EssEff

The other day I tripped on a curb and fell - hard! I landed on my bad knee, my hand broke my fall on the other end, and I flopped onto my chest so hard I was afraid I'd broken a rib. (Thank you grandma, for passing me the gene for your boobies - my ribs were well-cushioned)

My friend and the other people on the street were very concerned but I got up in an instant and announced "I'm fine -- really!" even though I hurt all over. I wound up having to take the day off from work the next day because my foot twisted in some horrid way that caused swelling and nasty pain.

Meanwhile, I volunteer in animal rescue and I've worked with several dogs with severe physical ailments. Usually, you can't tell by their behavior that there's anything wrong with them. My nearly-blind dog trots along on walks as if she sees everything around her.

So while I had my foot up and iced I realized I'd evinced the same stoicism that animals naturally do when injured: pretend you're fine and keep up with your pack.

On further reflection, I realized that the standard greeting ritual of "How are you?" "I'm fine, thank you." is an extension of this need to prove fitness. Whenever someone answers with "Actually, my knee hurts and I have a headache and I think I have some kind of stomach bug" the immediate reaction is to say "uh .. have a nice day" and find somewhere else to be.

Not as high-brow as many threads here, but I thought I'd share that revelation.

Porky Pine

Tell me more about your grandma's genes. :devil1:

JPD

Indeed. It is said that one of the least intelligent things one can do is admit that one is injured. It could be seen as an excuse/invitation to exploit.

To let the illness speak for itself is one thing if one has no choice but to speak of it is another entirely. Of course, it depends on the context.

figuer

Interestingly, this line (which is unnecessary, since the post was excellent and very informative), is an example of a contrary survival strategy: Pretend weakness in order to gain sympathy from the "pack". I have seen dogs feign a limp, or whimper, in order to gain a favour from their owners. Adult dogs also behave like puppies to appease the alpha male. Humans of course are masters in provoking pity in others in order to advance their particular survival agendas. In the case of this quote, it seems the purpose was displaying modesty concerning the intellectual merits of the post, in order to dilute possible harsh criticism, or appease some (unmerited) self doubt.

empiricalDeity

I find that soccer players do the reverse. When someone trips them even accidently, they lie on the grass, appearing almost unconscience and show this face of agony. Since the team can be awarded if the opponent who trips is found guitly by the judge, i would thing that it invites players to act as if they sustained more injury then they really have. In other words they fake alot of the emotions and the condition they really are in.

Gullwind

I've been known to pretend to be at least somewhat hurt just to cover up my own clumsiness. People tend not to laugh at you if they think you're actually hurt.

Tangent

It's not going to work! Let's get him boys!

EssEff

*rolls over, reveals belly, wags tail*

Yeah you're right!

EssEff

Pictures of her at the same age are virtually identical to me, but she had no upper lip. I got big fat lips from daddy. Everything else that's big & fat comes from grandma.

EssEff

We had a whiner at work who went on and on about every little ailment. It's attention-getting, and giving himself a sense of specialness, imho. Look at meeeeee I have this pain right heeeeeeere! We have another one who coddles herself every time she gets a little cold, and gives us running details along with disgusting sound effects audible throughout cubeville. In modern society, there's a payoff for that, but it's limited. When either of these people starts in on a running monologue of their ailment du jour everyone runs the other way. So, while they're acting in non-evolutionary ways, the rest of us are acting appropriately: Ewwww sick/injured pack member! RUN! Get away from the predator-magnet!