If we are talking about bonsai competitions at any rate you are absolutely right, for the moment. I've competed at other sports and activites many times. I have a perverse habit of getting into male dominated activities... all of which are highly competitive on so many levels. I generally have only one person to beat... and that is my self expectations. Mine tend to be pretty high, or it isn't worth doing... I don't like to waste my time.
Acknowledgement of peers is always nice... but no matter how the thing ranks out, I spend days pouring over how I might have done it better... because I expect the best of myself... so it's an inward measure.
I'm sure we are both of a mind, we just look at it from different views. For you to be recognized as the best is a goal... for me being satisfied with my performance is often harder than attaining any outter acknowledgement. It's all about motivations... and no one has ever been as critical of me as me.
I erred in making any inference that my view was better than your own... I was making more a general statement than anything about my opinion of this nonsense of having to put a pin on who's the BEST. (reference recent dicussion about Kimura) Sorry if I made any offense. That was not my intention.
And as to Daniel... what makes you think I don't? lol... I put up with a lot of hell for doing my own thing on a regular basis... and the fact that I change the trees to reflect what I find lovely, even beyond his vision. His respect is such that he lets it happen... and does not change it... because though he gives me grief, he gives me liscence to do what I want.
That is trust...
V
