Suji wrote:With Go and Chess I've had to learn patience. I'm better with patience than I was two years ago, though that might be due to the fact that I'm getting older, and *hopefully* more mature.
I could go on, but I think I get your point that just because you improve at something doesn't mean you'll improve in other areas. IMHO you do improve in other areas, but if so I don't think one could accurately measure such improvement.
Here's a list (by no means extensive) of what one *could* improve by learning Go and/or Chess: Critical thinking, Math, Reading, Science, Problem Solving, and Thinking Under Pressure (due to time pressure).
Well put.
I agree that you can probably improve those areas by studying go. The thing that bothers me is when people attach too much meaning and make too wide generalizations from their favourite hobby. It's not just go, it happens whenever people spend much time on something. Some people really want their hobbies to have broader implications in life and society in general.
It's a game, and a fascinating one, and if studied long and hard can probably have some benefits in other areas (but hardly in relation to time spent). By studying go you get better at go. I believe if you settle with those expectations you can't go wrong. But if you are studying go in order to reap benefits elsewhere you will mostly be wasting time. There are probably much better ways to exercise those qualities.
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