Learning chess is

@Superdweil said in #10:

... I suspect that the skills you develop from the game will not transfer well to other aspects of life. Then again I assume it can have positive influences on a person by nurturing patience, focus and learning from mistakes. ...
Those last three words seem to me to be especially widely applicable.

As far as "wasted." The ONLY people who should be spending every minute of their free time attempting to be GREAT at chess should be those young enough to actually accomplish something at the National or International level.

If you just started playing after the age of 16 you are already way behind 10,000 other young people. At 22 you are behind 100,000 other people.

So sure play some chess, get good at it, but get outside and meet people or get into nature or other activities. Be a painter, go hiking, rowing, surfing, travel, kiss a girl or whomever before age 30. Save the whales. Protest corrupt bankers. Eat more sashimi.

@GrandGardenHose said in #1:

Not a waste of time correct? LoL It makes you think. DONT THINK YOU"RE WASTING TIME LEARNING IT. You are if you just keep playing mindlessly however. It's not bad, but it can be if you play too much of it for no apparent reason.
Yes, bro.

This is adequate. My former statement was inadequately communicated.

Chess is not a waste of time. It is an improving method in order to allow you to improve your mind. Our friend Paul Morphy seems to have made the quote it is a waste of time. Google disagrees on the other hand.

@GrandGardenHose said in #14:

... Our friend Paul Morphy seems to have made the quote
it is a waste of time. Google disagrees on the other hand.
See #3.

...a life-time-quest.