Letting someone win...

Have you ever let someone win? Even when it's just a board game or something bigger?

I have total disdain for the concept. To me, it's just fake and insulting.

I once played chess with a kid who was about 10 years old. I DID NOT LET HIM WIN!


I was quite surprised when he checkmated me.

Kids learn games faster than adults and often play aggressively. This kid did a football victory dance after checkmate.

Throwing a game is dishonest and even kids can see thru it. Just like me and my cousins knew that grandma tried to cheat in Rook.

I probably have

Shale wrote:I once played chess with a kid who was about 10 years old. I DID NOT LET HIM WIN!

Hey, you didn't know

After teaching my young husband canasta he lost and lost and lost, do I let him win. That was a big mistake because it took me another year to be able to beat him again.

My grandmother taught me several card games and I play cut throat because I had to get good as she never gave an inch. I really even yet appreciate that so I did the same with my kids. Then my grandmother got soft with my young cousins and neither of them ever improved.

I've learned the concept of "picking your battles" and "letting people off in ignorance". Sometimes I will let people win an argument just to end the conflict. Even if I know they are wrong and have every confidence in my ability to make them look like a fool, sometimes that's not the best course of action. Some people are really prideful, and get really emotional and hold a grudge when you embarrass them or prove them wrong on something. And that situation can either lead to a real physical fight, or them hating you for the rest of their life. As immature (really infantile) as that sounds, I find it to be true more often than not, and this is regarding grown ass adults. Therefore, sometimes I take 'the high road' and let them win (or at least let them think they won) just so the situation doesn't continue escalate. Some battles aren't worth fighting and sometimes it's better to let your opponent win. Sometimes when YOU win, everybody actually looses in the long run.

captainbryce wrote:I've learned the concept of "picking your battles" and "letting people off in ignorance". Sometimes I will let people win an argument just to end the conflict. Even if I know they are wrong and have every confidence in my ability to make them look like a fool, ...

Sorry, I kinda read between the lines here. I think I am privy to some of what you write and I am sometimes amazed at your stamina to keep up the good fights.

I have....but it depends on my mood and what it is. I realize there are people out there who have the pressing need to think they are best at something or right about something because it makes them feel good. Since I'm a nice enough person (most of the time) I like making people feel good. Who am I to stomp on someone's self esteem?

Yes, sometimes.

Shale wrote:
Sorry, I kinda read between the lines here. I think I am privy to some of what you write and I am sometimes amazed at your stamina to keep up the good fights.

Let me rephrase:

I've learned the concept of "picking your battles" and "letting people off in ignorance". Sometimes I will let people win an argument just to end the conflict. Even if I know they are wrong and have every confidence in my ability to make them look like a fool...tenacity displayed here on Conversation Chamber threads notwithstanding that is...

However, I can point out a few posts even on these boards that I would qualify as "letting someone win". Of course, I wouldn't be able to reveal that information in public (for obvious reasons).

When you have kids, you tend to let them win when they're little. Then comes that weird day when they win on their own.

I have yes. I have a friend that is such a sore loser that I had to let him win a few times so he would not pout.