[monster]

Winning is important. Sometimes. But it's not the be-all-and-end-all. Some people have natural talent, some people acquire talent through hard work and practice. Both can be great, both can be winners -and the worker can end up being better than the natural player. But if they're pitted against each other and forced to have winner/loser labels from the get-go, how's the loser ever going to be encouraged to work and develop their talent? Both should have a chance -you never know who's going to end up on top. In my experience, the kids with natural talent often take it for granted and don't work hard enough to fulfil their potential. The ones with grit and determination often are the winners in the end. But if you call them losers before they really get to work, are they going to stick with it and give it a shot?

And, outside of sport and similar activities... most of life isn't a game. Treating it as such and trying to "win" is imbecilic/republican. Life is about being happy, loving, being loved, respecting yourself, and a zillion other wishy-washy hippie things. If you always strive to win in every aspect of life, you are really setting yourself up for failure.