You're a winner!

[Perd Hapley]

I was watching the below video, in which the presenter says that most people will identify with the underdog, and try to think of how he can overcome his opponent. Instead, he says, we should identify with the person who's winning. We identify with the underdog, because we've been conditioned against thinking of ourselves as using violence to our advantage, so we should instead think of ourselves as being dominant, and being good at violence.

https://youtu.be/HROsqfsJkx8?t=12m56s

I've come across this idea before, and I can see the value of it. However...

The problem is that he's asking people what they would do, and it only makes sense to assume he wants a solution for the guy who appears to be losing the fight. I mean, usually you don't ask questions like, "If you were winning, how would you win?" So if people are identifying with the underdog, I think it's mainly because they've been asked to solve a problem, so they look for the thing that appears to need solving.

On the other hand, if the criminals are all seeing themselves as being on top, maybe that tells us something. Does it just tell us they're too lazy to solve problems? 


Also, on the topic of picturing yourself as a winner, I have to post this:

https://youtu.be/S7Mb6z1pMJg?t=1m52s

[freakazoid]

Also, on the topic of picturing yourself as a winner, I have to post this:

https://youtu.be/S7Mb6z1pMJg?t=1m52s

You call that a motivational speech?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

[Hawkmoon]

You call that a motivational speech?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8

"The uploader has not made this video available in your country."

[Ron]

It has been decades since I've done any training for physical confrontation or "combat". It's also been decades since I was actually involved in a physical confrontation.

I used to be about 30#'s heavier, mostly muscle from lifting heavy. While now I'm much smaller at 185#'s my mindset never really changed. Oftentimes I respond to bullies and the like like I'm bigger and meaner than I generally see myself. It must not be too much over the top bravado considering I've managed to avoid having to fight for so long. I'd like to think I have good deescalation skills along with just enough physical presence to give others pause to reflect.

My only hope is that I will have the situational awareness to recognize that overwhelming, unflinching violence is required for my survival, if that time ever comes. The location and lifestyle I've chosen limits my exposure to situations where that would be necessary. But we all know, bad things do happen to innocent people .

I've internalized the part of The Lords Prayer that says "lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil'. If I shake off this mortal coil never having been in another fight or God forbid having to shoot someone I will be pleased that I was spared that burden.   

How that relates to a winning mindset? If I am pushed to the point of violence it probably means I am in the right, protecting myself or others from what I perceive is a mortal threat. That means I'm all in and I am going to go for the quickest, meanest and effective way to win.

[Bob F.]

I'm with you Ron; at 71 yrs old, pretty good deescalation skills, and enough physical demeanor to cause some to hesitate. But if I gotta fight:"hurt the other guy bad enough that he won't have any interest in a rematch."

"The best defense is a swift and violent offense." Don't know who said that first; someone wiser and older than me.

Stay safe.
Bob

[Ben]

I'm with you Ron; at 71 yrs old, pretty good deescalation skills, and enough physical demeanor to cause some to hesitate. But if I gotta fight:"hurt the other guy bad enough that he won't have any interest in a rematch."

"The best defense is a swift and violent offense." Don't know who said that first; someone wiser and older than me.

Stay safe.
Bob

Hey,  I thought the motto was, "Never fight an old guy. We fight dirty and we got nothin' to lose. :)

[lee n. field]

Hey,  I thought the motto was, "Never fight an old guy. We fight dirty and we got nothin' to lose. :)

And running's not an option anymore.