I have always wondered -
Everyone heard the legendary tale of the "never giving up spider" which tried and tried and tried till it succeeded in making a web of some kind, which taught everyone exactly what it did - try, try and try till you succeed. So, we should never give up, and keep trying, right?
Then again, people who, after having lost fair and square, get up and continue to fight are called "sore losers" who cannot accept defeat honorably. So, we should honorably accept defeat, right?
Now, what should one do? If one fell, should they just accept defeat (honorably) and move on? Or should one try again (like the spider)?
Well, not that I haven't given it any thought. I would like to settle on - accept defeat in the match (honorably), learn from your mistakes, prepare for the next encounter, and then face the challenge forgetting the past failure as a discouraging fact, but remembering it as a lesson to ensure success (hopefully) this time.
Nice, sounds promising, seems acceptable. But, can it be applied to any part of life?
If it were a football match (Ref. Hungry Heart - Wild Striker, my all time favorite anime), yes, accept defeat, go back, practice, train, there is always a next tournament, where you can win.
But, if it was a life or death situation, or a one time opportunity, you can probably learn, but you won't have a second chance. So, no question of trying again.
What about the ones where there is no clear cut distinction between one trial and another? What if the same thing can be taken to be a next fresh attempt as well as a drag of the previous fall? How do you know, then, if you are being an optimistic never giving up spider or just a sore loser? Can you ever know? Is it an absolute? Or will it just be an opinion?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Ahem. 'legendary tale of the "never giving up spider'? Really? :P And here I was, thinking the guy in the story deserved a mention, for he was Robert Bruce I of Scotland, the first King of Scots.
ReplyDeleteWell, now that that's settled, let's move on to the subject in discussion.
First thing. Trying out a fight again and again, doesn't necessarily get you a title of 'sore loser'. (In general, /you/ definitely have one :P)
Honorably accept defeat? Yes, that defeat at that attempt. That never means you shouldn't ever try again. If it is a fight with a person, or involves another "free will" (call this Type 1 fight), the decision for a re-match is not all
yours. Can't be helped.
Now, Type II, it is you against opportunities/life, and when there is a chance
of doing it again and again, "sore loser" never applies. Who would say "what a sore loser", if you failed in an exam, and tried again. :P
Anyway, back to Type I. If you don't even come to terms with the inflicted defeat, and act like General X against Prince Zuko (ref. Avatar: The Last Airbender), that, is being a sore loser.
Type III, no second chance, never bother. But you can never be sure there is no second chance. Until you die, that is.
Type IV. Umm, umm, those that leave you in the super-confused (superconduction popped up in my mind) state. Prime example: Relationships! What else? :P Should I let him/her go, or should I not. Well, the choice here, is not if you are an
awesome "never say die" person, or a "sore loser". It eej different. It's about if it's worth trying again. And agin. And again. Or, would you be better off giving up. This is something you're doing for yourself. Not for appreciation, nor for satisfaction, which you can look back and say "I did it". You're going to live the decision. Whether you're going to try again, or, "move on". This is not about honorably accepting defeat. Oh, yeah. What the heck. Since when did getting the person you want become a question of winning or losing. Sigh, Type IV, out.
Apparently, there is no better teacher than experience.
And, to finish, all references to Hungry Heart will be meted with booing, 'cause, without even watching, one can judge it to be a sucky (and Chrome suggests yucky as a spelling correction. Good job Google.) anime, and people who love it,
suckers.
:D
And oh, I lied once, in this comment. ;)
@[NpoWEr] I hope the lie is "All references to Hungry Heart will be meted with booing" and the reasons you specified for the same.
ReplyDeleteHuh! That cliched a lie? No way. Something worthy of me, something techy. :P But in the same paragraph. Obviously.
ReplyDeleteI /LIED/ Aaaw :D