From: James Harnett <mharnett <at> USWEST <dot> NET>
Date: 19 sep 1999
Subject: Re: Why work?

>Thank you for shouting your voice above the conspicuous silence. My
>replies are trivial in comparison but.....
>
>Harping on the old theme, by looking at the days on which I receive mail
>I can suppose that most of Pieter's subscribers are playing while
>working. I have a different schedule so during the pregnant pause I will
>take issue with myself. Thinking further about the meaning of the result
>and shogi as a social exchange mechanism it did dawn upon me that the
>shogi situation of personal expression and faith in one's ideas could be
>a competitive environment for some players, there also exist the players
>who want to discuss the idea rather than to try to show that they are
>"correct". (Whereby we maintain our opponent). This facility, kindly
>donated by Pieter, also functions as a sphere within which anyboby can
>express and defend their opinion, much like a game of shogi in itself.
>Yet rather than discussion we tend to read mail instructing us in the
>means of indulging in shogi without having to engage personanally.
>Eventually I formed the suspiscion that shogi players chose shogi on
>account of an inability to communicate by other means.
>The unavoidable truth is that I also am a shogi player.
>Michael S.

Reading your commentary and trying to understand some of the ideas that you
want to convey is a little difficult.  I really do not know where to begin
asking question in trying to understand what you really want to say.  There
are contradictions and ambiguities in it.  I want to agree with some of what
you say in one minute and in the next, argue that you are wrong!?!

I think that for many people, playing the game of shogi, is a way of
expressing their ideas or strategies through the execution of moves or
tactics.  There are many people who do not care to socialize with verbose
prose, but care only for the competition found in shogi as a way of
relaxing.  I find that physical and mental exercise are analogous to the
games of volleyball and shogi.  They both offer me a way to relax.  I find
that corresponding with you and others about my and your ideas is
socializing and a way for me to feel more confident and secure about myself
as a person who cares about others.

There are people from all over the world in here who send e-mail.  Many are
employed in any number of professions.  Some are financially secure who do
not need to work in the same way.  It is an oversight to suggest that all of
these people are sending e-mail while at work and getting paid by the hour
for it.  Not everyone is working the same hours as you.  Do you work?  What
are your hours?  Do you read or send e-mail during your paid hours of work?
Does it matter to anyone other than the owner(s) of the companies that you
or others work for?

This is a forum for Shogi enthusiasts.  It is possible that not very many of
the people who play shogi, are also, on the mailing list to receive these
e-mails.
BTW, you should check your spelling.

James