Jos,

Observations:

Using WINNING as a metaphor for the results of the processes involved in politics, religion, war, or economy demands the suspension or alteration of what most people know WINNING to mean.

Of the 16 definitions in my dictionary, all have to do with acquiring something, and most have to do with acquiring something at the expense of someone or something else.

Winning is, by MOST definitions, the EXCLUSION of the larger portion of a given population. The notion of "Win - Win" is a phallacy [ :-) ] of logic invented by a business-oriented world to pacify a consuming public. It is as oxymoronic as the term "Honest Politician".

Any situation established as a GAME, (economies, stock markets, politics, war) will have, BY CONVENTIONAL DEFINITION, a WINNER and a LOOSER.

Observation: Almost Everyone wants to be a Winner: Almost Everyone is actually a non-Winner, therefore a Looser. We have adjusted the meanings of Gaming, Winning, and Loosing to accommodate ill-thought-out notions of emotional, political, or economic relationships that we desire to Triumph in and have "sold" these notions to the masses not on their logical veracity, but on their emotional association.

Who Wins a War of Ideas? Who "comes out on top" of a negotiation? What happens when the technique of compromise is wielded as a tool that serves a hidden agenda in a different arena?

A person can Game through life. Or not.

DANCING is a Romantic Alternative....a different approach to the ancient dilemma of Man's Animal predilections that attempts to move us BEYOND our innate motivations to be the "winner" at any and every food-bowl.

GAMING VS DANCING

MOTIVE:
GAMING: To WIN
DANCING: To DANCE

METHODS, PERSPECTIVES, RESULTS

GAMING DANCING
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Attack Engage
Exploit Opponent's Weaknesses Seek Out Mutual Strengths
Sudden Surprise Mutual Awareness
Hidden Strategies Open Discussion

Excitement Energization
Frustration Satisfaction
Anger Joy
Thrill Pleasurable Experience
Gratification Fulfillment


Conforming our thinking to that of a World that REALLY IS INSANE does nothing but increase our personal chances of personal Worldly increase. Conforming the World to our thinking is a notion fraught with such ominous potential that it CANNOT be entertained too lightly.

Your Humble Savant,

Don Quixote
Mondo Mundo Mano de la Mancha Mucho