tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post6755949168826459036..comments2024-03-24T13:12:39.210+13:00Comments on Bluestocking <i>Blue</i>: Sex and Gender in Sports - Part TwoViviennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06137595207723645418noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-86783450716852978632018-06-19T00:35:37.430+12:002018-06-19T00:35:37.430+12:00Fab read. Thanks. Fab read. Thanks. jasonleecolemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10136865777364315941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-85486582910803384202017-06-06T13:34:37.134+12:002017-06-06T13:34:37.134+12:00Hi Annette,
I suspect that what lurks behind many...Hi Annette,<br /><br />I suspect that what lurks behind many online avatars would sometimes come as a surprise!<br /><br />But why should you be "fooling" anyone playing as yourself over the board? It's who you are, after all. Unless you are closeted, which isn't quite clear from your comments. Surely your style alone wouldn't be enough to mark you out?<br /><br />Your story about your chess-playing friend who transitioned is very interesting! I wonder if she still plays chess?<br /><br />Vivienne.Viviennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06137595207723645418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-3929210000716579072017-05-16T14:10:51.394+12:002017-05-16T14:10:51.394+12:00Hi Vivienne,
I have played many a game online as ...Hi Vivienne,<br /><br />I have played many a game online as 'Annette.' As with most male dominated activities, some people were quite pleasant. Others, much less so. It's been more than 10 years since I last played but if I had the urge, I'd probably choose a gender neutral handle like 'Dappy500'. <br />There's no way I would play in real time. Because I look exactly the same whether in male mode or female mode (or anything in between) I wouldn't be fooling anyone. (although when I last player over the board I had short hair and looked a little different) Besides, my style of play (oddball attacking) would stick out like a sore thumb. And being a master, everyone around the local area would know me anyway. <br /><br />You are right about the cognitive aspects of chess. They've done tests with chess masters and they don't necessarily score higher than other people in intelligence but they DO score better in pattern recognition. <br /><br />I enjoyed reading about Lord Cornbury. (S)he sounds like quite a character. Probably interesting to observe from afar but not necessarily a fun person to deal with on a day to day basis. I imagine the journalists would have a field day if Lord Cornbury were alive today.<br /><br />One other story. Back in '95 when I joined the local TG support group, I ran into someone I knew from the local chess club. We had been attending for years without knowing anything about each other. It was quite a shock to say the least. Years later my friend fully transitioned and moved half way across the country. I last saw her at a large TG conference in 2003. She was married ... to another chess player!Annettehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/annette2226/with/32654316955/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-11139739810120813702017-04-05T23:38:17.428+12:002017-04-05T23:38:17.428+12:00Hi Annette,
I am delighted that you stopped by to...Hi Annette,<br /><br />I am delighted that you stopped by to post your comments.<br /><br />I am certain that there are trans people in every possible walk of life; therefore they must exist among chess players as well. However, it's nice to finally talk to one. Do you play as Annette, or is she hidden when you play?<br /><br />I am also not surprised that chess players are not a "warm and fuzzy" group of people. My (limited) experience of chess tournaments in the past was not especially great. While I adore the structure, symmetry and cognitive purity of chess as an activity, its proponents do seem to be quite a rigid (and sometimes unfriendly) bunch.<br /><br />It's also no surprise that there is an increasing number of women playing the game at the highest echelons.<br /><br />I am interested in the cognitive aspects of chess; I think predominantly it's about pattern recognition and the ability to envisage complex images internally. While experience and maturity (including the ability to handle pressure and conflicting emotions) increases with age, there is a measurable decline in neuronal processing speed. Most IQ tests contain some tests measured against the clock, and show a decline in performance with age. However, when the clock is removed, the decline disappears, indicating that intelligence doesn't get lower as you get older; it only gets slower. So younger players, with their plastic nervous systems and higher processing speed, have definitely got powerful advantages.<br /><br />I know about the Chevalier d'Eon; he is an extraordinary figure. Historical accounts of trans people always fascinate me. You may be interested in my blog post about Lord Cornbury, which can be found here: http://bluestockingblue.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/more-things-change.html <br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Vivienne.Viviennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06137595207723645418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-66483307222715465342017-03-08T14:13:33.420+13:002017-03-08T14:13:33.420+13:00As a transgender chess player I can say, “Yes, we ...As a transgender chess player I can say, “Yes, we do exist” though I’m sure most of us would prefer to<br />keep a low profle. I’m a US Chess Federation life master having held a rating over 2200 for more than 300 consecutive tournament games. My name pops up on the net in a number of places under my “other” name. Unlike the Polgar sisters, I had no chess teachers, coaches or chess friends. Nor did I grow up in a major epicenter of chess. (i.e. New York City) Back in the mid 70’s there were no computers or data bases. Books were much less advanced. I started at the relatively late age of 16 and played in tournaments from 1977-97. I know of a trans player who is somewhat stronger than me, a FM (Fide Master) from Canada who has a rating in the 2300’s. So yes, we are out there but we tend not to be too vocal. My experience with chess players is that they are not exactly a warm and fuzzy group of people and some of them are quite chauvinistic.<br />Nowadays there are many more strong women players than there were in the 80’s. In the UK, for instance, Harriet Hunt and Jovanka Houska (rated in the 2400’s) both have the (male) IM title. (International Master) And Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant is a GM (Grandmaster-with a 2500 rating) With a little digging I am sure I can name more.<br />And yes, fitness is important. In American weekend tournaments you often have two rounds in a day. In the open section, a game frequently lasts 4-6 hours. You’re pretty much playing chess all day Saturday and Sunday. More important than fitness, however, is youth. Young minds tend to be able to handle fatigue much better than older players. It’s no secret that children seem to learn foreign languages better than adults. The same thing happens in chess. That’s why young children improve very rapidly and the older generation, not so much.<br />The most famous trans player from the past, Chevalier d’Eon was a lawyer, swordsman, lady in waiting and part time nun. (Oxford Encyclopedia of chess) (S)he was also good enough to beat Philidor in his blindfold simuls.Annettehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/annette2226/with/32654316955/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-81367124147002378542017-01-09T06:50:06.684+13:002017-01-09T06:50:06.684+13:00You're welcome, Daniel. Glad you liked it.You're welcome, Daniel. Glad you liked it.Viviennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06137595207723645418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-72360878346544521172017-01-05T18:04:59.645+13:002017-01-05T18:04:59.645+13:00What a great read, thanks for writing that.What a great read, thanks for writing that.Danielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-75768621586388093202016-09-05T06:22:54.900+12:002016-09-05T06:22:54.900+12:00Thanks Jonathan. You are right, of course. That...Thanks Jonathan. You are right, of course. That's why I added in the bit about being able to deal with the stress of the tournaments.<br /><br />But there is nothing in principle preventing (say) a wheelchair-bound person competing at the highest levels in chess, which is where I was going with this sentence.Viviennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06137595207723645418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4642548439896244587.post-14069454194971846442016-09-05T00:19:34.251+12:002016-09-05T00:19:34.251+12:00"In chess, of course, physical fitness is irr..."In chess, of course, physical fitness is irrelevant, provided you can deal with the stress of the games and tournaments."<br /><br />Actually, it's not entirely irrelevant. The need to concentrate to a very high level over, say, two weeks of a tournament can be extremely tiring. Consequently, the top players are mostly very fit nowadays.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147186679298442560noreply@blogger.com