I have friends who specifically sharpened their toenails for water polo. While I liked watching the swimmers in their tights, knowing they would happily drown each other in blood drawing contests beneath the water was a mild turn off.
You have to find the right group. There’s a fine line between competitive and ‘need to win’ drive. I can think of at least four large groups in my life that have broken apart specifically because there were some people in them that suddenly thought they could ‘dominate’ and everything shifted (in their view) to make that happen. Suddenly they don’t want to play with certain people, they get mad about partners who didn’t ‘play as well as they should have,’ etc. The fun disappeared and they dragged everyone else down with them.
I’d say the goal should be to have fun, and if you can’t goof off in the middle of a game/match/whatever, you’re too deep into the ‘need to win’ mindset.
No. No it isn’t.
But, damn me if I don’t like the way you think.
I have friends who specifically sharpened their toenails for water polo. While I liked watching the swimmers in their tights, knowing they would happily drown each other in blood drawing contests beneath the water was a mild turn off.
Earlier this morning I heard someone say something that made me think that maybe I should have participated in competitive sports when I was younger.
Then I read your comment and realize that I was right to avoid that particular insanity.
You have to find the right group. There’s a fine line between competitive and ‘need to win’ drive. I can think of at least four large groups in my life that have broken apart specifically because there were some people in them that suddenly thought they could ‘dominate’ and everything shifted (in their view) to make that happen. Suddenly they don’t want to play with certain people, they get mad about partners who didn’t ‘play as well as they should have,’ etc. The fun disappeared and they dragged everyone else down with them.
I’d say the goal should be to have fun, and if you can’t goof off in the middle of a game/match/whatever, you’re too deep into the ‘need to win’ mindset.
You’re not going to find a lot of high school level sports teams that aren’t big on winning.
These days, I go to the gym where everyone is welcome and we all try to encourage each other.