Author: Dann Corbit
Date: 17:06:13 01/10/06
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On January 10, 2006 at 19:45:48, Joseph Ciarrochi wrote: >I have occasionally thought: "Man, could there be any bigger waste of time than >playing chess engines against each other " Or, " What a very odd hobby i have? >does this make me odd?" > >These are pretty important questions actually (well the first one is), since if >one is "wasting time," it is imperative to do the thing that is not wasting >time. > > >Well, here is something that I 've realized: Every human being must start off >with a set of value statements (say life assumptions) that are themselves >unassailable by reason or evidence. We must start by saying, "I like this, I >don't like that", before we can even start reasoning. (It's the same with math. >You've got to start with assumptions). If you seek to justify a value, then by >what criteria do you evaluate the value? > >So all you can say is, "I like computer chess stuff", and just leave the >statement "naked in the wind." > >Since i've joined CCC, i've noticed that people tend to support engines like >other people support sports teams. People cheer for a particular engine, and >defend it against insult. That's cool i think. It is no less justifiable than >cheering for a group of grown men kicking a soccer ball around a field. Or how >about curling fans (you know, the canadian sport that features sweeping of the >ice). Has there ever been a stranger sport? Without curling, where would we get the expression "Right on the button!"? All sports are pretty strange. Take baseball. We take a leather and string covered piece of cork, and try to hit it were people are not standing. Does anyone really understand what constitutes a 'balk'? And take chess. We take little wooden horsies and move them around on cardboard squares. >So i guess i'm using this email to make myself feel better, because I am suppose >to be working rather than playing with all the rybka gizmos. > >best >Joseph It's best not to think too deeply about the nature of sport. When we discover that it is a collosal effort that only has symbolic meaning and no real outcome, it can reduce the possible feelings of euphoria.
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