Tag Archives: family practice

Standing at a Baseball Game

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student

Residence: San Diego, CA

Text: 

“Standing while at a baseball game during a big moment jinxes it. And you jinx it more the earlier you stand. Like with runners on in a close game, if you stand at the beginning of the plate appearance that’s the biggest jinx possible. Or standing when Diaz (the New York Mets closer) starts a plate appearance. I don’t stand until it’s 3-2 bases loaded game 7 OR the guy in front of me stands.”

Context:
My friend is an enormous Mets fan. He has season tickets so he goes to almost every home game when he is not at college, and watches most away games on television. When I asked him what happens if you stand too early, he did not list any specific incidents, but did give specific theoretical events, such as an overexcited crowd causing the Mets closer to give up a home run or for their star first baseman to strike out. This is not a commonly held belief, it is shared between my friend and his father. It is also worth noting that my friend is very tall, so if he stands up it would be difficult for the person behind him to see.
Analysis:
This superstition is a reflection of how magical thinking is often born out of a desire to have control over events that are otherwise out of our hands. The interesting thing about this superstition is that the action he takes contradicts the rest of the crowd. While everyone else stands, he remains seated. By taking this individual action, he has an individual feeling of control over the outcome of the game, despite having no real influence on the result. This superstition could not exist if it was a widely held belief; it only exists because it allows my friend to feel a sense of individual control over something beyond his reach.

The Red String

Age: 21

Date: 03/272025

Language: English

Nationality: Ecuadorian

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: Spanish

Residence: United States

1. Text:

“When my mom thought I had nightmares because of ‘evil eyes,’ she tied a red string around my wrist. It had to stay on until it fell off on its own. I wore it for weeks. She also put salt in the corners of the room. And I stopped having bad dreams.”

2. Context:

Told by Adriana, whose mother is originally from Ecuador. She remembers this happening when she was six or seven years old. She wasn’t sure what she believed at the time, but looking back, she says the ritual gave her a sense of comfort and protection , even if it was symbolic.

3. My Interpretation:

This is a clear example of a memorate tied to cultural ritual. Protective objects like red strings are common in many cultures and often used for children. Even when the supernatural belief fades, the memory of care and intention remains. It’s a powerful mix of personal experience and communal folklore, blending magic and motherhood.