Competitive Ass
I love playing games. And all sorts of games! Board games, card games, wii games, sports games…
Here’s the problem though – I really have to limit myself to non competitive games, so, non-strategy board games, kids’ card games, wii games where I play with another person rather than against them, and no sports games…
BECAUSE I TURN IN TO A COMPETITIVE ASS.
This is the name Steven coined for me, oh, who knows how many years ago.* And it’s true. I turn in to a total competitive jerk ass when I am playing a game and want to win. And it usually doesn’t bode well for me. Examples:
- In my strength class last night we were doing jumping plank/pushup things, followed by a plank, then a plank walk to the center of the room to hit one of those Staples easy buttons. There were less buttons than people. So what did I do? I did all my stuff, then started my walk, then dove across the floor to hit a button. In the process, I tore up the scab on my left knee and had blood all over it the rest of the night. Smooth.
- In college, I played a game of indoor soccer as a sub for another team once. I really wanted the ball so I did a slide tackle to do it. On indoor turf. An illegal move. An illegal move that tore up the entire side of my leg. Oops. I really wanted the ball.
- We cannot play Phase 10 in my family because people gang up on one another, and other people get really pissed off… I won’t name any names, but I have been guilty of both. And it’s caused a few fights.
Those examples seem pretty tame, but believe me, I turn in to a competitive jerk ass. So I like to stick to “get to know you games” like Apples to Apples or Loaded Questions, where I don’t care if I win. Or play wii tennis with Steven against the computer. And I just have to stay away from sports. Must be why running works for me – I’m not on a team.
Do you have any competitive ass tendencies? Or are you able to play games and not care if you win?
*Apparently at least since 2009, since I mentioned it here and here. He probably thought of it when we started dating in 2002 though.
Themocracy
I used to be REALLY BAD about this. What fixed it for me? Having kids. I’d rather see THEM win 🙂
me too! I am the same way.
Wasn’t “competitive ass” first said in our apartment in Rome when we were playing a board game? Don’t remember which game, but I can remember it being said. Thought that was the first time!
Oh my gosh. Good memory! Yes! And we were playing some random card game I hard learned from friends… and no longer remember 😉
I remember playing that game!! It was fun! I wish we remembered…
I am that way too – I used to do Fantasy football with brian’s family but I got too competitive and I hated it because I was so intense about it. It wasn’t fun for me, so I quit it.
That is why I sometimes won’t play strategy games. I get so anxious that I don’e enjoy it!
I can get competitive with the best of them but I don’t turn into an ass about it. At most, I just get a little pouty if I am not doing as well as I think I should. At the same time, I feel bad if I am doing really well and someone else is not.
If you like Apples to Apples and want to laugh uncontrollably through an entire game (and hopefully not get too offended) you need to play Cards Against Humanity. It is the funniest game I’ve ever played.
How does Cards Against Humanity work?
I am an extremely competitive person but for some reason it doesn’t really come out (I don’t think?) in gaming situations. But Phase 10…man my grandmother LOVED that game and she was SUPER competitive with it! She had a really bad “tell” though when we knew she was about to lay it on us and that was so annoying! Matt is the competitive ass in our family when it comes to this though to the point of sometimes being a sore loser! And when we played couples Bunco…dear GOD…all I can say is that I’m glad he won!
Then what is the point of playing the game if not to win? I am worse than that. I play to win and only games that I have a fair chance of winning. Otherwise I turn into something worse than competitive ass, though I haven’t found a name yet. That’s the reason I haven’t played any sports with balls for the last 10 years give or take. Extreme competitive tendencies and bad hand eye coordination. Horrible combination 🙂
I’m pretty competitive too- we should play some games at ZOOMA!
Oh gosh. Do you promise to still be my secret lover after, once you see how awful I get?
I am just like you, I get so competitive about stupid things. My boyfriend and I just started playing words with friends, which may have been a bad idea, because we are so cut throat.
Hahahahaha, I can totally see you doing all those dives and slides!
I like to win, which is why I prefer to do things I know I’ll win at. But, I’m getting better about not winning. I just like to understand all the rules in advance otherwise I feel stupid and get all pouty.
Note to self: Stay away from the following games with Kim this weekend: CRAZY CATS, PIT and Phase 10.
What will we do, then? At least one round of each?
I still feel bad for the time I got competitive playing a game with you and the boyz and called you a bad name 🙁
I’m actually really terrible with this. Ping pong with Chris pretty much doesn’t happen any more because of it… wish I was kidding. Worst part is that I realize how ridiculous it is but that just makes me more annoyed! And unfortunately with Apples to Apples I’m just trying to get the most cards. Hopeless, I tell ya. 😉
Too funny! It’s great that you have such a competitive streak in you because it motivates you to always do your best! I have heard legendary stories of how competitive Michael Jordan is, for example. It has a lot to do with why he was such a phenomenal basketball player!
I am competitive primarily in areas where I can walk the walk and talk the talk. But in areas where I can’t, then I’m not as competitive. Self-serving? YES!!!
I was watching some thing about when they were the Dream Team at the Olympics and how he used what he learned about his team then to beat them later on that year when they were opponents 😉
My mom gets really competitive, and I think she has passed that on to me. I wouldn’t say I’m an ass, but I definitely want to win, and I’m not always friendly.
Also, I try to avoid ever playing volleyball with my mom. It almost ruined a family vacation.
I think there is a blog story in there 😉
I totally get competitive. My husband knows that all too well as he gets competitive too. I am okay losing but I’m going to try my hardest to win (every time).
I get super-competitive, to the point that I embarrassed myself in college and have tried to rein it in since. (I was definitely screaming profanities at the boyfriend for dropping little blocks on me in “Dr. Mario.”) I just blame it on being an only child….