The under dog?

Question

From sports to politics, under dogs are often favored. Sometimes it's about the adversity they're facing, but it often, to me, seems to be about some conferred morality, as if to say that being weaker makes something morally superior, or always deserving of the greater empathy, whatever the circumstance.

Why is that? Is it about believing greater power must be more restrained and tolerant?

Your thoughts?

Politics covers more than elections.

Answer 1

An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports, and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party expected to win is called the favorite. If the underdog wins, the event is known as an upset. These terms are commonly used in sports betting.

The origin of the word "underdog" comes from naval shipbuilding when the planks of wood were sawn for their construction. The logs of wood were placed over a pit on planks of wood called "dogs" (a bit like fire dogs). The senior sawsman stood on top of the plank and he was the overdog. The junior had to go into the pit and saw and of course he got covered in saw dust. He was the "underdog".

My Thoughts Are Always That The Underdog Represents What Is Hidden And possible In All Of Us. We (Or I) Tend To Favor The Underdog Because That Could Be You Or Me. Side Note The underdog Makes More money (Gambling) If He Wins

Answer 2

I think it has something to do with the modern American conception of justice; especially with the idea of Gods justice and the percieved natural order of the universe.
Not so long ago the winner was always assumed to be the stronger one in somewhat simple terms. Mans justice was the perogative of the ruler. Then someone invented the idea that God punishes the bad and rewards the good. This was an extension of the idea that the better competitor wins, but it provides a reason for the victory; for causes seen or unseen, the winner is the better person. Everybody knows that the powers that be often abuse their position or ignore the suffering of the people below them, and the possibility that someone who possess a greater share of Gods favor, or goodness, might win, gives hope to ordinary people who get trampled on.
Link that up with modern ideas about natural selection and social Darwinism, and it also adds to peoples hope because we can all share in the conviction that who is on top today will not always be there. Maybe our day will come.
This is a powerful tool that can be used for political and entertainment purposes. It lends a certain level of satisfaction to the game when there is an upset. Sports and newscasters, and religious leaders, can all use this to convince people that better days are coming, and thereby generate more hype, fanfare, and publicity.
This is a really interesting question and I have certainly not finished thinking about this. Thanks for asking!

Answer 3

I always root for the underdog! I guess because it's more romantic. You expect the seemingly best & strongest to come out victorious, that's nothing exciting but when an unlikely hero emerges, when someone seemingly weak or disadvantaged overcomes the obstacles, beats the odds & wins it gives hope to all of us out there, that maybe we can achieve great things too. It's like the longshot in a race. When the odds are against a horse, the payout is that much greater if they win & much more exciting because no one expected them to do well. It makes for a better movie too. The underdog is often the hero because yes, we sympathize with them.

Answer 4

Oh no... no big morality.. Sheer politics.. Much easier to gather a majority of weak ones, by giving out doles.
Interestingly, in some recent race for handicapped/disabled children was conducted, a boy fell, and others noticing it just a few steps from finish line, turned back and all the participants held their arms of each other and in one row finished the race together, giving out too many well meant messages !
It requires a lot of courage to refuse undeserved concessions !
Else, it is just a mutual benefit scheme , excluding the innocent performers !

Answer 5

The whole scheme behind "underdog" is one of exploiting Human weakness. Over these thousands of years we have believed only in Good winning over the evil. There we have had no moral corruption to choose the evil, even if it was an underdog. . Correct me if I am wrong !

It is only later that we came to choose between two "goods" and sometimes two "evils". . Look at our attitute. While we want the better "good " to win we donot want the better "evil" to win!

so , where is the underdog coming in? Only by exploying the emotions of people interested group plays the card well.

Answer 6

I just think most people want to root for the un-expected. We see the ordinary every day. We see the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. We all know what it's like to be looked down appon by someone, or to not be thought of as highly as someone. So we naturally like to see the little guy win.

Answer 7

Yes, one possibility that still waters are usually deep.

The other more likely one is that even as they carry more odds, the ever present uncertainty factor makes them a better bet.

And finally, every dog has his day - even an underdog!

Answer 8

I think it relates to personal resentment for those who are better or more perfect. This leads one to identify with the under dog and if the under dog can triumph it is a triumph for the individual in proxy.

Answer 9

simple,humanity is about struggle,everybody at some point in their life needs a hero,what better proof of powerlessness over oneself than taking on a mighty opponent whom you have no chance of beating and persevering to the point of victory,its the most classic story of all,from the beginning of time.

Answer 10

The underdog usually loses an election, so he is not really favored.