Thoughts on a cliche

SkipINFJ said:
"There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition."

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Heraclitus, the penultimate pre-Socratic postulated that only strife truly exists.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jet
sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you
 
melissa* said:
sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you
Click to expand...
Tellingly the latter part of this cliche ... "call me this and call me that and call yourself a dirty rat".... seems to suggest that the words of others have not the power to hurt until or unless they are internalized but the listener. This is a very Buddhist concept, the idea that the world, and our place in it, is purely determined by our thoughts.
 
melissa* said:
sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you
Click to expand...
I prefer the remix:
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will sting forever


Words hurt too.
SkipINFJ said:
"There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition."

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I agree. Healthy competition can really help stimulate progress.
 
Stu said:
Tellingly the latter part of this cliche ... "call me this and call me that and call yourself a dirty rat".... seems to suggest that the words of others have not the power to hurt until or unless they are internalized but the listener. This is a very Buddhist concept, the idea that the world, and our place in it, is purely determined by our thoughts.
Click to expand...
I think that's true in a way but you can't deny the damaging effect words can have, it's only really true if you don't validate the person saying them...then what the hell, say what they like.
 
Aren't 'friendly' and 'competition' oxymoron's?
I prefer competing with myself...I get phased competing with others.
 
I'm trying to think of another good cliché...there are hundreds of them.
 
melissa* said:
Aren't 'friendly' and 'competition' oxymoron's?
I prefer competing with myself...I get phased competing with others.
Click to expand...
In many many ways those who are close compete and struggle against each other to each other's satisfaction.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jet
Stu said:
In many many ways those who are close compete and struggle against each other to each other's satisfaction.
Click to expand...
and enjoy it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stu
melissa* said:
Aren't 'friendly' and 'competition' oxymoron's?
I prefer competing with myself...I get phased competing with others.
Click to expand...
How would friendly and competition be oxymorons? I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years and there was never any animosity that was purely competition driven.
 
Jet said:
How would friendly and competition be oxymorons? I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years and there was never any animosity that was purely competition driven.
Click to expand...
Sportsmanship and being good and serious about something can make competitiveness more gentlemanly I think. Wow, that's pretty cool, do you still swim now. I love swimming, it always makes me feel human again.

I think maybe in schools for example it maybe isn't so good. But I guess it depends on the individual child, some kids are motivated by it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stu
Not being able to compete as a kid in school can lead to not trying at all. Kids are highly competitive whether they compete or not. There are tons of kids who are so afraid of not "being good" that they simply will not try.
Perhaps we tend to over exult the winners....
 
OK question for you @Jet...think of a competitive situation you haven't enjoyed.
 
melissa* said:
Sportsmanship and being good and serious about something can make competitiveness more gentlemanly I think. Wow, that's pretty cool, do you still swim now. I love swimming, it always makes me feel human again.

I think maybe in schools for example it maybe isn't so good. But I guess it depends on the individual child, some kids are motivated by it.
Click to expand...
I think some people are just born competitive (I also have some disdain for the concept of gentlemen and chivalry but hats n aside).

I don't swim at all regularly anymore sadly. I was a distance freestyler and butterflyer.
 
Jet said:
I think some people are just born competitive (I also have some disdain for the concept of gentlemen and chivalry but hats n aside).

I don't swim at all regularly anymore sadly. I was a distance freestyler and butterflyer.
Click to expand...
Not even for pleasure/fun?
 
Jet said:
I think some people are just born competitive (I also have some disdain for the concept of gentlemen and chivalry but hats n aside).

I don't swim at all regularly anymore sadly. I was a distance freestyler and butterflyer.
Click to expand...
That's probably an English way of putting things... there's a 'good winner' kind of ethos (maybe it's an American thing too, I don't know, probably).
 
melissa* said:
OK question for you @Jet...think of a competitive situation you haven't enjoyed.
Click to expand...
I honestly can't think of one.

And sadly I don't have time for pleasure or fun activities that don't involve my kids these days.
 
melissa* said:
That's probably an English way of putting things... there's a 'good winner' kind of ethos (maybe it's an American thing too, I don't know, probably).
Click to expand...
Good sportsmanship. Not being a sore loser.
 
Jet said:
I honestly can't think of one.

And sadly I don't have time for pleasure or fun activities that don't involve my kids these days.
Click to expand...
I put my kids on a swim team and then swam when they were working out, i have not stopped but they did
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jet
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top