I'm mostly asking this cause lately I've been watching a lot of America's Best Dance Crew and week after week I see people work their butts off only to get fried in the end. This led to thoughts of other competitive shows such as Hell's Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance and Project Runway. Are these shows healthy to participate in? Is competition healthy to participate in?

That last question was also cause, like many others, I'm a pretty intense gamer. I work to refine my skills daily in all kinds of games: shooters, card games, strategy and Pokemon(it deserves its own category). I win hard, I lose hard. And I'm positive many gamers are the same. The rush you get when you win is sometimes so addictive you just work to get even better to continue that. However, statistics state that you're bound to lose at some point and that depressing era when you do just feels so... well... depressing.

Can competition be healthy or is it forever doomed to be an unhealthy part of our human nature?

I think that competition, like most things, is healthy so long as it doesn't rise to the level of obsession. I know that my competitive nature stems from growing up competing in athletics all the way through high school and college, something that helped shaped me in the person that I am today.

Competition is good until people start making others significantly and purposely worse off in the process.

Competition breeds improvement, however as stated prior the competition is only healthy assuming no undue strain is placed upon the competitors where it can be avoided, which is why the majority of reality TV competitions (such as Hells Kitchen) are unhealthy, as the show, judges and producers force the contestants into situations that are not required and purely exist to improve the viewer enjoyment/ratings.

I think some competition is healthy, but not all. I mean, those shows may be fun to watch, but I don't think it's healthy competition. I think the only really healthy competition is the kind that helps you grow in your knowledge of something and yourself. Overall, if you only gain a prize from it, it's not healthy.

Competition is unhealthy beyond the logical extremes of competitive action. These include competing after one has already achieved the goal, and after one is soundly defeated. As well, when there is an0ther, non-competitive way of achieving the goal, that should be used instead. When one is disinterested in obtaining the prize of the competition, competing is insane. And lastly, when one has only oneself to compete with, maintaining the spirit of competition is just pointless: just take what you want, clean and efficiently.

Otherwise, those shows are the modern equivalent of gladiatorial games. Very plebeian.

Competition can help make you better at something. Me and my friend, KumoriRyuu, do weightlifting at least twice a week, often 3 times. We compete, but not directly with each other. We compete with ourselves, and we occasionally set challenges for each other (usually its something like "try this exercise, or do this many reps).

I feel competition is good when you compete with yourself, and when a friendly atmosphere is maintained. When I compete directly against others, I never make the loser feel bad about losing. I acknowledge they tried their hardest, I compliment what they did well, and I offer advice for improvement, if they wish it.