this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2024
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Competition is one of those capitalist buzzwords they use to reinforce their Darwinian beliefs, but as it transpires they don't actually like it that much
Much like anybody else that is involved in competition of any sort, they only like it when they're winning.
In comp games (not like... Competitive ladders and elo, but just playing against a human opponent) I am trying to excise that reaction in myself. Its very important for tabletop gaming community health. I will say if my opponent is being a smug asshole joyously celebrating their good luck even when they're obvious already winning, it makes it rather difficult. Co-op for life, apparently.
I frequently contemplate that about games, and the idea of 'friendly competition', but in truth I don't think such a thing really exists. I imagine a group of friends, say 6 people or so, and all of them enjoy Street Fighter. One of the 6 is doubtlessly going to be the worst in the group, and will rarely ever see wins. Even if the other 5 are very kind and gracious to their friend, could it really be said that the worst in the group will feel good about playing the game? About being the well-treated punching bag? I doubt it. The process of competition itself, even when 'friendly', is deleterious to the loser.
I think friendly competition definitely exists, and it's a cornerstone of human psychology. But in order for friendly competition to work, everyone has to "win" at least some of the time.