Failing to Win 04/12/2004 Why is the insult "loser" so common today? I seem to hear it everywhere - "Oh don't worry about him, he's just a loser" or "You're such a loser". What is it about losing that is so terrible? Think about it with me for a few moments.The first analogy that comes to mind is a race. Someone wins and the rest become losers. But, just a minute - in any race there are lots of runners, thousands in the case of marathons. So that must mean that there are very few winners and the vast majority of us are losers. Are we to be scorned because we are not amongst the tiny fraternity of winners?You tell me that I've got it wrong; the term, as used, is much more about life than any competition. A loser is someone who just isn't making a decent job of his life. He's losing in the game of life. But who's winning then? Am I supposed to assume that the winners are the millionaires and the magnates, the stars of the entertainment industry, the grossly overpaid sportsmen, the rich and famous indeed? And are YOU one of them? If you are, then welcome to my page, have a look around and make me an offer of publication (don't forget the film rights). If you're not, it seems that I must welcome you to the club for the masses - the losers.Oh wait, maybe I've got it wrong. Perhaps the term is supposed to mean "one who fails consistently". But fails at what? It can't be money and success, we've already looked at that one. So does it mean achieving a certain happiness or contentment? And I'm expected to condemn that person because he hasn't achieved that state of nirvana as yet? Pardon me for thinking it, but on that score we're ALL losers. Although I do admit to being pretty happy and I'm fairly content with my life.Whichever way we look at it, it seems that almost all of us are losers. But there's nothing wrong with that. Losing is an important part of life. What was that famous quote - the man who never failed at something never achieved anything? You see, it's all about trying and if you try, sometimes you're going to fail. We all experience failure sometimes, even the mythical winners. And it's not something to be ashamed of; it's what makes us human.So don't call others losers. It's meaningless - you're just saying that they're human. We are, in fact, all failing to win. The double meaning is quite intentional, I assure you.
Clive
Way Excellent! Just excellent! Date Added: 04/12/2004
Mad I couldn't agree more. It also links to my ealier rant on "n00bs", whats' wrong with being new? I suspect it's the same mentality. Date Added: 04/12/2004
Gone Away Thank you, Way. I take it the term irritates you as much as it does me. ;) Date Added: 04/12/2004
Gone Away Very probably, Mad. I did deliberately ignore the possibility that the word is co-opted to mean something else, however, rather as "bad" is used by the young to mean "good". I thought of tackling that but decided that I'm not quite ready to take on the eternal metamorphosis of language... Date Added: 04/12/2004
Way Almost as bad as Whatever, but not quite. Date Added: 05/12/2004
Hannah Very clear points, well-written. Excellent Date Added: 05/12/2004
Gone Away Thank you, Hannah. :) Date Added: 05/12/2004
Actressdancer Well Gone, you've done it again. Another interesting treatise on our culture. You never cease to amaze me. Date Added: 05/12/2004
Gone Away Aw shucks Actress - thanks :). Your site is great though. Let me put a link in here for everyone - http://www.actressdancer.blogspot.com/ Mad is working on a sorta "Gone's recommended links" for my page and yours will be one, Actress. ;) Date Added: 05/12/2004
Jay Hey you. You leave the best comments ever. I think it takes some talent to be funny in just a sentence of two. Anyway, I would write more, but I have to go make some cakes for my baking-illiterate friends, so I'll check you out again later. J Date Added: 05/12/2004
Gone Away Thank you Jay. Coming from someone as talented as you are, that's a real compliment. Date Added: 05/12/2004
Erin I totally agree... Good show man good show... And I will aslo agree in that it is annoying and very rude to think one is better then another simply baised on his well doings or short comings... Date Added: 06/12/2004
Back to the main blog
You may use HTML in comments. A carriage return is <br />, use two for a new paragraph. For bold text use <strong></strong> and for italic text use <em></em>. If you know what you're doing feel free to use more complex mark-up but please no deprecated tags or JavaScript.
Name * Comment * Email * URL Commenting has closed for this post
