Steel 0 #1 June 16, 2005 That has been the question on my mind lately. It often seems that way, but it can't be, somebody has to be the best. It all started with body-building. Just when I thought, I was great and wonderful and that there were less than fifty or so people with better bodies than me, I went to the night of champions competition and saw hundreds competing there that night ( that had better bodies). Then I get my truck, which I never intended for it to be the biggest and baddest truck around, but it just kind of turn out that way, or so it seemed. It took about a month before I finally saw a bigger truck than mine. It stood about 4 inches taller. It wasn't a catastrophy, I could relatively match it for a few thousand $ by getting a slightly bigger lift kit. Then I found a truck forum and saw more than fifty there that were bigger and I don't mean just ones that were 3 or 4 inches bigger. I saw one that was like 1 foot and a half taller. Trucks with 52 inch tires as opposed to my 38's with 18 inch lift kits as opposed to my 8". I couldn't even make my truck that tall if I wanted to, it would probably cost $20K dollars just to get it that high and then the crappy gas mileage and engine wear would make it extremely expensive to maintain. So the dream of having the biggest truck was ended quicker than it was started.If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #2 June 16, 2005 Don't you know, there's always someone giving you the blues.. It could be you, one day, giving that to someone else. What really is counting? Find it out. Q: How young are you? BTW: I never met someone complaining that his neighbours' truck is bigger than his one, they were probably complaining about/comparing something else ..? dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #3 June 16, 2005 Quote Don't you know, there's always someone giving you the blues.. It could be you, one day, giving that to someone else. What really is counting? Find it out. Q: How young are you? BTW: I never met someone complaining that his neighbours' truck is bigger than his one, they were probably complaining about/comparing something else ..? I would bet I am probably older than you and I did not complain about anybody's truck being bigger than mine. But for the record no neighbor of mine has a bigger truck. What I did was simply ask the question. Do you believe that there is somebody always bigger, faster, stronger better than you? And it should be understood that question goes beyond you or me. That is for instance as of now I don't know anybody who has a truck (that is street legal) with tires bigger than 52". But if you believe there is always somebody bigger then that must mean there is somebody else out there with 54". And by that train of thought there must be somebody else out there with 56" wheels. See it would be and endless cycle if that were the case.If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #4 June 16, 2005 Yes. That simple. It's human nature to compete and strive. You may become the best at something, but someone will be nipping at your heels as soon as you reach the top. It's part of how we progress. We'd be dead in the water without that drive. you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #5 June 16, 2005 OK. Understood. A: Yes. There always is someone better, faster, bigger, smarter -what-ever-you-like- than you. As you are beeing the same to someone else, whose life you are touching. That's what I wanted to explain. BTW: My son is 23 y/o. Bet who's older? OK. It was not your truck's size. What, exactly, does your question mean? The never ending cycle is to be found in every corner of our life. I like trying to turn the big wheel. dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron 10 #6 June 16, 2005 You can't be the best in everything.....Most will never be the best in anything. Thats why so many people stay in smaller ponds...Some think it better to be a big fish in a small pond."No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #7 June 16, 2005 Depending on the endevour, striving to be "the best" is either noble or foolish. Humans improve things by trying to be "the best". That said, since there can, by definition only be one "the best" of anything, there's also going to be a lot of dissappointment and jealousy. While being "the best" might have some definate rewards, coming in say, fourth place, rarely carries anywhere nearly as much. The money spent by -everyone- else is usually a huge amount compared to the money spent by just "the best" so you kind of have to question the wisdom of those people that fall in between the standard deviation and "the best". Eventually one of those people will become "the best", but everyone else is essentially wasting their time, money and effort. In other words, it's -very- inefficient to even try unless you actually have a purpose and real possiblity to become "the best". I would say people over compensating for their egos by attempting to purchase or build "the best" truck would fall into this group. A professional monster truck builder has a purpose and may actually have a real possibility of becoming "the best" at it, but somebody that just uses the truck to drive from point A to point B is just, well, foolish because just as being "the best" has no limits, neither does being "the most foolish" and there's always going to be somebody more foolish that will make an even larger and more pointless truck.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #8 June 16, 2005 What, exactly, does your question mean? =========================== I would have thought it was clear but anyway, the question is do you believe there is always somebody better, taller, faster? As far as I know the tallest man that ever lived was Robert Wadlow 8'11.1" (2.71.78 meters). He died 65 years ago. The guinness book of world records has not found anybody taller. But if you believe that there is always somebody taller then you believe there is somebody else out there who is. Do you? .If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #9 June 16, 2005 QuoteDo you believe that there is somebody always bigger, faster, stronger better than you? Yep. I have no doubt. Edwin Moses was undefeated in the 400 high hurdles for something like 12 years. He was the fastest, right? Well, in the 100 meters he wasn't. He probably couldn't do a marathon in under 3 hours. Stronger? The strongest is the guy who can lift the most weight. Or, is it the guy who can lift more weight as a ratio of his weight. "Bigger, faster, stronger" are all terms that we in the legal commuity call "puffing." Puffing is a statement that cannot be objectively measured. For example, you've got what you think is the best truck. Meanwhile, I wouldn't be caught dead in a truck like you've described. Best for you is not best for someone else. Which means that there is always someone faster, stronger, bigger, etc. Because everybody's opinion about what is "biggest, fastest, strongest" is different. As an example, see your arguments on Luigi's flight on the 39... As wingloading, his canopy might be bigger than others that have landed. As a size, it was the smallest landed. It's all our perspective. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #10 June 16, 2005 wow, you're really cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #11 June 16, 2005 Quotewow, you're really cool. yeah but don't get your hopes up, I am straight and have a serious girlfreind.If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #12 June 16, 2005 It's a pity that the internet disables most people's ability to smell sarcasm correctly. However, with my fine tuned senses I can tell you that he was not exactly giving you a compliment.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #13 June 16, 2005 QuoteIt's a pity that the internet disables most people's ability to smell sarcasm correctly. However, with my fine tuned senses I can tell you that he was not exactly giving you a compliment. Just as I was laughing while I wrote that expressing how little I cared about his assessment of me.If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #14 June 16, 2005 Yes, I do. It just needs time. I'm sure there is always someone better/bigger/taller...etc.. insert-what-you-like... on certain fields than you/me. And you are/I am better... in other fields than another poor fool asking exactly that same question. Life is not always fair but, there's a balance in all. Looking back on what I made in life, I mean personal goals, I think I am a loser. I made many licenses, horse riding, blue belt in Judo, military, shooting, hunter's license, skydiver's license, but: I am sure not beeing really good in one of those fields. In all of those areas, I met folks that were/are much, much better than me. Today, I do not mind anymore. But, it took years to come to that. And so, I feel surprised if a good friend tells me how much he admires my courage of jumping out of a plane, of raising up my boy successfully after his dad died many years ago, of stopping to smoke after 20 yrs from one day to the next..... Tell things like that to yourself and believe it. That's helping a lot. So perhaps, you will see, you are the tallest/biggest/best looking one, driving the largest truck?? dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinb138 0 #15 June 16, 2005 Quote As an example, see your arguments on Luigi's flight on the 39... As wingloading, his canopy might be bigger than others that have landed. As a size, it was the smallest landed. It's all our perspective. It's kind of funny that you would use that example.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #16 June 16, 2005 QuoteIs there really always somebody better? hmmm, maybe you should ask Mike Tyson about that. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #17 June 16, 2005 QuoteQuoteIs there really always somebody better? hmmm, maybe you should ask Mike Tyson about that. Funny that you should bring that up because well it kind of leads to what Lawrocket mentioned. Mike Tyson was the undefeated only for a brief period. However, I have heard many say that Joe Louis was the best, as he held the title for 12 years, a record that has yet to be broken, decades later. After all it just a matter of biology that the nobody can be the strongest forever because everybody will get weaker as they get older.If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
78RATS 0 #18 June 16, 2005 Why do you even care? Rat for Life - Fly till I die When them stupid ass bitches ask why Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #19 June 16, 2005 I'm not sure where you want to go with this? For the most part, human performance continues to improve. Even the 100m record took another step forward...hopefully a clean one to replace the prior suspect one. Competitive spirit drives many humans to improve. But not always for the best. Bodybuilding is a doped sport, which might be fine if you just make it open competition, but I personally don't think athletes should have to trade their future health for now. And then on the subject of biggest truck - that's the lamest form of competition out there. Only takes a credit card to compete. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #20 June 16, 2005 As Homer Simpson said - "Yup. Can't win, don't try." ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooknswoop 19 #21 June 16, 2005 Quote That has been the question on my mind lately. Let it go. Competetion can be healthy, but if taken too far, it can be unhealthy. Derek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #22 June 17, 2005 and of course, there is always the distinct possibility that there is someone 'better than you' somewhere, who simply has no interest in competition....____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites