Do you find a homeless chess player inspiring?

Question

I do, and I would love to get your thoughts either way.

And tell me why it inspires you or doesn't.

Answer 1

very much. there are a lot of them here in the Philippines. they play chess even though their stomach is aching from extreme hunger. they play anwhere, regardless of the place, of the time. moreover, they control the impluse of doing deviant things, like theft, etc. instead they put their energies in playing chess. and what i like about them is, they manage to focus despite all the depression of being homless. and ultimately, they smile once in a while either because of winning the game or plainly playing it with someone. ^_^

if they are able to do these things what more of us, who eat 3 times a day, has a cozy home, and have economic capabilities to support our endeavours. ^_^

Answer 2

Have you read the Grass Arena by any chance ?.
Which is about a homeless being a pretty good Chess Player.
Inspiring is a big word, but there are quite a few homeless out
there who are not by necessity mental patients, drunks or drug abusers nor do they steal or beg.
I once met and talked to one who used to be a university professor,a very well educated and eloquent man.
One evening driving home from work he ran over a 5 year old
girl killing her instantly, he was tired and not paying enough
attention she suddenly crossed the road and he reacted too
late.
The feelings of guilt destroyed him, he sank into a deep depression and eventually lost his wife and family.
Now he lives on the street, he considers it a form of just punishment and feels he's atoning somehow for negligently
killing a child and destroying other people's lives.
I don't think he'll ever get out of it.

Answer 3

I find far more inspiring the single mother who works her butt off to provide a home.

And if she didn't have kids to raise and bills to pay and a house to keep clean and a job to go to and (etc., etc) maybe she'd have time for a little chess too...

Answer 4

A lot of that depends on how well they play.

Doug