[MR] reactions to competitions

[Becky McEllistrem]

Please excuse the cross post but I've had this
conversation several times now....

=============

I've noticed a disturbing trend in the attitude of
several friends who have become anti-competition.  I
note that several friends have stopped entering
competitions because they "never win those things".
And sometimes when they don't win they go home
completely upset about the whole event, and jealous
about who did win.  Why?  Because they've decided the
only reason to compete is to win.  And I see even
peers with this attitude.

While it is true that open displays solve this issue I
feel there is a flaw in this attitude about competing.


I don't compete just to win.  Try the idea that you're
competing to make a name for yourself.  Did you ever
see anybody judging a competition say "well I paid
attention to the first place winner but I ignored all
the rest"?

And if you whine about not winning and complain about
the winner than what kind of name have you just made
for yourself?  Why would anyone be encouraged to help
you to win later?

Here is my personal attitude about competitions.
Rejoice with your friends that win.  Take the loss or
the 2nd place as a learning experience.  Forget about
judges who make bad comments and are rude because
Atlantia is working hard on fixing that.  And realize
that even if you don't win a competition, if your
research was quality workmanship and your artwork a
great period recreation, it still got noticed.

Do you think an order says "well they didn't win first
place so they don't deserve to be a member of our
order"?  I've never heard any of my friends who are
Pearls or Laurels say anything like that.  Sure
winning helps but so does just doing the work.

My suggestion to people who get hurt when they don't
win is:  Enjoy the day.  Rejoice in the happiness of
your friends.  If you don't win, take your work to the
judges and the peers who are noted for the same area
of interest and ask them what you should do next.
You'll develop a much better reputation for yourself
and you'll be a whole lot happier in general.


In service,

Lady Rebecca the Contrary
who almost never wins but goes home very happy

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