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Subject: Re: List of People that Will Stay Urgently Needed

Author: Albert Silver

Date: 17:31:34 11/07/98

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On November 07, 1998 at 18:34:40, Nelson Hernandez wrote:

>Speaking as a complete newcomer to this place, I can only express amazement that
>such a group of highly intelligent people can behave so rashly
>over--what?--disagreements about computer chess!
>
>Chess players are inherently abrasive, I think.  One only has to reflect on the
>anti-social (if not pathological) qualities of Steinitz, Fischer or Kasparov, to
>name a few, to realize that the intense study of chess may result in
>insufficient study of harmonious human relations.
>
>Given that as a hypothesis, why can't we simply accept that, among chess
>players, there will always be titanic egos, haughty arrogance, childish temper
>displays?  I, for one, accept this as a fact of life and simply move on.
>Civility is nice, but chess is more related to combat that civilization.
>
>This should be a free forum for the best computer chess analysts in the world to
>contribute their ideas and, if they are so inclined, furiously battle each
>other--for the greater good.  Let those with the better ideas (or most lethal
>personal attacks) win out.  However, let's try to keep the focus on chess,
>rather than individual personality quirks!
>
>The real issue, in my opinion, is that various people in this forum are
>affiliated with one or another chess program, and have many years and their
>personal livelihoods invested in their products.  Thus the real issues may be
>more rooted in basic human survival...  One wishes this forum could be a neutral
>country in this never-ending struggle for dominance.

I'm not sure I believe in neutrality. As for egos, I doubt very much that is
limited to chess. It is a human thing and exists in every field.



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