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Is competition good? or bad?
Do you think that competition good ?
or bad?
or bad?
I think friendly competition is good. Competition as an institution however, I think is bad. Marketplace competition for instance, forces small companies making good products out of business while large companies building cheap products rule the market.
We live in a competitive society and I doubt we can get away with not being competitive. For example when we go to school we already compete in sports, in class, for friends maybe. Some people seem to need to do it ruthlessly, i.e. go a little overboard, such as cheating in sports (taking drugs or trying to eliminate someone from the race), and that is probably negative, but inevitable given human nature. Hopefully there will always be people around however to sort out these excesses.
Competition is reason of (most) improvements.
If you like our life to be better in certain way (faster computer, cheaper grocery) then you should appriciate competition. However if you are the type of person who like things to be the way it is, then you may consider competition to be evil.
There's no right or wrong answer really.
If you like our life to be better in certain way (faster computer, cheaper grocery) then you should appriciate competition. However if you are the type of person who like things to be the way it is, then you may consider competition to be evil.
There's no right or wrong answer really.
| rockacola wrote: |
| Competition is reason of (most) improvements.
If you like our life to be better in certain way (faster computer, cheaper grocery) then you should appriciate competition. However if you are the type of person who like things to be the way it is, then you may consider competition to be evil. There's no right or wrong answer really. |
| rockacola wrote: |
| If you like our life to be better in certain way (faster computer, cheaper grocery) |
Improvement can be made without competition. And cheaper is not always an improvement, in fact, it often means lower standards and less quality in production in order to compete in the marketplace. Faster and better computers can be produced by smaller companies who take more time to design them, but larger companies will always make cheaper, less quality products. Same with groceries; better food items come from farmers markets and natural foods grocers, but larger corporate stores can sell cheaper groceries, which have been mass produced and are not nearly as healthy, for a lower price. Keep in mind that cheaper does not mean better, and quantity does not mean quality.
| deanhills wrote: |
| Good point. In order to get ahead, one has to be better and have more creative ideas, better designs. |
By "get ahead" you mean make more money? If that's the case, then having a better design doesn't necessarily do the job. Having a "cheaper" design does. At which point competition has actually lowered the quality of a certain product. Take Wal-Mart for example, they are arguably the most competitive retail store in the world, with more economic power than many countries. Smaller stores can create better products, but they are forced out of the market through corporate competition.
| deanhills wrote: |
| For example on the sports side of thing, imagine all the improvement in services (coaches) and equipment for people to be better at their sports. |
Sports competition is one thing. That's friendly competition, for the most part.
Competition is a part of human evolution. It also is important to remember that competition predates morals.
Competition = good
Competition = good
| Josso wrote: |
| Competition is a part of human evolution. It also is important to remember that competition predates morals. |
So does cannibalism, murder, theft, rape... the list goes on.
| Jasso wrote: |
| Competition = good |
Until it is used as a tool to force quality down in order to bring quantity up. Then competition = evil.
I quite agree with Josso. without competition, we wont be here right now.
human exist because competition.
human exist because competition.
| Solon_Poledourus wrote: | ||||
So does cannibalism, murder, theft, rape... the list goes on.
Until it is used as a tool to force quality down in order to bring quantity up. Then competition = evil. |
Good point, as with everything I suppose it depends on the context - this "politically correct" opinion of eliminating competition in order to set a more friendly atmosphere or something annoys me though.
| Jasso wrote: |
| Good point, as with everything I suppose it depends on the context - this "politically correct" opinion of eliminating competition in order to set a more friendly atmosphere or something annoys me though. |
Totally agreed. I don't think competition should be eliminated. I do think that it gets taken too far for the sake of profit, though. That's where I draw the line. I think it's downright evil for a corporation to lower quality in order to ramp up production, for the sake of taking over the economic territory of smaller, higher quality producing businesses. They call this economic competition, but it's essentially just corporate bullying under the guise of capitalism.
| Josso wrote: |
| Competition is a part of human evolution. |
I agree. I also think that there should be fair competition. Lets evolve.
Can be good and bad. Good as in, makes you work harder. Bad as in it can bring out the worst in people, and make friends get into arguements.
| Solon_Poledourus wrote: |
| By "get ahead" you mean make more money? |
| Solon_Poledourus wrote: | ||
Sports competition is one thing. That's friendly competition, for the most part. |
Competition is a good thing
Its what natural selection and evelution are all about...think about it, we wouldnt be human beings if it wasnt for competition for resources that made some apes leave the trees and start walking...
Its what natural selection and evelution are all about...think about it, we wouldnt be human beings if it wasnt for competition for resources that made some apes leave the trees and start walking...
| mattyj wrote: |
| Competition is a good thing
Its what natural selection and evelution are all about...think about it, we wouldnt be human beings if it wasnt for competition for resources that made some apes leave the trees and start walking... |
Competition is a concept so broad that you can't call it either good or bad; examples of either side clearly exist. (War could be called competition as much as hairdresser chains trying to outperform their rivals.)
| Nameless wrote: |
| Competition is a concept so broad that you can't call it either good or bad; examples of either side clearly exist. (War could be called competition as much as hairdresser chains trying to outperform their rivals.) |
Very good point. This thread is too black and white. There's no such thing as "good" vs. "bad" or "evil" it's really all on a continuum. Certain competition (which I agree is broad) is beneficial to society ("good") and other times it is harmful ("bad"). Also, if it is "beneficial" that is an averaged result where there are obviously people worse off because of it. So really, saying that competition in general is "good" or "bad" is oversimplifying things.
Competition is always good. Even if its war, the positive aspects of any situation can be debated and usually win out in the end.
Competition feeds innovation. I don't think that there is has been any innovation which didn't stem from some sort of competition. Without competition there would really be no need to improve or invent anything. By competition, I mean competition in any sense. We have innovations in the field of medicine, for example, because we as a species are competing against illnesses in a sense.
| deanhills wrote: |
| You've got to be joking. Check up on international sports and it is everything but friendly. It is downright lethal. Competition is cutthroat. |
When it becomes "lethal", it's no longer a sport. I think you are missing the point about my distinction between friendly competition and unfriendly competition.
Friendly competition is natural. The things people do to improve themselves by comparison to another. That's a perfectly harmless(mostly), natural thing. These can be sports, spelling bees, art shows, etc.
Then there's unfriendly competition, where making the other person lose is more important than the improvement of oneself, to such an extant that people cheat. This type of behavior is found in professional sports(not the mention of sports above lacks the prefix of 'professional'), corporate structures, politics, etc.
| Magicman wrote: |
| Competition feeds innovation. I don't think that there is has been any innovation which didn't stem from some sort of competition. |
There has been plenty. In fact, history shows that the biggest innovations have come from societies working together, rather than against one another.
I would definitely say it's good. Lots of new things are invented/old things are improved when companies compete for consumer's money. Some of course are luxuries, but others are necessities. (can't think of any specific examples right now, but you get the point)
Yes, there is a point where it becomes violent sometimes, such as in wars for political power, but then I don't really consider that competition anymore. That's just, idk, normal fighting.
Yes, there is a point where it becomes violent sometimes, such as in wars for political power, but then I don't really consider that competition anymore. That's just, idk, normal fighting.
So nobody here has thought about the last time they bought something that had a good price tag on it, and thought "wow! what a good deal for this item.", and then found out later what a piece of junk it is?
That's due to marketplace competition as well. When companies fight for the consumer dollar, some things improve, but just as equally, quality tends to be sacrificed for quantity.
I know competition can be a good thing, but it can be just as bad. I'm only playing devils' advocate here because it seems like people are so accepting of competition as a fact of life that they are not seeing the dark side of it in the most obvious place.
That's due to marketplace competition as well. When companies fight for the consumer dollar, some things improve, but just as equally, quality tends to be sacrificed for quantity.
I know competition can be a good thing, but it can be just as bad. I'm only playing devils' advocate here because it seems like people are so accepting of competition as a fact of life that they are not seeing the dark side of it in the most obvious place.
| Solon_Poledourus wrote: |
| So nobody here has thought about the last time they bought something that had a good price tag on it, and thought "wow! what a good deal for this item.", and then found out later what a piece of junk it is? |
Well, competition is one of those things that is generally good, but can become bad. As long as rules aren't broken, competition is a good thing. (ie. don't destroy, literally, your competitor's factory). These days, I've noticed how a lot of the food I buy has been quite a bit cheaper than usual, and the reason is that new, smaller, stores have come up with similar products at a much lower price. In order to stay in the game, prices had to be cut. It's a win for the consumer. Also, much goes for automobile manufacturers. Many companies with fairly inferior products are forced into lowering prices if they want to survive. Once again, a win for the consumer.
Competition is also something that allowed the human race to advance to where it is today. I'll use one fairly recent example, the Space Race. Had the United States not try to compete with the Soviet Union, what were our chances of reaching the moon? Competition is also something that motivates us to move forward in new advancements.
Of course, there are a number of exceptions. For example, when one or two companies come into almost total dominance of a market, that makes it difficult for smaller companies to jump in. They have to introduce a better product at a better price. Also, competition in business should never come to an end, nobody wants a monopoly.
All in all, competition is certainly a good thing, but like almost everything, it has limits.
Competition is also something that allowed the human race to advance to where it is today. I'll use one fairly recent example, the Space Race. Had the United States not try to compete with the Soviet Union, what were our chances of reaching the moon? Competition is also something that motivates us to move forward in new advancements.
Of course, there are a number of exceptions. For example, when one or two companies come into almost total dominance of a market, that makes it difficult for smaller companies to jump in. They have to introduce a better product at a better price. Also, competition in business should never come to an end, nobody wants a monopoly.
All in all, competition is certainly a good thing, but like almost everything, it has limits.
| deanhills wrote: |
| So what did they do then? Return the product? Accept the cheap product? If the public is gullible to accept cheap goods, then they will be the victims of the competition that is obviously going to benefit those with large profit margins at the expense of cheap goods. If people complain hard enough and refuse to buy the goods, then there will be a greater balance and competition would then lean in the direction of a discerning buyers public perhaps at the expense of something else. |
We like to say that we demand quality goods. But then that doesn't explain why most giant corporate retailers sell junk, and are indeed the dominant companies, compared to smaller manufacturers who actually produce quality items.
Sadly, people accept the cheaply made, mass produced items out of convenience. So the competitive market will always favor the corporate giants who produce lower quality products as long as this continues.
| william wrote: |
| Competition is also something that allowed the human race to advance to where it is today. I'll use one fairly recent example, the Space Race. Had the United States not try to compete with the Soviet Union, what were our chances of reaching the moon? |
I see this example used often. The down side of it is that it caused alot of harm and animosity between the USSR and USA.
I also never see anyone saying that cooperation has "allowed the human race to advance", when it obviously has. More is always accomplished through cooperation than through competition. Competition may have led to advancements in science and technology, but the schools of science and technology were born out of cooperation and a mutual curiosity.
Competition is good in my opinion. Not only does it not allow monopolies, but also pushes people to do better. Sometimes competition can get out of hand and cause problems, but for the most part I believe it to be a good thing.
| Solon_Poledourus wrote: | ||
We like to say that we demand quality goods. But then that doesn't explain why most giant corporate retailers sell junk, and are indeed the dominant companies, compared to smaller manufacturers who actually produce quality items. Sadly, people accept the cheaply made, mass produced items out of convenience. So the competitive market will always favor the corporate giants who produce lower quality products as long as this continues. |
Competition is good as long as the people involved are using it for the right reasons. Competitions can be used to expose your own weaknesses in whatever it is your competing. You can then use this and learn from it.
Obviously most people will just see competitions as a means to prove that they are better than someone else or if they believe it better than everyone else.
Obviously most people will just see competitions as a means to prove that they are better than someone else or if they believe it better than everyone else.
Competition is like water.
You can't live without it, still if you drink too much of it, you die.
What a philosophical comparison
You can't live without it, still if you drink too much of it, you die.
What a philosophical comparison
It is good ,I think.
Competition is very good. Everyone seems to be competing against someone else. And that competition improves everyone's abilities, because they are constantly striving to outdo each other.
| Jaan wrote: |
| Competition is always good. Even if its war, the positive aspects of any situation can be debated and usually win out in the end. |
I would very much like to hear you debate that the positive aspects of war "win out".
| erlendhg wrote: |
| Competition is like water.
You can't live without it, still if you drink too much of it, you die. What a philosophical comparison |
You are absolutely right !!!
| Magicman wrote: |
| Competition feeds innovation. I don't think that there is has been any innovation which didn't stem from some sort of competition. Without competition there would really be no need to improve or invent anything. By competition, I mean competition in any sense. We have innovations in the field of medicine, for example, because we as a species are competing against illnesses in a sense. |
Exactly. Competition feeds the fire of innovation. Combine competition with moral capitalists and you have the building blocks of what made the U.S. great. Notice I said moral capitalists. We've seen what happens when people get greedy. Follow the money.
No competition allows for mediocrity. And no one would be driven to do something or improve their products or whatever they're doing without competition. And that would be plain sad... or y'know... chaotic.
Competition is like authority. You know you are going to run into it, only if it hurts you is it a problem.
| erlendhg wrote: |
| Competition is like water.
You can't live without it, still if you drink too much of it, you die. What a philosophical comparison |
Spot on !!!
Like erlendhg said. It truly is water. You do need it to have enjoyment (video game competition) and sales (shop competitions) but too much and then the world just goes nuts.
Fair competition is good, but it can run out of control, which is why we have things like the Monopolies Commission.
Independent companies have to start out on a small, local scale, and this is fine if they are competing against other local companies. Unfortunately in many industries they compete against large national or multinational companies, who are able to undercut them effortlessly.
A real world example, that's been plaguing me. There are two big towns near me, which I'll call Town A and Town B. In Town A, the local bus company has already been driven out of business, and a large national company runs all the bus services.
In Town B, there is still an independent local company. But the national company has dropped its prices so low that it is actually running at a loss. It does this by raising prices in Town A, since there's no longer anyone there who can compete. Bus prices in Town A become obscenely high, and in Town B, there is literally no way that the local company can compete. Before long, the local company in Town B will also go out of business, and prices in Town B will rise to undercut the local company in Town C.
The prices in Town A won't come down... why should they? There's still no competition there. And if anyone does open up a new company there, the large company's prices will immediately and temporarily plummet.
Independent companies have to start out on a small, local scale, and this is fine if they are competing against other local companies. Unfortunately in many industries they compete against large national or multinational companies, who are able to undercut them effortlessly.
A real world example, that's been plaguing me. There are two big towns near me, which I'll call Town A and Town B. In Town A, the local bus company has already been driven out of business, and a large national company runs all the bus services.
In Town B, there is still an independent local company. But the national company has dropped its prices so low that it is actually running at a loss. It does this by raising prices in Town A, since there's no longer anyone there who can compete. Bus prices in Town A become obscenely high, and in Town B, there is literally no way that the local company can compete. Before long, the local company in Town B will also go out of business, and prices in Town B will rise to undercut the local company in Town C.
The prices in Town A won't come down... why should they? There's still no competition there. And if anyone does open up a new company there, the large company's prices will immediately and temporarily plummet.
Competition is definitely good, unless your competitor is about to put you out of business! Without competition there would be no balance and companies would do whatever they want (more than they do now 
)
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