Life In 19x19

Posted: **Sat Apr 26, 2014 7:02 am**

often wrote:Let's take this apart:

Well, my usual complaint remains, ... , the absurd elitism of the players. Perhaps I am the elitist here, for not taking someone's amazing talent seriously enough.
I'm not sure where this complaint is coming from with examples in this first post.

However, I have always felt that there was a certain nightmare quality of taking something fun, and then exalting it to the point where it is no longer fun anymore. [...] I suppose these anxieties come from being told that I was fairly good at the game. I just started playing a lot though, maybe a year ago. I feel like I don't understand the game at all.
So you were told you were very good at the game, but now you are running into issues learning the game. Sounds like a common problem. If your issue is progression then start with a teacher, getting teaching games, or some books.

Even when I win I don't quite understand the strategy that I used, because I play intuitively and quickly. I also don't know if it was the right strategy, or what strategy is even going on.
So you don't spend enough time figuring out the moves, and then you wonder why you played moves that you don't understand.

All in all I think you're answering your own problems in this post.

First one: Ah, not sure? Have you seen Hikaru No Go? That kid Touya Akira is the most amazing brat ever. He only cares about Go so much he doesn't realize that having friends to play with is important, he's rich and adulated and amazing at Go, so he doesn't even realize that he's lonely. But this is a real representation of Japan. That's the little boy I would have to look up to, or some form of him. I speak a teeny bit of japanese. I've thought of studying it seriously instead of just learning words here and there from watching subtitled cartoons, horror movies, and samurai movies, but Japan is so far away...

second one: My issue is the nightmarish quality of exalting something to the point where it isn't fun anymore. Which you all defended admirably, it is still fun.

Ah, you analyzed that last one too quickly. No, my complaint was that Even while placing stones on the board, even if I win, I don't understand why I put them in that spot completely. It's like, I'll make a puzzle, and it'll look interesting, but I have no idea how I did it. I was wondering if other people ever felt this way, or if they absolutely knew how they did it. But it can't be to a certain extent, because the placement of the stones also depends on your understanding of the opponent's intentions. If you misread his stones, you lose. Read the stones. Ever heard Tommy? It's a rock opera by the Who about a deaf dumb and blind boy who is good at pinball.

Posted: **Sat Apr 26, 2014 5:25 pm**

First one: Ah, not sure? Have you seen Hikaru No Go? [...] But this is a real representation of Japan.
No, it's an anime. there's a difference. I suggest you not generalize a nation based on a cartoon.

Again, this doesn't have anything to do with the "absurd elitism" of go players. Perhaps the people you are interacting with might feel they are better than you, but I don't think you're going to benefit from characterizing us all like such.

That's the little boy I would have to look up to, or some form of him.
Not exactly, you can look up to plenty of more interesting real life figures in go.

Why not pattern yourself after Chou Chun-Hsun, who over came a facial disfigurement to become one of Asia's top go players? His story is pretty impressive and amazing.

My issue is the nightmarish quality of exalting something to the point where it isn't fun anymore. Which you all defended admirably, it is still fun.
I didn't defend that, and just because others do means that you have to as well.

If what you're referring to is the "depth" of Go to which we discuss it, then that happens with any hobby. There isn't many hobbies out there that are shallow that everybody enjoys. Things that take awhile to learn and have a lot to offer usually are what people gravitate to. Furthermore, you're on a forum dedicated towards Go. I'm not sure what you were expecting otherwise.

No, my complaint was that Even while placing stones on the board, even if I win, I don't understand why I put them in that spot completely. It's like, I'll make a puzzle, and it'll look interesting, but I have no idea how I did it.

Even when I win I don't quite understand the strategy that I used, because I play intuitively and quickly.
Like I said, spend more time thinking about your moves and this problem won't happen. If you don't understand what you're doing, you'll understand the result even less.

I was wondering if other people ever felt this way, or if they absolutely knew how they did it. But it can't be to a certain extent, because the placement of the stones also depends on your understanding of the opponent's intentions. If you misread his stones, you lose.
On every level, there will always be something outside of your grasp. But that doesn't mean you can't control and play something you can understand.

My suggestion is to continue pursuing and playing Go if you want. A lot of the issues you are experiencing will go away with time.

Posted: **Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:17 pm**

Abyssinica wrote:
EdLee wrote:
darWIN wrote:I've never touched the stuff, but apparently a possible side effect is becoming an Asian.
Not sure what this means.

Doing lsd makes you think you are Asian.

Uhm, no.

I can attest that this is not necessarily so :cool:

Or is there a minimum dose or number of trips one has to have taken for this to happen? I guess even then I’ll be able to attest again ;-)

Anyway … NONE of the acidheads I’ve known came to believe they were Asian. Many had some affinity to Eastern philosophies, though, but most of them already had it before tripping <shrug>

Greetz, Tom