Life In 19x19

Which statement most accurately describes your primary interest in Go?

I probably would choose them all if i could

I play go almost exclusively on KGS, so any goal other than self-improvement would be absurd for me. I used to play video games quite a bit, but I think it's cooler to be good at Go than video games, so now I play Go instead.

It's corny, but I'll say it anyways

I feel that Go has changed my life for the better in some way I don't know how. I call it enlightenment.
Months after reading HnG, I was still growing wide in my chair in front of my computer: reading manga, playing really mindless MMOs, being useless, friendless... you name it.
Somehow, some way, my mind strayed to Go. I started learning the basics, thinking "what am I doing learning this game?" The snowball of love for go rolled down the hill and I started to see far ahead what my fate was, and what my fate could be (I chose could be). I then planned my future and after 1 year, my burning passion has had its ups and downs, but I still love playing. (I still need to dedicate friendship before Go though)

I've improved greatly in go, (but it will be better in the summer) and I've also improved from 1200 to 1600 in chess by using the work initiative gained from go (of course being at the library which only has ishida's dictionaries and chess books was also a very good reason)

Hope you enjoyed my story. If you didn't then you could have stopped reading anytime.

runaway wrote:It's corny, but I'll say it anyways

I feel that Go has changed my life for the better in some way I don't know how. I call it enlightenment.
Months after reading HnG, I was still growing wide in my chair in front of my computer: reading manga, playing really mindless MMOs, being useless, friendless... you name it.
Somehow, some way, my mind strayed to Go. I started learning the basics, thinking "what am I doing learning this game?" The snowball of love for go rolled down the hill and I started to see far ahead what my fate was, and what my fate could be (I chose could be). I then planned my future and after 1 year, my burning passion has had its ups and downs, but I still love playing. (I still need to dedicate friendship before Go though)

I've improved greatly in go, (but it will be better in the summer) and I've also improved from 1200 to 1600 in chess by using the work initiative gained from go (of course being at the library which only has ishida's dictionaries and chess books was also a very good reason)

Hope you enjoyed my story. If you didn't then you could have stopped reading anytime.

That's great to hear. It's always good to have a passion, and be able to give yourself some focus. A lot better than just floundering around with nothing better to do.

I definitely fall under the top three categories. My personal interest always waxes and wanes depending on what I have going on (and how busy I am), but I've pretty consistently kept coming back. Definitely in a pretty driven mood at the moment to improve my skill. And while I'm at it, I'd love to be able to help out the community as a whole and keep things moving forward. Got to do what I can to help out this game I love.

To make new friends .

Araban wrote:To make new friends .

Yes!!! When I travel (that is not much any more) I try to find someone in the area that I can play a game with if my schedule allows it.

I mainly play casual games on the internet and at the local Go club
which does not mean I do not want to improve. I'm just not making a study of it.
besides that I also give 2-3 lessons a week on KGS. (see the link in my signature)
When I have time I play tournaments as well.

Online Go is indeed also a nice way to make friends all over the world.

I voted on the top three. I am still trying to reach shodan, though not very seriously. I really like the social aspect of Go, and how it unites people with very different world-views and experiences.
And I try to give some support to the community by volunteering some of my time, both online, and to my national community.

I voted the first two, and would have chosen the 3rd as well, except I never have any free time to volunteer.

It's probably too much to say that Go is an intrinsic good, but it comes close for me. It certanly brings me pleasure and happiness, but it also brings frustration and anxiety. It's hard to pin down a single or even a handful of reasons why I play Go. It's just one of those things in life

It gives me a new challenge and keeps me doing something positive in my life.

I hope to improve 4 or 5 stones by the end of the year. But seeing as I dont play enough that will be extremely difficult.

"to focus on self improvement, and improve my own level of play. "
I like to play go but more than that I like to play good moves. When I play a bad move I'm unhappy about it whether I realize it right away or notice it while reviewing the game later. So the more I improve the happier I'll be with my play.

i am at a stage that i can distinguish which variation is a better than other.
only problem is that can i can not control my emotion and many times choose wrong moves and lose the game.
so the problem will be the control of myself.
i am trying to work on that whenever i have time to play seriously.
but most games i play will be just for fun because i have to fight with my kids to use my computer and usually time restricted.

Araban wrote:To make new friends .

This is also a good Go goal