Why do people still think chess is for smart people?

@jonesmh
You dont count.

I see not to post that mistake when its already pointed out in #4?

Degrees don't show how intelligent is a person in all cases. I mean, you can get a degree despite you are stupid. However, you can't become a grandmaster if you are not intelligent enough! Υour chess skills are directly linked to your intelligence.

@dimitris_masikas : I know CMs who aren't smart enough to tie their shoes. Although there is a strong correlation, 'tis not a direct link.

Approximately 50% of all American football players have college degrees. That's much greater than the percentage of chess grandmasters who have degrees.

My question still remains, why do people still THINK chess is for smart people? I'm making no judgement on whether grandmasters are smart but want to know why people THINK chess is for smart people.

Why do average people look up to Grandmasters - most of whom have never graduated college?

There is research that encourages children to play chess because it increases their math skills. So why, at the top level, are most grandmasters not able to graduate college? Why should people encourage children to play chess to do better in school when at the top of chess the people reject school (ie college)?

If supposedly 'dumb' basketball players and 'dumb' football players can get a college degree (no matter how 'weak' the degree is) and then play professional sports why can't chess grandmasters do the same?

Should FIDE make a rule that forces grandmasters to get degrees before giving them a grandmaster title?

CMs (#14)? Smart? A degree, what’s that? Mandatory for? Intelligence? Tieing shoes? Wtf?

Well, at least I had an apprenticeship and I am working in R&D. I have got some sportive hobbies (MTB, swimming and hiking) and I like mechanical stuff like my red Porsche and Rolex amongst others. So what’s the fuzz about?

Why would chess have anything to do with IQ? Amongst top players are many kids like the 9 years old mysterious expert who's brain haven't even developped fully yet. Some variants like 960 may have some similarity because you cant memorise all the openings and stuff like that but overall its a game who practise it more will get better. A guy who playing for 5 years maybe he has 1800 elo 1st year and then 2200 elo 5th year but that doesn't mean his iq changed at all its all about practise.

I wont name noone because I don't want to be a jerk but there were a high ELO guy on forum who tought posts of BOT accounts on forum are actually written by computer programs. Some lower ELO guy explained it. There was another case where someone tought the warning honneybunney message was actually been said to a player "honneybunny" . Thats a funny one actually.

i think this quote from rick and morty sums that up:
"I'll tell you how I feel about school, Jerry: it's a waste of time. Bunch of people runnin' around bumpin' into each other, got a guy up front says, '2 + 2,' and the people in the back say, '4.' Then the bell rings and they give you a carton of milk and a piece of paper that says you can go take a dump or somethin'. I mean, it's not a place for smart people, Jerry. I know that's not a popular opinion, but that's my two cents on the issue."

he is right, smart people avoid school because of how dumb this is (by finishing school early or getting a degree the fastest possible).

People see GMs as smart because a basic condition for reaching this level is intelligence (also, hardwork and fortitude etc...).
a degree doesn't require any intelligence(bare the very minimum of course), this is only about memory and dedication (and sacrifice sometimes).

I am still very dissapointed that people reply to this BS. Ofc Chess players are more intelligent than the average, especially at the top level. Just compare interviews between a guy like Anand and an american athelete. Since this is a troll thread, some mod should close it.