calls it) that allows me to think atleast 3-4 moves ahead and draw the opponent out and crush him/her.

so is chess bad for kids emotional being?

.....no one likes to get mocked......

Answer 1

You ran into the wierd American phenomenon where Einstein is regarded as worse than Curly Howard (Curly of the three stooges).

Yes, chess is bad for kids emotional well being.  So is doing well on tests.

Are you going to pretend you are a moron to impress the other morons your whole life?

Answer 2

The advice is: Be who you are. Be smart. Your future is the brightest.

Many kids everywhere play chess well. It's OK. To view an example,

navigate using the "Back" button after you view this picture:

http://www.mychessphotos.com/web2.gif

Yes, to be exceptionally smart at anything is likely to be difficult emotionally;

yet I would not recommend to become stupid.

You may tell kids that the teacher let you win. Maybe he did; so what.

Humour can diffuse hostility. It's still good to develop your social skills.

The older that you get, the more people will be nice to you. Conversely:

people that are afraid to be smart are set-up for failure in the real world.

"Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one"

It is written that the above Charles J. Sykes quote has been popularized by Bill Gates as he traveled to schools talking to children.

Have lots of fun with your 'freaky chess gift'.  It's a good thing.

Answer 3

I will be very honest with you.  Chess can be a very scary game to become addicted too.  Being good at it is one thing, but there have been examples of people who basically devoted their whole life to playing chess and were off because they did so. I do not think that you are in danger of that happening because the fact that the taunts of the kids hurt you means that you have a social intelligence that will prevent you from most likely going off of the deep and into chess dementia.  Just because you beat your math teacher doesn't mean that you are a freak of nature.  The best thing to do if you want to explore your chess abilities would be to participate in ranked events and earn a ranking.  Chess can be a very satisfying game because you can control your destiny.  I would encourage you to keep playing and to buy Chessmaster for your computer and learn even more strategy and tactics.  Unless you are very highly ranked there is not a lot of glory or money in chess, but it can be a very good hobby that will last you a lifetime.  

By the way, I have been playing for years.  I learned the game when I was in 3rd grade.  At one point I might have developed into something special but back then chess computers were very expensive.  Now you have access to powerful programs that have advanced training options tremendously.  But just because I have been playing along time doesn't mean that someone like you couldn't wipe me off of the board.  I play for fun and like to collect chess sets.  And now that I am 6' 2" and over 270 nobody dares to pick on me.

Answer 4

it is, but if your good pursue it. when i was in middle school i played yu-gi-oh (yes, i'm card game freak) and everyone but my friends mocked me. so the next year i stopped all together, know i sit here and just wish i hadn't. i was great at it and i let the jocks, popular, and other morons stop me. so just don't listen to the other kids, when you hold a job a ceo or other high ranking carer, let them see who the real fool is.

Answer 5

Uh... NO.

It's actually very good for brain development.  

Chess, like juggling, art, and music, opens up different mental pathways that help us excel at thinking outside the box.  

Kids can be cruel, but we all have our own strengths and weaknesses.  The kids who were apt to make fun, are probably the ones who grew up, popped out a couple crumb snatchers and are slaves to working a nice 9-5 job every day for the rest of their lives.  

Jealousy and ridicule always come to people who think outside the box.  However, the real reward lies in being able to do just that, and really be a cut above the rest.

Answer 6

Just be yourself man, if you like chess, then what the haters say don't matter. If you're comfortable in your own skin, then you can't be hurt by insults.

Answer 7

the joke is on them, they'll never know the feeling us chess players get while anticipating the next few moves, don't listen to them, you'll probably never see them again so who cares what they think of you?

you'll find people who like chess and people who don't, its up to you to decide who you want to listen to