Competition or Cooperation?

As with so many subjects, this one also exists as a woefully pulpified equine.  I had a fleeting thought earlier, and, yes, it hurt, but it made me want to write again; in effect bringing my own bat.  I have dozens of other docs I should be putting more effort into.  Or, random deity forbid, something financially gainful.  My apologies.  

There are countless arguments regarding whether cooperation or competition does a better job in achieving a higher bar.  This seems something of a paradox, as in debating (which feels like competition itself, derp) which is more effective just perpetuates the underlying problem.  I think what I am trying to do, as I also attempt to claw my way back to my original, miniature, model train of thought, is strive for understanding, not pose my personal view, per se.  Not really an argument or debate.  At least not in calling it that I suppose.  

Thus I am trying to pose this as the third alternative to cooperation and competition, if only verbally.  "If only verbally"?  What does that even mean?  There I go again, trying (subconsciously?) to be all cool and shit as a writer and falling flat on my face.  Good luck trying to stay with me, by the way.  I am having trouble myself so welcome to the fray.

OK, it isn't a third option.  I am sure some other backyard philosopher has worked this out fully, or at least more coherently, but I haven't found it.  Maybe you have?  With over seven billion people out there now I doubt there are many truly original thoughts, and just because Google isn't aware of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  What was I saying?  Oh, yeah - understanding is just what you cooperate or compete to achieve.  Again, in this case, at any rate.  It could also be the pursuit of realization of something or some other goal.  I am trying to leave sports out of it as my brain personally doesn't quite equate 'winning' with 'understanding'.  I prefer to think of it as attaining some degree of success, reaching a goal, a milestone.  That and I've never felt any emotional connection to sports...to that kind of competition.  Winning never did anything for me.  I completely get being part of a team trying to achieve something, but not at the expense or duress of someone, anyone, else. It is even evident in the workplace in many cases, unfortunately. 

That said, understanding feels like it has closer ties to cooperation. It feels like there is more room for ease of effort; there is an elasticity to cooperation.  It feels forgiving, progressive.  Competition, to me, feels like a tight, rigid, narrow avenue to pursue.  Sometimes this does conjure a critical pressure point, in terms of something having to give.  A pressure cooker might blow up and make a horrible mess but there might just be something splattered on the wall that yields a new perspective. 

As I write this I am highly aware that this is just how my brain works.  I've also never written about this before so I'm finding it difficult to eloquent my thoughts.  I'd love to hear something similar from people who operate the complete opposite.  They're wired to compete, to win.  Neither is likely right or wrong, correct or incorrect, it is just another example of the anomalies, the iterations that make us up.  Each has its place, in moderation, and with guidelines, not rules?  I'll say that this is where we I feel the need to cooperate with each other to better understand each other. From my perspective I don't see how competition has any real chance of getting us there; we could do so much more cooperatively. 




Bleh, this is a mess.  Please forgive my musings...I might try to clean it up later.  I have this intractable urge to think publicly now, and I'd really like everyone else to as well, in any manner they see fit.  Consider this another straw in the hut of our global understanding as a species; the more we communicate, using any and every medium possible, the better chance we have of answering everyone's questions.  I read a lot more in the way of others' blogs now, on all sorts of topics as well.  Of course, this is no substitute for hot tea, campfire, blankets, friends and starlight, is there. 



© 2014 Michael Pichahchy