Author: gerold daniels
Date: 18:36:28 01/10/06
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On January 10, 2006 at 20:06:13, Dann Corbit wrote: >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'? A person needs masters degree in umpiring to understand the 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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