Strength or Looking Strong?

[Nikolas73]

For reasons mentioned above I voted for the first option, but perhaps the second could be useful in handicap games...?

[palapiku]

I'm still not sure I understand what the poll is asking, but I'll give it a try. Since humans are social animals, social interaction is one of the most important things for us. For the purposes of communication, appearances are much more important than actual characteristics. Being strong without appearing strong is not very useful, unless you're fighting a war or unless strength itself is of vital importance. Strength is rarely of vital importance. Therefore, being weak while appearing strong is the more useful and desirable combination.

Assuming the question refers to Go (I'm still not sure): Would you rather be 20k and have a 9d account, or the other way around? I would rather have the former. That way I could play some games with strong players, and have people listen to and respect my opinion. Whereas the other way around I'm just a boring sandbagger.

[kokomi]

I'm still not sure I understand what the poll is asking, but I'll give it a try. Since humans are social animals, social interaction is one of the most important things for us. For the purposes of communication, appearances are much more important than actual characteristics. Being strong without appearing strong is not very useful, unless you're fighting a war or unless strength itself is of vital importance. Strength is rarely of vital importance. Therefore, being weak while appearing strong is the more useful and desirable combination.

Assuming the question refers to Go (I'm still not sure): Would you rather be 20k and have a 9d account, or the other way around? I would rather have the former. That way I could play some games with strong players, and have people listen to and respect my opinion. Whereas the other way around I'm just a boring sandbagger.

I'd like to be 9D and have a 20k account. If i were 9D, i won't care who i play against.

[oren]

I'd like to be 9D and have a 20k account. If i were 9D, i won't care who i play against.

This sounds like a Twilight Zone episode. What would it be like to be the only 9d in a world of 20k.

Sounds awful.

[Loons]

I'd like to be weak and appear weak and be known not to improve. Life would be so simple! As it stands I have to desperately chase after peoples' expectations of me. I'm sort of the red queen of japanese board games.

(It strikes me that sounds odd if you're not familiar with it, and a little even if you are; the red queen's always in a rush; not to get ahead but to desperately try and keep up! I am in fact not a crossdresser, for future reference. It's from Through the Looking Glass (and what Alice found there) by Lewis Carrol, and a common hypothesis for why sexual reproduction is so widely used (to keep up with pathogens etc)).

[SpongeBob]

I am missing my favourite option: 'Appear as strong as you are'.

[ketchup]

I am missing my favourite option: 'Appear as strong as you are'.

Turn your rank off on KGS, and have some fun. It's amazing how much a rank turned off and guessing 1 out of 300ish/ 2 out of 300ish moves does for your "rank"

[Rafa]

There's a popular saying: Speak softly and carry a big gun. :p

My thoughts exactly