We’ve all seen the movie. It’s late, and the poker game is about to end as the winner scoops the pile of chips into his hat. He’s cleaned everyone out.
“Aren’t you going to give us a chance to win our money back?” The winner’s face fills the frame. His silence and facial expression conveys more than a dozen pages of dialogue. We can read in his eyes his assessment of this foolish question: “I’ve won it all. There’s nothing left to gain. I’m done with you.”
The camera closes in on each player. The lens captures the expression of each man as he begins to realise the extent of his loss. His money evaporating provides the least of his pain. His pride has been damaged. His loss was not only devastating, but it took place in public. His companions witnessed his downfall. Additionally, as the winner leaves the table, the hope of relieving his pain leaves too. He feels he has been harmed, and he has. If he is to properly assign responsibility for his current distress, he’d better locate a mirror.
The scene continues with some shouting and perhaps some flying fists or bullets as the losers attempt to prolong the game. Rarely does the winner acquiesce. His position is one of strength and he has little motivation to jeopardise it.
This scene provides riveting drama. That’s why it’s seen so often in films. Audiences enjoy the tension. It’s entertaining.
A similar drama has been unfolding on I-Hub.
A young man, who posts to this thread, has discovered that he has the ability to locate and press the “Hot Buttons” of other participants. Not only does he have some natural talent for this; he also seems to have invested some effort into developing this talent. Aptitude and practice make an excellent preparation for most endeavours, and this is no exception. With each “encounter” the young man adds yet another weapon to his arsenal. Eventually, his skill and ability enable him to quickly dispatch even the most determined opponents.
As the ability gap widens between the young man and those who choose to engage him in on-line combat, the rewards of his victories diminish. In short, when winning becomes easy, it also becomes boring. It’s time to move forward.
Moving forward implies leaving others behind. Those facing abandonment see their temporary losing situations about to become permanent and find this unacceptable. They want to win desperately. They cannot win without an opponent. They begin devoting considerable effort into provocations. As weak attempts fail, stronger ones are tried. This escalation brings them further discredit -- the opposite of what they seek. Fortunately, as time passes, they too will move forward, but when they do, their path will probably lead them in new directions.
So far, to his credit, the young man hasn’t fallen into their trap. Ignoring the temptations to engage his detractors both adds to his credibility and position of strength. When opponents are engaging in self-destructive behaviour, the wise man doesn’t interfere.
It takes a big man to handle defeat, but an even bigger man to handle victory.
Will the young man engage his detractors and dilute his victory? I don’t know. He possesses considerable talent and versatility. For everyone’s sake, I hope he does. His abilities, knowledge, and experiences are too precious to be squandered by engaging in needless acrimony. He has demonstrated a willingness to participate in on-line debate and shed fresh light on stale thinking.
A U.S. President once said “Walk softly and carry a big stick.” Our young man has demonstrated his proficiency with the big stick. Let’s see if he can walk softly. If he does, we all win.
Cheers, PW.
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