[WildParser]

Very well written. I always preferred mathematics to chess, because the competitive aspect of chess always seemed to hinder collaboration.

Seeing the same lack of collaboration in university was really disappointing. Friendly people listened passively, less friendly people liked to listen and contradict. The willingness to actually share knowledge seemed to be almost non-existent.

I haven't solved the puzzle yet why sharing knowledge is so hard. Some people don't have knowledge to share, some want to keep an advantage, and the barbaric instincts to reject unfamiliar ideas tramples the remaining few sparks.

Noticing my own barbaric instincts in action was enlightening.