I did understand it, but I cut out my explanation. I was just surprised that so many seemed to have cared so deeply about it. I didn't mind getting picked last for dodgeball (PE) because I was likely to be nearly first out every game. I much preferred reading on the sideline, so I'd purposely be an easy target.
I got picked mid-group when it mattered to me: recess. We played a lot of red rover. I got picked early when we made pairs or teams for academic games. This is taking into consideration all of k-12.
I knew about why kids cared; I just had different priorities.
SkinnyElephant wrote:
To a lot of kids, appearing normal is important.
An analogy: When you think of it, bedwetting isn't a huge deal. It's a medical condition some kids take longer to outgrow. But when you're a kid who wets the bed, you're embarrassed (and don't want anyone to find out)