CDZ The Fascination with Underdogs

[usmbguest5318]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

 

[Pogo]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

People root for the underdog because they need to do more to prevail. They have a higher level to climb and therefore it's more dramatic if they do so. It's the emotional return.

I don't tend to root for some team only because it's an underdog. I have to be emotionally invested before I get interested at all. But I can tell you it's always a sweeter taste if you were not expected to prevail, than it is if you were.

 

[task0778]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

People root for the underdog because they need to do more to prevail. They have a higher level to climb and therefore it's more dramatic if they do so. It's the emotional return.

I don't tend to root for some team only because it's an underdog. I have to be emotionally invested before I get interested at all. But I can tell you it's always a sweeter taste if you were not expected to prevail, than it is if you were.

Congrats on your Eagles win! Best superbowl game in a long time.

 

[petro]

I think its in the country's DNA. We were the underdog when we declared independence.
May even go further back to David and Goliath. Humans feel a sense of hope that against all odds there is possible victory against a mighty foe.

 

[Toronado3800]

Most people see a little bit of themselves in the underdog.

I feel it is natural to see more of your own problems than other people's so we think we ARE the underdog. Heck, I can't feel your stiff back in the morning just mine so I know my problems lol.

Anyway, the underdog winning makes for an interesting story.

 

[Hellbilly]

Rocky tho....

Sent from my SM-J727VPP using Tapatalk

 

[Wyatt earp]

 

[Wyatt earp]

Most people see a little bit of themselves in the underdog.

I feel it is natural to see more of your own problems than other people's so we think we ARE the underdog. Heck, I can't feel your stiff back in the morning just mine so I know my problems lol.

Anyway, the underdog winning makes for an interesting story.

Correction conservatives see themselves as "underdogs", lefties see themselves as "victims" ..

 

[Pogo]

Most people see a little bit of themselves in the underdog.

I feel it is natural to see more of your own problems than other people's so we think we ARE the underdog. Heck, I can't feel your stiff back in the morning just mine so I know my problems lol.

Anyway, the underdog winning makes for an interesting story.

Correction conservatives see themselves as "underdogs", lefties see themselves as "victims" ..

You may have a point --- every time I read one of your inane posts I feel robbed.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Even though we are one of the most dominate countries, most of our family histories are full of; "My family came here with nothing, now look at us."


America should have failed, we should have lost the Revolution, the South should have won, women get to vote, equal rights.


Underdog is our dna

 

[westwall]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

Of course, being victorious as the underdog is the ultimate demonstration of the strength of the human spirit. It is that strength that has allowed mankind to prosper. If we always just said "ah, the heck with it, they are too tough", or "that problem is too hard to figure out" we would have never been founded as a country, and man would have never ventured...anywhere.

 

[Toronado3800]

Most people see a little bit of themselves in the underdog.

I feel it is natural to see more of your own problems than other people's so we think we ARE the underdog. Heck, I can't feel your stiff back in the morning just mine so I know my problems lol.

Anyway, the underdog winning makes for an interesting story.

Correction conservatives see themselves as "underdogs", lefties see themselves as "victims" ..

I know you probably just hit the "Latest Threads" link. This one is in the CDZ though.

 

[Pogo]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

Not a direct address of the "why" question in the OP --- already did that --- but here's a graphic I just came across that demonstrates its existence and the scale thereof:

Individual state data on the page here.
It's a map much like an Electrical College map --- some of the state numbers were close, others obviously not.

North Dakota (one of the close ones) is a bit queer, though it's a small sample size. On the one hand they'd presumably be Vikings fans, who got upset for the right to play in the Stupor Bowl; on the other hand it's also where the Iggles' starting star QB Carson Wentz came from.

 

[Circe]

I bet you hate it that casinos throw out card counters............

 

[AZGAL]

Tom Petty sang about being the underdog a lot. ---but hey now: In Chinese astrology this is now the year of the Dog!

 

[yiostheoy]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

Due to the principle aka unintended consequence of DIS-economies of scale, a smaller firm is probably going to do a better job than a bigger one.

It really all depends on what you need to have done.

Generally, smaller is better.

 

[yiostheoy]

As for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, everyone is pretty much sick of them.

And Brady is old now -- 40. He showed that he cannot elude younger defensive linemen and linebackers.

 

[Wyatt earp]

As for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, everyone is pretty much sick of them.

And Brady is old now -- 40. He showed that he cannot elude younger defensive linemen and linebackers.

I betcha he wins two more.


.

 

[usmbguest5318]

What is it about American culture's fascination with underdogs? I'm not, nor have I ever been, a "root for the underdog" fellows. I'm a pragmatist, a philosophical positivist, and rather risk averse. That whole "root for the underdog" thing just isn't part of my nature.

I started a firm of my own and know what it feels like to be the underdog competing for a contract. I'm not going to lie; I don't like that feeling at all. I much prefer being in the position of something being "mine to lose." Be that as it is, life doesn't always allow one to be the favorite, so one must yet figure out how to be the underdog and prevail.

Make no mistake, I'm very competitive professionally and I "play" very much by the "rules of the game." I've lost plenty of times when I was the underdog, though rarely to underdog competitors. Similarly, I never let my kids win at games I was teaching them to play or best me, other than by their own efforts, at skills that I was helping them develop by turning it into a contest of sorts. Hell, I don't gamble because casinos throw out card counters (I think that is so wrong) and they don't offer gambling opportunities on other games at which I'm fairly good.

So what about you? Do you root for underdogs? Why or why not?

Due to the principle aka unintended consequence of DIS-economies of scale, a smaller firm is probably going to do a better job than a bigger one.

It really all depends on what you need to have done.

Generally, smaller is better.

Due to the principle aka unintended consequence of DIS-economies of scale, a smaller firm is probably going to do a better job than a bigger one.

I can assure you there is no sound basis for thinking that merely on account of its smaller size that a smaller firm will "o a better job than a bigger one."

 

[Pogo]

As for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, everyone is pretty much sick of them.

And Brady is old now -- 40. He showed that he cannot elude younger defensive linemen and linebackers.

I betcha he wins two more.

Nah. You just saw the end --- whether Bobby Brady is ready to admit it yet or not, he's done. Toast with a fork stuck in it. He can either go out on top now, or slide into self-embarrassing fade.