Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Talk about improving your game, resources you like, games you played, etc.

The Goddess of Go offers you a Magic Pill. You will become 9d instantly, but will not know why.

Yes! I'd take that pill right now!
28
53%
No, thank you.
16
30%
I would take the pill if only it was slow-acting and ensured the gradual success of my go studies.
9
17%
 
Total votes: 53

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shapenaji
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by shapenaji »

mw42 wrote:No. I've watched enough Tales from the Crypt to know that one should never accept anything that promises greatness nor wish for anything, period.

Sure, the pill makes you 9d, but shortens your lifespan to 1 week or leaves you horribly crippled, &c. No, thank you.


Oh no, the curse of this kind of quick fix is the thing itself.

To play moves at a 9d level without understanding them? It would be like watching someone else play whenever you played. It would become, quite literally, a soulless game.
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by Tooveli »

I don't really see a question here. Definitely take it.

Not knowing why I'm 9d doesn't stop me trying to learn from/understand the moves I play from my current level (which is where the fun comes from anyway). I'd have to change my vote if the pill made you 9d and playing, studying or answering questions about go puts you into a zombified state where you play/answer at the level of 9d but can't remember/see what you've done. Would anyone take that pill? What if it made you play perfectly?
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by hyperpape »

I thought that Tami had clarified that the question was "you didn't remember that you took the pill", not "you don't understand the moves you play."
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by Sevis »

I'd take it, then spend the rest of my life looking for a similar one for programming.

(In case that I didn't remember taking it -- erm, probably spend a while wondering why I can suddenly play so well.)
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by gowan »

I'm with ez4u. I wouldn't take it becuase I would lose all my present go friends and, in fact, find it hard to get a good game at all. One amateur shodan player I know refuses to take lessons or study very much because if he got much stronger he'd lose the opportunity of playing with his favorite opponents on even terms. Imagine all your present opponents/friends suddenly having to take a large handicap. You'd mostly be playing teaching games, which are fine in their way but I think most people don't want to play that way all the time.
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by Tooveli »

hyperpape wrote:I thought that Tami had clarified that the question was "you didn't remember that you took the pill", not "you don't understand the moves you play."


Oh. I misread (seems I don't just do this in go). In that case it's even easier to take it as enjoying the game as a 9d sounds amazing.
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by malweth »

I'm more interested in something that can make me a stone or two stronger than venturing into the unknown.

I look at it this way: does the 9d gets more enjoyment out of being 9d or more enjoyment from the memories of having become 9d? There's no way an amateur kyu can know.

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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by Knotwilg »

What would it mean not knowing how and why you are 9d?

1. There is a Sai guiding my hand?
2. Can I learn from Sai?

In that case, give me the pill. If I have to stay the uninterested, go-dumb Hikaru of the first episodes, no thank you, I'd rather be Tsutsui.

How would that work, by the way, in the post mortem analysis?

"So, Honinbo-san, why did you play here?" - "I don't know". "But will this group die?" - "I don't know".

Not the most honorary Honinbo ...

People who take the pill, care for prestige, not for understanding. Ego, not go.
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by tapir »

Tami wrote:It should be "The Goddess of Go offers you a magic pill, that will instantly make you 9d. However, you will not know how you came to be so strong. Would you take the pill?"


This question looks like a good opportunity to moralise.

The obvious answer to me: Depends on the Goddess.
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by tj86430 »

I love pills. Do I need to take it with water?
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by xed_over »

Knotwilg wrote: Ego, not go.

don't you mean "Ego, not Igo."? :)
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Re: Would YOU take the Magic Pill?

Post by Hushfield »

xed_over wrote:
Knotwilg wrote: Ego, not go.

don't you mean "Ego, not Igo."? :)
Quickly, take it back, xed, before somebody whacks you with the "thou-shall-not-use-a-Japanese-term-when-an-English-one-is-available" stick.
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