is competition bad

[myquestions]

some ppl say that god gives us specifice talents. but is this bad to be competitive? like is eg: olympics bad because it is competition?

 

[TeddyKGB]

No. Some people, myself included, enjoy competition and are better for it. What I think we should not do is emphasize competition above cooperation in all instances.

 

[Leebal]

No. Some people, myself included, enjoy competition and are better for it. What I think we should not do is emphasize competition above cooperation in all instances.

Well I think it is. This is a double edged sword topic here. Competition would lead to pride and pride would lead to ego-centricity. Sure, I try to beat my friends sometimes, but not to the point where I NEED to win.

Then again, shouldn't we be able to compete for what is right? I think so. My opinion with all the experience I have enables me to tell you guys this: there is a balance to everything. Too much or too little would afffect you in big way. But do I think competition is bad in general? Yes I do.

 

[LouTheWicked]

I suppose people think it can be because when someone's won the other competitors feel angry or disappointed with themselves.

Angry and disappointed people = miserable people = not good.

Just thought I'd chuck in that thoery.

 

[Spinrad]

some ppl say that god gives us specifice talents. but is this bad to be competitive? like is eg: olympics bad because it is competition?

Competition, it appears to me, is like any other stimulant based on ancient biological needs. It is part of our nature, just like laziness, overeating, sexual promiscuity and a host of other behaviors. When rescources are limited, competition is the natural way to determine who gets to live. All life on earth is the result of life and death competition.

Of course, in a world of plenty competition loses it's meaning, but the urge to test one's self against others remains. The problem arises when we stop seeing competition as an outlet for primal urges and start seeing it as a end itself. So when you try out for the football team and don't make it you are not merely left looking for another outlet, you are a FAILURE. And if you make the catch and get to the end zone you are not merely good at a set of skills but you are WINNING. Stupid people will make judgements about you based on these abilities. These can be internalized and enhanced by your ego. Next thing you know you are an outcast, suicidal, depressed, or hyper aggressive. Worse you may never experience the joys of using whatever skill sets you DO excell at. And we all lose a posssibly brilliant artist, philosopher, carpenter, writer...who knows?

ANd if you excell at something and are massaged into thinking you are special you can easily become cruel and self centered, or addicted to competition, which I see in a lot of my fellow Americans. If they were the jocks or the faces in their youth they can want to keep that euphoric feeling alive in everything else they do, whether it's playtime with the kids, having the nicest car/house/spouse/lifestyle or whatever.

I see it like a drug. If used properly and with moderation it's fine. But once you give it too much power it's dangerous.

 

[Harlan Norris]

some ppl say that god gives us specifice talents. but is this bad to be competitive? like is eg: olympics bad because it is competition?

Some might say that the olympics are bad because they glorify man and not God.Frankly they seem pointless to me.How are we helped by these games?One in a million is outstanding to the point of winning a gold.That one get's lucerative endorsement offers.However it does little for the other medalists.And it does nothing for joe sixpack watching with a bag of chips and dip.

 

[Abbadon]

Or N*Click*bgj*Click*rg who can't afford a bag of chips and chip.

Or vowels in his name.

 

[The Seeker]

Depends on what you mean by "bad" and what sort of comptetition you are talking about, really. For example, if people are competing for the food and water they need to live within a community, this is bad for the community, as it damages social cohesion and causes the majority to suffer at the expense of a few individuals who would end up monopolising the resources. Sporting competition strikes me as pretty harmless, though, who does it hurt?

 

[Eudaimonist]

but is this bad to be competitive? like is eg: olympics bad because it is competition?

No, I don't think there is anything wrong with competition as long as there is good sportsmanship. If you remember that your goal in competing is to be the best athelete/businessperson/etc that you can be, and not to crush the competition, then I think it can be healthy. Competition is justified when there is respect for other people, and the focus is one improving oneself and enjoying what one does.

See the movie Chariots of Fire for a good example of someone who has the right attitude competing against someone who has the wrong attitude.

 

[Verv]

some ppl say that god gives us specifice talents. but is this bad to be competitive? like is eg: olympics bad because it is competition?

I think it is possible to compete poorly over something and to take something too far -- like the people who destroy their bodies for competition, or the people who take it seriously enough to fight or commit sins in the name of competition.

But as a general rule, it is good because it propels us to doing better things. It also harvests a good sportsmanship amongst men, as well as a healthy drive and self-confidence.

Overall, it is a good thing -- but like most good things, it is often manipulated and abused and turns into something negative sometimes.

 

[Merlin]

Competition is good.
It motivates us to accel.