Is "Competitiveness" in the worst sense, a Mental Illness?

[Tyler Durden]

We keep hearing everyone from Bush to the "Boss" carp on "competition." Even Democratic Party Candidates like Sen. Debbie Stabenow are using it in their TV commercials.

I'm tired of spending my life trying to out-compete the Jones, the McJones, the Jonesoviches, les Jones, el Jones, Jones Pasha, etcetera/ad nauseum. It's bringing back the ulcers I had when I tried to be a salesman in 1975 (THAT is "Competition from HELL," by the way.)

Maybe it's time we looked on "competition" as a mental illness?

"King of the Hill" is a nasty game of childhood; something we are not supposed to EVER enjoy playing, even as a kid. It kills friendships and nurtures enmity.

Competition means "I WIN, you LOSE. ALL of you. EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU." Sounds like some sort of sick "dominance" thing, doesn't it?

And it's WINNER TAKE ALL. Maybe it's time we figured out once and for all that if we ALL win, then WE ALL WIN, and NOBODY has to lose.

Then NOBODY has to knock the "KING" off of the "hill."

[Tyler Durden]

1. Yep. I voted #4

I AM some sort of Commie Socialist.

[taterguy]

2. If you're not first you're last

Ricky Bobby said it
I believe it
That settles it

[Tyler Durden]

5. Can that work if there's only one winner?

I don't think we believe in 2nd place anymore. Silver and Bronze don't mean bupkis. GO FOR THE GOLD! GET RICH OR DIE TRYING!

[wildhorses]

3. I believe that ANYTHING carried to the extreme is some form

of mental illness...moderation is key. just my .02

[Sugar Smack]

4. I'm sorry, Tyler, but Scrabble brings out the Lilith in me.

:bounce:

[Tyler Durden]

6. I LOVE Scrabble.

But I've been banned in my social circle from any game involving vocabulary or trivia. But I'm not bitter about it...we just play more cards.

[Sugar Smack]

7. Banned? I'd LOVE to play Scrabble with you, then.

I absolutely suck at cards, though. :rofl:

[Tyler Durden]

8. I haven't lost at Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit since College

And I dropped out of U of Mich in 1973.

Even during the short stint with MENSA nobody would play with me. I think it was "quixotic" on a triple word score that did it the last time.

[SOteric]

9. I have long been of the opinion that

the zealously overcompetitive nature of most current American society is distructive and borders in many cases on mental/emotional disorder. I've seen personal examples of how extreme competitiveness can destroy an assortment of relationships and conversely, be mediated significantly by competent therapy.

I feel we're most successful when we compete with ourselves rather than one another.

Of course, as an education professional, I'm also of the opinion that team sports have taken on far too much imporance in our educational system. And I'm none too thrilled about the role of badly behaved sports superstars in shaping the honour and sportsmanship of future generations.

[Tyler Durden]

10. Carnivores compete over a kill.

Sad that we've evolved so little, isn't it?