"What is Being Done to Protect Our Checker Health"

Mr. Checkers · Post by **Mr. Checkers** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:58 pm

In a recent conversation with TommyC the following subject was brought up under "Tournament Discussion" (Kentucky Open)--"Are there Health and Safety Problems to be Addressed by the Checker Fraternity?" This is certainly a subject that deserves our attention; especially with the harsh winter season just around the corner. The checker surfaces themselves would certainly be a means of spreading many communicable diseases that are found among us, especially during this time of year. Checker addiction itself is not currently recognized as a disease by the AMA. Food for thought!! :lol:

john reade · Post by **john reade** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:00 am

Our new year message from Schelte Betten last January may be relevant here. WCDA is the World 10x10 Correspondence Association.

DRAUGHTS CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH

In the Netherlands legalisation of the weed culture is under discussion. At least to do some experiments in this domain. Many are in favour, though the government has had strong objections until now. The arguments for and against have been explained in the media. Of course it is not the WCDA

Ingo_Zachos · Post by **Ingo_Zachos** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:42 am

lol!

I am "addicted" to breathing :-)

It seems like the autor did not know about any real addiction with drugs that destroy parts of your body permanently.

I worked with drug addicted voluntarily for some years after the suicide of my brother, and I can tell you that this is a bad and completely inapproriate comparison, something like a slap in the face of real addicted persons.

Indeed, alcohol and coffein r drugs, but this is known and in contrast to what the autor says, it is debated (why do you think they r on most doping lists ?) , and it may indeed be a good idea to legalize all kind of drugs, but that is another story and has no connection to the game of draughts/checkers.

Mind sports do not create any physical addiction and even if you developed a psychological problem with it, the consequenses r ridiculous compared to the problems of physical addicted persons, believe me.
(BTW: most drug addicted in the world r alcohol addicted, and it is a known fact, but any prohibition, political or religious, never really worked!)

I think this is nothing more then a personal opinion, and nothing I would sign.

Ingo Zachos

tommyc · Post by **tommyc** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:19 am

Are there Health and Safety Problems to be Addressed by the Checker Fraternity?"........

My point was more on the physical rather than the mental aspect.

That was the rather serious subject i had in mind initally. Posts from John and Ingo are welcomed and both have their respective points to make,but lets not get to far off the centre of gravity on this .

Ms Beckys uptake on this is flippant (rubber gloves and sweet sprays)tho very entertaining i must say, and also has an element of reality in it.

I must confess tho that i remember some time after i began playing i actually did wash my checkers and disinfect them a time or two!!. i dont know why nor have since, but i guess there is something buried in the deep sub-concious on this subject.

But seriously i was thinking more of the effect on the body after sitting for 4-5 days in complete shut-down physically and totally ignored by the brain which is happily going at 100mph.

Whats your take on it??.

Mr. Checkers · Post by **Mr. Checkers** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:57 am

Tommy my point on this was also centered around the physical aspects with a little bit of humor thrown in, but not that much because everywhere one ventures these days people are putting on rubber gloves and antiseptic lotions on their hands. I seriously doubt that very few checker players think about let alone clean their checkers on a regular basis. In checkers the atmosphere is sort of laid back and relaxed with the thought that the only thing of a seriously nature that is going to happen to me here is a loss on the checkerboard. I asked my nurse, who comes here quite often, why they are putting on the rubber gloves and antiseptic lotions all of the time. Her reply was that thousands of germs are transmitted from one person to another under ones fingernails and by law they have to wear the gloves and use the lotions. "Food for thought". :lol:

Alex_Moiseyev · Post by **Alex_Moiseyev** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:16 am

I agree with Dr. Reade and disagree with Ingo.

Checkers, as any other form of human interest can be addictive. Checkers - is a normal way to spend time and may become a hobby as well as hunting, fishing etc

We all know - this may become addictive, when you spend most of your time with your hobby - losing familiy, friends etc.

Think that checkers are not good enough to be in this line and get people interest - wrong !

Ingo, checkers are very addictive, but I don't see anything wrong with this. We are living in addictive world and are addictive to many things.

Alex

Mr. Checkers · Post by **Mr. Checkers** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:24 am

Addictive to the tune of over $235,000 according to the IRS. :lol:

tommyc · Post by **tommyc** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:27 am

The old sayings are still ringing true............I remember well the saying

TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING IS BAD FOR YOU.

Ms Becky...........Germs play an important part in our immune system so we just got to have them.

Mr. Checkers · Post by **Mr. Checkers** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:41 am

Perhaps it would help if we dipped the checkers in a glass of "Vodka" before the game? :lol:

tommyc · Post by **tommyc** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:47 am

That might be one way of beating Alex??

Ply the pieces w/Vodka......grrrrrrrrrr

The American Checker Federation