Have you ever noticed that in the movies, literature, and any other mediums telling stories of human interactions the underdog is always the hero of the story? Always! So technically, the underdog character is in fact not the underdog. They get the girl/boy, they get the job, they get the money, and the bully is humiliated in public and stripped of their ego. I think that this would make the popular, arrogant, snobby characters the underdogs. Not that they should garner any sympathy…we should simply change the definition of the word “underdog.”
Was it ever popular to be “popular?” If we are taking our social cues from movies then definitely not. It is true that in high school, the cool and popular kids were usually also the mean and cruel kids. They were outnumbered by the quiet, nerdy, awkward, nice kids. I understand that being quiet, nerdy, awkward, and nice did put me and the mass of kids at a disadvantage (the relative definition of “underdog”) during high school. Why though? If we outnumbered the popular kids, what gave them the advantage? I suppose it was their grotesque ability to belittle the masses. Their hormones drove them to act wildly, like arrogant, cheeky stallions. They represent the age old dilemma of a lack of confidence compensated by cruelness to mask their emotional shortcomings. Hence, the arrogant, grotesque, cheeky necessity to belittle the masses.
However, most “underdogs” realize that they are eventually going to have a stereotypically better life than the popular kids. They strive for jobs that tend to pay more money due to their demanding nature. All flavors of engineers, doctors, lawyers, inventors, computer gurus, and all nerdlinger related professions. More money in this society equals a higher social status, a more attractive mate, and more luxuries of life. Having spent my entire life with these types of people, I can confidently state that these kids know in their heart of hearts that they are better than the popular clique. They harbor a secret arrogance of their own. I know, I harbor my own secret arrogance.
I recognized that in order to survive the death gantlet of high school, I had to work harder at every endeavor. What are we taught in this society? Hard work makes you a better person…not an underdog. In America, working hard technically does not put you at a disadvantage, and us underlings know that. We know that it makes us superior people. While we wallow away in our misery of braces, acne, glasses, used clothes, and an absurd amount of book knowledge, we are secretly bolstering our egos. While the popular kids are trying to devastate our egos, we are reinforcing them with heat treated steel, anger, and knowledge.
I say there is a curse of the underdog because of the secret ego. A secret ego is almost more appalling than I blatant, obvious ego. We refuse to express our egos for fear of becoming one of the evil popular kids who tormented us. We have no idea what is a healthy display of ego. The confusion of contradicting agendas is a curse. Embrace the ego and potentially become like one of the popular kids or condemn the ego and confine yourself to a life of inner conflict? Dun, dun, DUUUNNN!!!
An old video but applicable.
If the original underdogs end up with sex, money, and happiness, then I feel as though the popular kids, who usually do NOT outnumber the meek and have tendencies to end up leading a life void of accomplishments, should be named the new underdogs. They are fewer in ranks, have more confidence issues, work less, make less money, and therefore, put themselves at a disadvantage.
I think it is due time that us nerdlingers embrace our egos and fucking own it! Of course, I have very little money and I have emotional issues up the wazoo but I most definitely do not identify with the new underdogs/the popular kids. I identify with the tormented geniuses. However, I am no genius. Just smart…smarter than the popular kids.
Soooo, I am better than them? I will own it. I will look down my nose at them. I’m tall enough. Won’t you be my nerd neighbor?
i’ll be your nerd neighbor. confession: sometimes, when those people (i’m not going to name names, but i think you probably know of whom i speak) ask to be my facebook friend now, i allow it to be so for just long enough to confirm all of what you just said. what an ego have i! whatever; people who used to torment me five days a week spend all their time now binge drinking and desperately trying to get married. i’m not incredibly successful but goddamn is that ever satisfying to learn.
Oh so true! I have done the same thing! Own it.