On Monday, Feb 2, Benjamin Compton wrote:
...big snip...
> . . .the key to cooperation amidst competition is to have
> clearly defined values. I would not be surprised, however,
> if competition doesn't crowd out cooperation a little bit,
> but between the two I think there is more virtue in
> competition.
Your post, unwittingly I'm sure, exposes a large part of what this thread
is all about. The word "virtue," according to my dictionary, comes "from
Latin virtut-, virtus strength, manliness, virtue, from vir man -- more at
VIRILE." Manliness. This thread is largely about the differences between
the genders. Cooperation is more of a feminine trait (I hope I won't get
too much disagreement on this), and competition is a masculine trait. The
war of the sexes is still alive and well (a manly metaphor, war, exposing
myself as masculine).
There is an interesting aspect of this thread, please tell me if you
disagree. It seems the folks who espouse cooperation are doing so in a
cooperative manner, and those espousing competition are likewise doing so
in a competitive manner. We are immersed in the waters of our own beliefs
as we converse all around them. Interesting, no?
I like the reference to the word, coopetition in a previous point, which
leads to one point I want to play with a bit. BOTH cooperation AND
competition have value, and exist SIMULTANEOUSLY, like the male and the
female, as we go about living. I think the issue is becoming more
prevalent today as women become more important and prevalent in the
workplace.
The question this brings to mind, for me, is "what benefits does
cooperation bring to the job, and what benefits does competition bring;
and how can we use them both effectively and simultaneously?" It sure
sounds like a brain twister to me. An example is appropriate: In the world
of professional sports, there is powerful competition, and both parties in
the competition cooperate in many ways; they agree to follow rules; the
players have unions; the players often greet each other cordially before
and after games; a new ritual in football is for players from both teams
coming together after the game in prayer; there are many more examples.
Even in war, there are the Geneva Conventions, incredibly paradoxical, if
you ask me.
Anyone care to address my questions?
-- John Crutcher looking for work John_crutcher@mist.seattleantioch.eduLearning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>