Faceless Competition

To live vicariously is to let others achieve things you want to achieve and feel happiness for them, as you get to see what it's like to experience the achievement without doing it yourself.  I know a few people who get immensely jealous of others' success.  I've never been one of those people, on the contrary I've actually been one of the people that motivates others and spurs them on to achieve their goals.  I've encouraged others to work towards the things they want to achieve.

I like to see others succeed, and I like the feeling that I helped them get there, I like to support friends and family to do the things they want.  I guide people where I can, and provide help and advice where I can.  I've tutored others and I have taught others how to do things that I know how to do.  I used to run a website that taught people how to program in Java, I used to be a tutor when I was at University, and I was very active in forums in the past on various topics.

I never quite understood the mentality that others achievements undermine your own, even if they surpass them, why does that take away from what you have achieved?  You've still managed to do more than you had before you started, and you were always going to be in a world where there would be others out there who compete and achieve more, why does the fact you know, or know of a specific person make it negative?  Why are people comfortable with the idea of faceless masses who have achieved more, yet when there is a face put to that achievement they recognise it makes them uncomfortable, bitter, and resentful?

It is very easy to fall into the capitalist competitive trap of wanting everyone to stand alone and wanting competition to determine who succeeds; it is a comfort to me that there have been many movements against this idea which have led to websites like indiegogo and kickstarter that bring together the power of the crowd.  Platforms that ask you to help others succeed in their endeavours even though you know full well that those people have the potential to become immeasurably successful.  Yet you donate anyway because you want to motivate, support, and inspire others to pursue their dreams.  If you have an idea, share it, and if people like it then it is easier than ever to get the ball moving, that's what I love about these websites.

My question of the day is would you help someone achieve their goal even if it meant they would be far more successful than you?