Do we choose to fail?

It's not a theory...

Hmmm. An intriguing proposition. I'm compelled to accept it when applied to rationale individuals, but what about people dealing with abnormal mental states or learning disabilities? Does a student with dyslexia truly choose to fail a quiz in my class?

And can you extend the theory to collective activities, such as group sports? Did the Cubs CHOOSE to loose yesterday? Did they make a collective, unconscious decision to give the game to the Astros?

I suppose that in a perfect world this could be true. I mean, if you were to assume that there was always enough time to gain the knowledge or experience to succeed at everything, then yes, failure would be a choice.

For example, I have only tried ice skating once. I failed misserably at it. But could I succeed at it? Of course I could. If I had the time to practice and money for lessons, I would consider it reasonable that I could be a good ice skater.

I suppose, though, that I choose to NOT take lessons, so that (in a way) does equal a decision to fail. But I don't really look at it that way.

So I guess it comes down to: Does our choice to only specialize and succeed at certain tasks really, in fact, mean that we are choosing to also fail at others? Or does it not really qualify as a failure because we haven't really given ourselves the CHANCE to succeed at said tasks?

I'm afraid this is not a black and white topic, but rather a very grey one.

I have experienced failure that I wholeheatedy know that I did not choose. There were serious difficulties(that I need not yet go into unless you want to know) that clouded the situation tremendously, and were not at all my fault or doing.

But at the same time I have actually been pondering the very idea you are talking about. There are sometimes points in time where we can harness the idea of being completely responsible for our own lives and using this frame of mind to overcome situations or people that want us to fail.( That is, if one is even aware of the power they hold.) That's not to say that this should or would get us what we want, but it helps.

The reason this is a grey issue is because the outcome is contingent on a combination of the two above paragraphs that I wrote. Not one or the other.

I've been following this thread for a while now, and it seems that most of us are focussing on the question as a motivational issue. That is to say that we're talking a lot about failure being the result of our unconscious desire to not succeed. "I fail at relationships because I'm fearful of commitment", "I didn't do well on that presentation because I subconsciously don't want the added responsibility that comes with promotion", etc.

However, I think that the deeper question is one of how we define "failure". If I strap on a pair of ice skates, go out on the ice, and spend most of my time falling on my ass, have I truly "failed" at ice skating? I may not display the same dexterity and grace as Michelle Kwan, but why in the world would I hold her level of skill as my goal?

I see the concept of failure -- or success -- in much the same way as I see freedom. Freedom is granted, or earned, or found, or acquired; it is simply inherent in our being. All that we need do is recognize and accept our freedom. And isn't success -- or lack of failure -- simply an expression of that freedom?

I think at times we do choose to fail. There's a theory in philosophy that some alcoholics choose alcoholism in order to fail in life because they are afraid of their own power. It's a form of akrasia or something.

There's a theory in criminology that some criminals commit crimes in order to be caught.

Consider the crime of drunk and disorderly for instance, it's an obvious bid for failure right from its inception, unless its objective is a not very nice hotel room and awful food at an extortionate price.

Of course there are some accidental failures but some failures are chosen.

one thought that haven't seen brought up yet is the idea of failure not being a personal choice, but a social choice. to use the ice skating metaphor, you fall and bust your ass, not because you yourself think you will fail, but because others around you are expecting you to fail, which you pick up on a subconscious level.

of course, as with most things, it is probably a mix of individual and social thought patterns, and, in the instance of ice skating, physical prowess.

i'll expound more later, but i gotta go, so there's my quick two cents.

Define failure! Do you subscribe to the universal premise, philosophy, or belief that each individual inescapably serves a specific purpose, or do you subscribe to the school of thought which group individuals phenotypically, thereby ensuring the self fulfilling bell curve results? Until you place the term "fail or failure" within a frame, it's indefensible.

Ok, I think I'm starting to understand this.

>>>failures are a direct result of our decision to do so to the extent that true failure does not exist only the decision to do so.<<<

Failure is when we set a goal or expectation for ourselves and then don't reach that goal.

This can be completely subjective for every individual. If your goal is to simply try cooking, and you do that, then you have suceeded - whether you dinner is edible or not. If you are a gormet chef and your intention is to make a delicious meal and you instead serve a mediocre one, then you have failed. Your intention is your goal.

Now, with that in mind, I AM a professional ice skater and I CAN do a triple toe loop. I do them all the time. Suddenly, a story gets out in the news that I hate kittens. The whole media turns on me. At my next performance, my intention is to execute my routine perfectly. I pick up on the negative vibe from the crowd and their constant booing and I start to faulter.

Now, here is where my choice comes in. At this point I can choose to let myself succumb to their jeering and continue falling. OR, I can say, "I'll show them!" and rock my routine.

...

Yes, yes I see no