# Olympic OCD Hi-fiving and other tics... **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 18, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371 "2008-08-18T03:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/1 "2008-08-18T03:52:45Z")
When watching sports like team volleyball, it strikes me how after EVERY SINGLE PLAY, every player has to high five every single other player, and perhaps come together in a group circle with hands on each other’s backs. They do this whether they get the point or not. Also, after a time-out huddle, they do this with everyone on the team, it seems. This also happens in doubles badminton, beach volleyball, etc. but it’s especially noticeable in team volleyball because there are six players on the team, and it just gets ridiculous. Any reason why they all do this, other than volley sports being linked to obsessive-compulsive disorders? Also, in fencing, why do so many competititors scream after every point, even before knowing whether or not they were the one that landed first? It gets a bit surreal when you have both competitors screaming and pumping their fist after a point… ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/2 "2008-08-18T04:04:45Z")
I thought the same thing about the woman’s beach volleyball that I have watched. The women hug after every point. Not that I mind, hot women and skimpy suits in a happy embrace, but… what was I talking about here? Oh, yeah, why does every team do it after every point? SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/3 "2008-08-18T04:22:36Z")
[QUOTE=SSG Schwartz] I thought the same thing about the woman’s beach volleyball that I have watched. The women hug after every point. Not that I mind, hot women and skimpy suits in a happy embrace, but… what was I talking about here? Oh, yeah, why does every team do it after every point? [/QUOTE] Because maybe…just maybe…they might kiss? ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/4 "2008-08-18T09:51:25Z")
Now if they did start kissing at the end of every point, that would be a different story. Perhaps a group kiss. And after they win a set, they start with ass slapping and group wrestling… What were we talking about again? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/5 "2008-08-18T12:49:43Z")
the huddle hugging must stop. it is insane and i had to switch to a different channel and watch a bit of fencing. no hugging there. whew. the men’s and women’s volleyball team has taken it to extremes. stop with the huddle huggin’! ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/6 "2008-08-18T13:10:03Z")
[QUOTE=rocking chair] the huddle hugging must stop. it is insane and i had to switch to a different channel and watch a bit of fencing. no hugging there. whew. the men’s and women’s volleyball team has taken it to extremes. stop with the huddle huggin’! [/QUOTE] At least they should have the decency to have an orgy if at the end of the match if they do this after every point. Seriously, though, can anyone at all explain why this is happening? I’m watching in bewildered fascination… ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/7 "2008-08-18T18:28:21Z")
I think this is the end-result of the wussification of pro competition. The days of Bobby Knight hurling a chair at his players, or Larry Bird bluntly telling a teammate to step it up or get off the court, are over. In my day, they’d bench someone who serves into the net, not hug them. When there are no consequences for screwing up, when where’s the incentive to perform? Now, it’s all “Participation Trophies”, hugs for screwing up a point, high fives for the play that _wasn’t_ successful, and bouquets of flowers for the runners-runners-runners-ups. Bah. (exception is granted to the Polish women’s indoor volleyball team. Yowza :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/8 "2008-08-18T19:09:19Z")
Well, in all fairness, Bobby Knight throwing a chair at players was never really a part of beach volleyball. And even if he _did_, it would be one of those beach chairs, anyway, and who’d be intimidated by _that_? These hugging sports may never have been de-wussified. Also, the fact that Bobby Knight isn’t throwing chairs at basketball players anymore would seem to indicate that it, too, will soon slide back into wussihood. I’d keep an eye out for Kobe and LeBron starting a cuddle puddle any game now. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/9 "2008-08-18T19:15:52Z")
[QUOTE=GargoyleWB] (exception is granted to the Polish women’s indoor volleyball team. Yowza :eek: ) [/QUOTE] Seconded. And, uh… _looking down_…thirded? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/10 "2008-08-18T22:51:36Z")
things just got worse. a russian weightlifter who won silver kissed the weights. kissed the weights, oy. where will it end??!! ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/11 "2008-08-19T03:11:09Z")
[QUOTE=GargoyleWB] I think this is the end-result of the wussification of pro competition. The days of Bobby Knight hurling a chair at his players, or Larry Bird bluntly telling a teammate to step it up or get off the court, are over. In my day, they’d bench someone who serves into the net, not hug them. When there are no consequences for screwing up, when where’s the incentive to perform? Now, it’s all “Participation Trophies”, hugs for screwing up a point, high fives for the play that _wasn’t_ successful, and bouquets of flowers for the runners-runners-runners-ups.) [/QUOTE] But no matter how wussy they are, the hugging high-five parade after every play still has to have arisen somewhere, because it’s still non-sensical. Wussiness means you don’t yell at people, or you only give encouraging words. Someone, somewhere, must have started this weird habit, and I want to know why! Give me some answers, or _millions of people will die_! [/Jack Bauer] [QUOTE=GargoyleWB] Bah. (exception is granted to the Polish women’s indoor volleyball team. Yowza :eek: ) [/QUOTE] Don’t forget the Serbian team… Damn, I gotta get me to Eastern Europe! _(although the single most beautiful volleyball player has to be [Kimberly Glass](http://florchakh.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/kimberly-glass.jpg) , of the USA-- sweet Jebus)_ ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/12 "2008-08-21T03:01:48Z")
get ready for major hugging! the usa-china women beach volleyball match IS on now (11pm eastern time). at this point they are at 107 victories no losses. should may/walsh win tonight there may new video to show 11teen times when they play. hugging in the middle of a downpour, in the sand. oy! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympic-ocd-hi-fiving-and-other-tics/460371/13 "2008-08-21T13:53:50Z")
My guess as to the reason: athletes are really, really superstitious, and they do a lot of repetitive things for good luck.