A man with nothing to lose Vs. A man with everything to gain

[950Killer]

Assuming they have the same combat experience and around the same level in terms of skill, Which of the two has the will to win this fight? Who wins in a fight to death?

[Arsenal]

The one that gets rocked first is the one who probably loses.

[MichaelC]

I think the man with everything to gain would win a slight majority. A man with nothing to lose is partially going to be motivated by suicidal urges, by the desire for it to just be over.

The man with everything to gain is going to be hopeful, his morale is going to be high, and he is going to be calmly focused.

[Twickster]

The man with everything to gain is going to be hopeful, his morale is going to be high, and he is going to be calmly focused.

Or he could be anxious about his every move seeing as a single mistake can cost him everything. Psychologically, loss aversion is much more devastating than gaining anything, so the fear of losing all might affect their performance.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

Gonna bet on the naked guy, he's already lost everything.

[LordMikel]

I think the man with everything to gain would win a slight majority. A man with nothing to lose is partially going to be motivated by suicidal urges, by the desire for it to just be over.

The man with everything to gain is going to be hopeful, his morale is going to be high, and he is going to be calmly focused.

I agree with this assessment.

[Fallman]

I can't help but think that these are the same guy, in the same situation, just phrased differently.

[Beadle]

Or he could be anxious about his every move seeing as a single mistake can cost him everything. Psychologically, loss aversion is much more devastating than gaining anything, so the fear of losing all might affect their performance.

This.

The guy with nothing to lose is, at worst, going to end up exactly where he already is. Anything more is a bonus. That means he has no need to worry, which brings clarity and focus.

The guy with everything to gain will be second-guessing himself all the time, meaning hesitation. And he who hesitates....

[Shai-Hulud]

George Carlin has a routine where he talks about growing up in a tough neighborhood. One of the things he says he learned to is to never get into a fight with someone who "doesn't give a ****." Because, he says, "someone who doesn't give a **** will always destroy someone who does." Not an exact quote, it's from memory, but I'll bet someone can find the exact YouTube clip.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

George Carlin has a routine where he talks about growing up in a tough neighborhood. One of the things he says he learned to is to never get into a fight with someone who "doesn't give a ****." Because, he says, "someone who doesn't give a **** will always destroy someone who does." Not an exact quote, it's from memory, but I'll bet someone can find the exact YouTube clip.

Never pick a fight with a naked man, he's already lost everything.

[Beadle]

Never pick a fight with a naked man, he's already lost everything.

But you can stamp on his toes...

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

But you can stamp on his toes...

I dunno if that'd matter, given it's a naked man bum-rushing you. Then again, that's Rugby for the most part ...

[Beadle]

I dunno if that'd matter, given it's a naked man bum-rushing you. Then again, that's Rugby for the most part ...

You must have some weird forms of Rugby in Alaska.

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

You must have some weird forms of Rugby in Alaska.

Just a guy who wrestles bears in the nude, really. No idea why his parents named him that.

[theoneandonly]

is it me or does this seem like a bruce Wayne vs Clark Kent thread if they were not Batman and Superman? Bruce the man who hasn't anything to lose after the tragic incident vs Clark Kent the man who has everything to gain when he transitions to the big city life.