Why do we care about winning?

[Believer]

19 hours ago, inkman said:

 Like 38 triple F seems more my style.  At least that’s what my wife is 🙂. 

So is Dolly Parton. But can your wife sing?

[Cranky old man]

The fault dear Claudius, lies not in ourselves but in the Sabres…..

losing  is not a good show, it’s not a worthwhile show. It steals from our soul the essence of being. 

[That Aud Smell]

On 12/29/2024 at 10:13 PM, Porous Five Hole said:

Why do we care about them and this? My answer is because I was in the building when Derek Plante ended OT game seven against Ottawa. Euphoria. The building shook. that felt AMAZING. I will chase that high for the rest of my life. I had nothing to do with it but react, but it was FUN! That’s why we care about winning. 

This is the correct answer, imo.

My general theory is that pro sports victories are a proxy/gateway for feelings of human connection, belonging. What’s the point of your team’s victory if you’ve nobody to share it with?

“I see friends shaking hands, saying ‘how do you do?’ / They’re really saying ‘I love you.’”

Saying ”Go Bills” to strangers (or loved ones) is in a similar vein.

[That Aud Smell]

Is that tribalism? I’m not sure. Tribalism provides a sense of belonging, acceptance, and place. But I think what we seek through our team’s victories is more benign than tribalism.

[That Aud Smell]

Then there are cultural factors at play.

And they tend to illuminate @Stoner’s point.

Those euro dudes who travel to go nuts for UPL? They’re getting “it.”

In England, people aren’t “fans” of a soccer club; they’re “supporters.” Words matter. There’s a material difference there.

[bob_sauve28]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

Is that tribalism? I’m not sure. Tribalism provides a sense of belonging, acceptance, and place. But I think what we seek through our team’s victories is more benign than tribalism.

What about those people that don't even know what icing is? But they watch because their friends and family watch, they don't care much about winning and losing except that it makes their friends and family happy or unhappy. That's not bad, it just is what it is 

So literally winning will create more fans that don't care about winning! 

[Thorner]

4 hours ago, bob_sauve28 said:

What about those people that don't even know what icing is? But they watch because their friends and family watch, they don't care much about winning and losing except that it makes their friends and family happy or unhappy. That's not bad, it just is what it is 

So literally winning will create more fans that don't care about winning! 

They’ll care about winning if they want their friends and family to be happy 

That’s the reason I watch - it’s the joy of celebrating with loved ones 

And it’s why runs like 2006 are enough. 

[Sidc3000]

On 12/29/2024 at 10:07 PM, PerreaultForever said:

Online sports betting is creating a generation of dopamine addicts but that's another discussion. 

Smartphones started the constant dopamine push. Online betting is just taking advantage. 

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, Sidc3000 said:

Smartphones started the constant dopamine push. Online betting is just taking advantage. 

Sure, and the internet and it's a whole brave new world of instant highs and lows.

Interesting academic thing I heard was the model is based on the idea that young white males always think they are smarter than "the system" and generally just smarter than others. This fuels gambling but also self investing. The reality is they are not and they generally underperform the market and generally lose in sports betting. The sports betting algorithm apparently also makes it harder for you if you are winning so if you have an account in good standing it likely means you are a loser.