OT:2nd Place

9 comments

• jackslash

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  11 years ago

  Not everything is a contest.
• MojoDojo

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  11 years ago

  It kinda depends IMO. Second place in a race is respectable and should be cause for celebration because even though you didn't win 1st you won 2nd as opposed to loosing 1st. It's a mind set in racing culture. In judged competitions it's very similar the outcome of ranking the top performers is more of an accolade for the top 3 positions. In those cases taking 2nd or 3rd is an affirmation that you are one of the best and can compete at the highest level of your sport.
  
  Where your sentiment rings true, I believe is in head to head sports, that is to say sports where competitors square off against one another and the winner crowned champion. In my chosen sports, wrestling, Judo and MMA, the place of honor was 1st or 3rd (in tournaments at least). Both 1st and 3rd place finishers walked off the mat victors and felt the jubilation of winning their last match. First was obviously superior to third but the visceral feeling of having one stays with you as does the angst of having been defeated.
  
  I know that my little response doesn't cover all competitive situations but in sports (having participated in them at a very high level for many years) I would offer that it generally holds water.
• 3LeggedMan

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  11 years ago

  One thing that's worse than finishing second is having friends that fall over themselves congratulating you as if being second is a great accomplishment. The truth is that second is TOP LOSER!! No Cigar!! The best of the failures! Al Gore!
• shadowcat

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  11 years ago

  I hate sloppy seconds!
• SlickSpic

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  11 years ago

  I got choked out two weeks ago and 2nd place feels like crap. 2nd Place is like the "friend zone".
• Clubber

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  11 years ago

  Think of training for years to make the Olympics. All the time, effort, sacrifices, expenses one must undertake.
  
  You make the team, ELATION!
  
  You go and finish dead last.
  
  SON OF A BITCH! You could have wasted no time, no effort, made no sacrifice, and incurred no expense and still finished f%$#ing last!
  
  And all the crap you wasted, you could have been out partying!!!
• Alucard

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  11 years ago

  Does it "Bruise" your Ego NOT to be 1st in everything?
  
  "Not everything is a contest"
  
  Exactly!!! :)
• deogol

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  11 years ago

  Not to mention in the Olympics scores of the top three can be half a second to a second. They are even in my mind.
• jester214

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  11 years ago

  It just depends. Second in a race with 5000 people? Damn impressive. 2nd place in Bar Trivia? 1st loser.