We have this in ranked online competitive multiplayer FPS (first person shooter) games. And like you I wonder why they even bother: the easy wins are going to be offset by everyone judging you.
It would be definitely interesting to investigate as a psychological phenomenon, if there are answers that can be found anywhere (interviews -- have any ringers opened up about why they do this at all?).
For me this was a rare event, hence why I thought it was worth writing about. Martial arts are mostly honourable, it was an odd thing. I reckon the guy thought it was fair game for his ego, shooting fish in a barrel. I suppose he must have had a restricted moral compass. There are some strange people in the world.
Online gaming, by its nature, gives people the ability to hide, that's why for some people it's easier to disengage their conscience.
This sort of Pyrrhic victory is all too common, unfortunately.
I do have a good ringer story for you, Tim. The tournament I founded used to run submission-only events - no time limits, and the only way to win was via submission. Not every event was like this, but we ran at least 20 of these. Competitors loved them. Spectators? Well, it just wasn't for them.
The last division of the day was the white belt absolute (open weight) division. These white belts had just barely enough defense to keep them alive for a really long time, but little ability to finish the match. We joked (but never EVER seriously considered) sending in a team of purple belts wearing white belts (ringers/sandbaggers, but even more comically absurd) to clean house so everyone could go home before midnight.
We have this in ranked online competitive multiplayer FPS (first person shooter) games. And like you I wonder why they even bother: the easy wins are going to be offset by everyone judging you.
It would be definitely interesting to investigate as a psychological phenomenon, if there are answers that can be found anywhere (interviews -- have any ringers opened up about why they do this at all?).
I don't think anyone is going to open up.
For me this was a rare event, hence why I thought it was worth writing about. Martial arts are mostly honourable, it was an odd thing. I reckon the guy thought it was fair game for his ego, shooting fish in a barrel. I suppose he must have had a restricted moral compass. There are some strange people in the world.
Online gaming, by its nature, gives people the ability to hide, that's why for some people it's easier to disengage their conscience.
This sort of Pyrrhic victory is all too common, unfortunately.
I do have a good ringer story for you, Tim. The tournament I founded used to run submission-only events - no time limits, and the only way to win was via submission. Not every event was like this, but we ran at least 20 of these. Competitors loved them. Spectators? Well, it just wasn't for them.
The last division of the day was the white belt absolute (open weight) division. These white belts had just barely enough defense to keep them alive for a really long time, but little ability to finish the match. We joked (but never EVER seriously considered) sending in a team of purple belts wearing white belts (ringers/sandbaggers, but even more comically absurd) to clean house so everyone could go home before midnight.
Good times.