Don Dwiggins asked for examples of positive competition.
Don, I don't know how to define positive competition, but I would say that
in situations where win-win -- some kind of synthesis of positions -- can
occur, that is probably a best possible case, and should be strived for.
In situations where different choices do not have much to distinguish
them, or where after much discussion a strong coalitiion cannot be made
behind one choice or another, then compromise is the best choice.
In cases where there is strong difference of opinion that is not suited to
either synthesis or compromise, then competition appears to be the only
choice.
It is worth noting that where compromise is not an option, then
cooperation is freqently not an option either. I have seen people
cooperate on the ground rules for their competition, however.
--Rol Fessenden
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