the world has turned and left me here

the virality of competition

Today the Seattle gloom gave way to a sunny fall day and, accordingly, I hit the trails for a nice strenuous bike ride. The world was full of color again--not just grey and sickly streetlight orange. I dug it. An older cyclist passed me on a hill, and as I passed him on the downhill he looked over & said derisively, "gravity." It had not occurred to me that this was a race. It became one though, and I forgot about the colors and gave chase.

Funny how easy it is to get dragged into the game. You may not be playing the game, or want to play the game, but as soon as someone says "I'm winning the game," it becomes difficult to explain your conscientious objection to anyone but yourself. "I'm beyond the game" or "I'm playing a different game" sound like "I'm a loser." No one wants to be a loser, right? So you play the game.

Does this explain subdivisions, big cars, and my child is an honor student? Do people get tired of explaining the oddball game they're winning in their own little way & start playing the mainstream game?