This page is number 40 in a long list of answers to the question Why Did You Start Go
I am Jared Beck
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A family friend whom I respected taught me to play Go.
I've always loved games. Go became my favorite game in 2003, when I found my University's Go club.
I heard about Go from a friend, then learned the basics from a book. There was really no one to play for 10 years. I thought it was a neat game, but since no one else played it, I couldn't get too excited about it.
Not at all! I never guessed how much I would come to enjoy it.
Interesting question. We cannot directly make Go more popular in the West. The current Western culture cannot support a game such as Go. The people's attention spans are too limited, and not enough emphasis is placed on personal mental development. Without this emphasis, not enough respect is given to those who do develop thier minds. Without the cultural support for Western Go celebrities, Go cannot attain mass appeal.
Nonetheless, Go can still become somewhat more popular. I teach anyone who listens. I don't, however, see Go becoming broadly popular, without a change of paradigm among the populace.
I would note that the University atmosphere is the perfect place to spread Go: lively, competitive environment of peers/friends, with respect given to acknowledged masters (just as students acknowledge professors).
Introduced to Go by family friend, who loans me a Go book. Given a cheap set by grandparents, who most likely purchased it while traveling. The set must have sat in thier house until I randomly mentioned the game. At this point, I am interested in the game, but have only the family friend to play against.
Forget about Go altogether.
Discover Empty Sky Go Club, attend Empty Sky infrequently. Play every other week or so with a friend.
Study goproblems.com while at work. Play on Fridays at Ithaca Go Club.
Play frequently at Empty Sky.
Play online (on KGS) for the first time.
My Iwamoto Kaoru number becomes 2, making my Go Seigen number an amazing 3 and my Shusaku number a decent 5.