h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In many ways this entry saddens me. It demonstrates all that is bad in modern society and shows that we are moving further away from an ideal caring sharing civilisation to a self centred culture which encourages the "I am the best" syndrome. The "best" person in the world is not the one that can run faster, climb higher or spit further; it is the one who cares for his fellow man, irrespective of colour, creed or gender. We can all be the "best" in the world, if we so strive to.

Remember the passage in Desiderata "If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans."

Agreed, Deeroop.

These days, I find it enough of a challenge to become the best in the world at being me - be all the me that I can be, the best me it is within my powers to attain.

But I like competition too, as you'd know if you'd seen me play softball

On the other hand (badly referring to Aristotle) since every capacity can be used well or badly the activity of the human soul must be a good one, if we want to describe the good life for human beings.

So the good life involves leading an active life in which your dominant activity expresses the perfectable goodness of a rational being (i.e. excelling at something).

(Except I'm well short of this perfectable goodness when I'm talking about Aristotle, and I'm merely paraphrasing a small part of his entire philosophy so someone else will undoubtedly correct me)

Or, as Bill and Ted would put it, 'Be excellent, dudes!'

And another:
"True nobility is not to better your fellow man, but to better your former self"

Hope that's relevant.
Oh dear...

Many people enjoy the experience of being the best at some tiny little niche in the great expance that is human experience. It is a pleasant feeling, which, unlike so many human pleasures, hurts nobody. Should I not share with otherssome advice on obtaining that feeling, whether on their own, or as part of a team?

Maybe I should go write that entry on "becoming the worst in the world at something", hmm? Ahh - if I had an unlimited lifespan...

I'm trying to recall what the Greeks' philosophical idea was behind creating the Olympic games.
It had something to do with setting an example to other men about how one can push one's body to great feats through training.
The competitive aspect was just a source of motivation for the athletes and a means of comparison.

...I think.

Now at the risk of sounding negative or displaying a lack of self confidence I would just like to be good at something in particular. I have a terrible head for heights so being at the top would probably scare me, but always looking up is getting to be a real pain in the neck.

Maybe to be the best at something is only worthwhile when it can be an example to your fellow man. Currently I am best at doing nothing but type into my computer in my office. But with little or no competition its not hard to achieve.
We are not so much concerned if you are slow as when you come to a halt