AI response to what is wrong with fans of a team who always predict their team to lose:
Fans of a team often predict their team will lose a big game as a psychological coping mechanism to manage the intense disappointment and emotional pain of a potential loss. This strategy is a form of defensive pessimism, allowing fans to feel a sense of control over their emotional state.
Psychological Reasons for Fan Pessimism
Emotional Armor: By expecting the worst, fans create "emotional armor". If the team loses, the fan's prediction is confirmed, validating their pessimism and making the loss feel less severe ("I knew they would lose anyway").
A Win-Win Scenario: This mindset creates a perverse "win-win" situation for the fan: If the team loses, the fan avoids severe disappointment because they expected it.
If the team wins, the fan experiences the joy of the victory plus the bonus of being proven wrong, which is an unexpected and thus heightened positive outcome.
Illusion of Control: Fans have no actual control over the game's outcome, which can lead to feelings of anxiety and helplessness. Voicing a negative prediction or engaging in superstitions creates an illusion of influence over the situation, even if it's illogical.
Identity Protection: For highly identified fans, a team's loss feels like a personal failure, as their self-esteem and identity are tied to the team's success (known as "basking in reflected glory" when they win, and "cutting off reflected failure" when they lose). Predicting a loss is a way to distance themselves slightly from the outcome, minimizing the blow to their personal identity.
Managing High Expectations: Many fans, deep down, have unrealistically high expectations and optimism for their team (optimism bias). Publicly predicting a loss can be a way to manage those internal high hopes and the external pressure that comes with being a "true fan" who should always believe.
BAS isn't unique to Aggies. But it is still pathetic.
I resolve in 2026 to be more tolerant and respectful of trolls and emotionally fragile, overly pessimistic posters so they don’t run crying to the mods and have me banned for three days.
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