"What does "most overlooked" or "underrated" mean?" Topic

This one of the most overrated questions in our culture.
What does it really mean? Does it mean that nobody else respects someone that you, in your superior intellect consider superb? You are assuming that nobody else ever heard of him or her.
Is Moses the most underrated prophet or Isaiah?
Is Jim Kelly the most underrated quarterback who lost 4 Super Bowls?
Is Grant the most underrated ACW Union general?

It's an extremely irritating question. It implies intellectual superiority. It's only saving grace is that it gives you something to argue about while drinking beer.

And guess what. When it's the subject of a poll, the winning answer is usually someone who was very highly rated to begin with.

To me, "underrated" means he is not well thought of, and deservedly so. Not that his virtues are hidden except to the knowledgeable.
For instance, in a poll on most underrated Confederate general, Polk should win hands down, or Bragg. But the winner will always be a very good general. For example Cleburne.

This is a perfect example of why it's dumb to not be able to crosspost to the Plus boards.
This is a RANT, darn it!

underrate: to underestimate the extent, value, or importance of someone or something. To rate or evaluate too low.

That's the one as opposed to poorly rate which might be a consensus view.

I agree (for what that's worth!)

John T

Hmm. . .the OFM made the same cross posting complaint over on the Plus board,coincidentally enough.
Since I partially hijacked that "weepy" thread,might as well do it here,too:

TMP link

Not sure how the logic works out,with

TMP Talk>Rants

Movies/Music>Poll Suggestions

I'm certain there's a connection in there somewhere,though. . .

Enhance your calm, Winston.

Both "underrated" and "overlooked" presume a wider public, of course. And in matters of military history, the people who post on TMP probably ARE better qualified than the general public, or even the average college graduate. (Which is a problem in another way: it's hard to discuss the general public underrating ACW generals when most of them couldn't name five.)

Polls concerning rules and the like are another matter: we have valid informed opinions, but no more so than other miniatures players. I thought the recent poll on "what rules would you like to see reprinted?" was a valid and useful question. It might be interesting to ask what rules best portray a given battle/campaign/level of combat.

But if you're concerned about polls and discussions not run by TMP, please complain elsewhere. I come here to ignore a very wide range of things, and popular taste and interests are high on the list.

"Exactly what I want it to mean. Nothing more and nothing less." – The Caterpillar

Thought that was Humpty Dumpty.

It means there are "History Justice Warriors" creeping out of the woodwork somewhere….

Thought that was Humpty Dumpty.

Excuse me, that is correct. My error.

S'awright,just afraid I was having yet another Senior Moment.

@robert
Hah, nongamers naming 5 ACW generals? I think it's probably 3. Most non gamers could get Grant and Lee, then with a stretch they might get Jackson (but then again there have been a lot of famous Jacksons) or possibly grab at Custer or Stuart. They could do 5 for WW2. Most non gamers could get Patton, Rommel, Montgomery and then they'd have to think. MacArther is reachable, possibly Clark or Bradley for Americans, Brits might throw in Slim, but that's it.

History, especially military history, is getting glossed over in most of western society.

Senior moment? What's that? Darn kids! Get offa my lawn!

Sure,famous Jacksons are easy--there's Michael,Janet,Latoya,uh,Tito. . .

I think of underrated as being someone who does a superior job in a very quiet way so as to not garner a lot of praise. Someone like George Thomas. He was a superior general but not generally offered a place in the Pantheon of Civil War generals because he did not have good publicists or perhaps because he was of southern origin. When I am thinking of good Civil War generals his name is generally preceded by "oh yeah, there is also…"

Most overrated = I don't like
Most underrated = No one but me likes

QED

I always understood underrated to mean "generally considered worse than is fair".

WW1 French for example.

Or even WWII French.

I always understood underrated to mean "generally considered worse than is fair".

Yes.

Not

"underrated" means he is not well thought of, and deservedly so.

Sorry, Winston. Although you're usually correct about apostrophe abuse.