American Culture and the underdog

FaxModem1 · Post by **FaxModem1** » 2003-09-29 12:17am

Why is it that Americans love the underdog in stories, when currently, we are the top of the food chain(please, no flames, I just mean in a lot of ways, Americans have the advantage). So why do we love stories where the underdog defeats the all powerful ones?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-09-29 12:20am

We are taught when we are young to take pride in how we fought hard for our freedom. That pride in the underdog stays with us our entire life. Either we continue to cherish the things we fought for when we're older, or we get arrogant about it.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-09-29 12:23am

Besides there is real drama in underdog stories. No one wants to hear about David vs. Goliath where Goliath stepso on and kills David. This underdog mentality goes all the way back to the first stories told.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-29 12:29am

It's not Americans in particular who love underdog stories; it's all human beings. Americans happen to be human.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-09-29 12:31am

Darth Wong wrote:It's not Americans in particular who love underdog stories; it's all human beings. Americans happen to be human.

Except for the CIA's supersolider legion

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2003-09-29 12:31am

I sort of like it when the bad guys win. Remember the game Dungeon Keeper? That was mad fun.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2003-09-29 12:35am

Also, In the same vein (That more people may be familiar with) Tecmo's deception. That game owned, and you got to kill innocent old men and ladies and explorers who really didn't do anything to you.

On the other hand. I am a Miami Dolphins fan, so I know all about pulling for the underdog...

Oh, by the way.
HAR HAR, BUFFALO FANS!!! AAAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-09-29 12:38am

StormTrooperTR889 wrote:I sort of like it when the bad guys win. Remember the game Dungeon Keeper? That was mad fun.

The good guys aren't always the underdog.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-09-29 12:42am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
StormTrooperTR889 wrote:I sort of like it when the bad guys win. Remember the game Dungeon Keeper? That was mad fun.
The good guys aren't always the underdog.

So you're saying we should have been rooting for the Iraqis during the war?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-29 12:43am

Stravo wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:The good guys aren't always the underdog.
So you're saying we should have been rooting for the Iraqis during the war?

At the risk of starting a thread hijack, do you understand why certain parts of the world did precisely that? It's not necessarily because they're "full of hate" as some said, but because Iraq was a huge underdog.

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2003-09-29 12:45am

Depends on who the underdog is, and why. Creationism vs. Science debates for example.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-09-29 12:45am

Darth Wong wrote:
Stravo wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:The good guys aren't always the underdog.
So you're saying we should have been rooting for the Iraqis during the war?
At the risk of starting a thread hijack, do you understand why certain parts of the world did precisely that? It's not necessarily because they're "full of hate" as some said, but because Iraq was a huge underdog.

Actually unlike some of the more colorful members of the pro war contingent I have always been well aware of the American status in the Arab world and why there were Palestinians dancing in the streets in 9/11.

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » 2003-09-29 12:54am

Hijack!! Hijack!! I herby un-hijack this thread!! (post deleted, post deleted). Haha Wong. Let's see you beat that.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-09-29 01:50am

Americans tend to love underdog stories because we were once the underdogs, the Rebellion fighting the Empire. Britain, in this case.

And like DW said, rooting for the underdog is pretty much universal; it's probably a psychological thing. Gives people a feeling of worth, that they can change the world.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-09-29 02:04am

Its all about making people feel like they're not insignificant, when we know we really are. It's very hard to change the world by yourself, you have to be smart or be tough, and even then it isn't always enough. And no, that wasn't meant to rhyme, it just happened that way.

And Dalton, American's don't love it just because we were once the underdogs. Remember, noone alive was ever around to participate in that glorious revolt. Some how we're made to cherish these things.

pellaeons_scion · Post by **pellaeons_scion** » 2003-09-29 08:14pm

Americans tend to love underdog stories because we were once the underdogs, the Rebellion fighting the Empire. Britain, in this case.

Unfortunately the times have changed, and the roles reversed. Maybe its an attempt to at least keep the idea of being the underdog in mind? Im a bit confused, why would you want to watch movies that portray the underdog struggling against the system, when at present the US is teh most powerful nation in the world? Just seems odd to me.

I see nothing wrong with supporting the underdog. Its kind of an aussie tradition, the whole anti-authority stance...we just were'nt as ready to use violence to uphold that view

Im also unsure how a revolt can be classed as glorious

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2003-09-29 09:16pm

Darth Wong wrote:It's not Americans in particular who love underdog stories; it's all human beings. Americans happen to be human.

What is this 'human' you speak of?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-09-29 09:21pm

It's basically why I always pretend that Constantine routed Mehmet.