sorry, above I meant to finish with "which today are all subject to competition for wealth 'and influence'".

Squeers,

You are right that much of our idea of sporting competition has been usurped and is now an avenue of profit. Rational man will, it seems, always find a way to enrich himself - often disguising his purpose.

It seems that competiveness in man is more of a dynamic "between" groups. One would imagine that "within" a grouping the instinct for cooperation would be a dominant characteristic.

It is by arranging ourselves into social groups that we achieve the most beneficial material outcomes. However, as much as inclusion suggests unity, it also suggest separateness from those excluded....and this can engender either belligerence or amity depending on the circumstances in our relationship to those outside the group.

Perhaps if man was capable of overcoming this separation of identity, he could then allow his natural cooperative instincts to dominate.
- don't know if it's a realistic possibility, though.

This is a fascinating subject, because it goes to the very heart of symbolic identification among mankind..
The human need to identify with a neighbouring group is crucial to the type of relationship that ensues.
Discussing early man's sources of identification and how it affects the chances of cooperation, James Shreeve writes:

"Imagine two Paleolithic hunting parties meeting in some border area between their separate territories. Their two clans are knit together by a history of reciprocal exchanges and common traditions, including a particular way of fashioning spearpoints. This common point of reference allows them to meet without hostility: "Ah, I see by your spear that you are of the River People. Seen any deer?".
Suppose one of the groups later encounters a third hunting party, whose weapons look different. Even if the others never intended their spearpoints to "say" anything when they made them, the weapons will transmit a distinct social message to the River People: "Weird spear! Not River People!" and probably "Watch out!".
Thus, as soon as the River People's spearpoints carry a social message, all spearpoints necessarily carry meaning...."

A sense of commonality is the key to harmonious relationships between groups. Mankind still operates under the same rules of engagement. A threat from "outside" - whether real or imagined - engenders a belligerent stance, and preservation of one's social group or "community" is still the overriding instinct that it always was

poir quited..."James Shreeve writes:

"Imagine..lol..hunting parties*meeting""

sadly he dont have..a clue
about what would happen next..

they certainly wouldnt recognise..'strangers'
by the shapes/designs..of their flint wepons

[do you recognise people..by their
fingernail design..or nail polish?]

neighbours mostly recognise*..neighbours
and then each..has their 'own'..area
but each..also has their law

like..if you wound a beast
its yours..regardless of where it dies
[the only way two/parties..would meet is if one
was in mercy dash..[persuit of a kill..gone wrong]

also this..""Seen any deer?".
[my coat of arms..is the head of the deer]
im not happy..about people killing deer

neighbouring tribes..had their own totum/duties
in my case the deer...it is my duty*..to know all about deer
[too much to reveal here]...

but know if some hunter came here
chasing his kill..dear...well
he would know better
than to come..near

"Weird spear!Not River People!"

you would only be able to tell
once you removed..the spear..from the 'kill'

""all spearpoints/necessarily carry meaning...."
sure..but who
goes near a spear
carried by someone..*you dont know?

its a spear dear..

but as usual..in your own words
you are correct

""A sense of commonality is/key
to harmonious relationships..between groups...
..Mankind still operates
under the same rules..of engagement.""

so its best we learn..where our bonds are

""A threat from "outside"]

is a perception..in..*this day and age
only for a needless fear..or bias..or beatup

""whether real or imagined"'

its wrong to say..
'it'..''engenders a belligerent stance,"
as the unseen inner/threat..is worse than any..'outside'/threat'

[a threat
is a threat]

the..""preservation of one's..social group..or "community"

is a divisive deciete

only made..""the overriding instinct that it always was""

..to keep us divided
and in fear

heck..look at the tribalistic..nonsense of sport
their adverts..revert closer to the beast...everyday

seven sold out
from..reporting..real current affairs..
on sunday..with some roghneck..sports/thug..
eating up..near half an hour..*of prime-time..on air tv

as part of a deal
a *franchise agreement..
to broadcast sport/rorts...in lue of news

if were returning back to tribalism..
at least get..*the rules right

OUG,

What do you mean, "if we're returning back to tribalism"? - we never left it in the first place...... it's just a more sophisticated version, that's all.

its not as if tribalism is giving us as much as we think
but those who seek to lord it over us..find tribalism..works

look at our mates like belly..alp tribalist
or the many others like the minester for his party

its divide and conquer
if your sport suits our adgenda..you get funding
but if your a woman cricketer...you dont

the whole party system is pure tribalism
then there are the various mens clubs..or womans asosiations

its about getting the recognition..of your numbers..
so others who know numbers listen to you

how ya think the rsl..or rotery or apex
or footballers or cricketeers or bif business
or the cathaholics..or the white brother hoods..get govt
[thus govt funding]..

to hear their poor me
gimme..$$$..cry..

and get their new stadiums
bailouts..subsidies....gifts..trips
tax advantages..exclusive licence..special powers ..airtime..[voice]

tribalism works
for the chief's..over their indians
simply by them..knowing how to play the trible numbers game

mine is bigger than yours
give it to me