When I was 12, I competed in a swimming competition. I came last in the backstroke race - by a long way. The other competitors were already towelling down when I touched the wall. Despite 'losing', I distinctly remember enjoying the swim. I was smiling ear to ear when I finished.

My coach didn't share the same sentiment though. I was just having fun, what's the big deal?

Back in the days when we were apes, competition was a requirement. It was defend or die. Territorial fights are brutal, especially among chimpanzees; including the murder and cannibalisation of the young. Of course I'm talking strictly about wild animals here, not sophisticated, intelligent human beings.

That said, we still evidently possess an insatiable instinct to compete, and celebrate those who become expert at it (e.g. martial arts, arm-wrestling, cheese-rolling races).

The worst people appear when that instinct festers in an environment where it  goes hand in hand with bad intentions. Throw in high amounts of testosterone, low intellect, narcissism, and you have the Trumps, Tates, and Twats of the world.

Worse still are those that force this avatar image outward, like those Theroux interviewed in his documentary. It is always refreshing to know though, that despite there being a stifling amount of twattery going on,  there's always a genius at work. Someone who can channel that competitive energy adeptly, turning it into something Godlike.

To a lot of young men, success is equated to external gain. What gadgets they accumulate. How many women they sleep with. Whether they have a twin or quad exhaust on their car. How many followers they have. How relevant their fashion sense is. Schmoozing their way up some social ladder. Superficial things. 

If success = the total accumulated mass of material, then the Chad with the most wins.

To an omega, success is an inner pursuit. It's about developing talents. Expressing emotions and feelings through creative endeavour. Tending to progress - within oneself, family, friends, and society and not boast about it. Focusing and cultivating inner strength. And, crucially, not seeking validation - socially or in the workplace. This means they are not dazzled by displays of wealth: status and social hierarchy are artificial constructs.

Introversion ultimately brings a feeling of content; knowing that everything you are and everything you will be is enough to nourish you. Praise, attention, likes - they're not needed. A lot of men lack this quality. 'Hit that like button' - a telling phrase. 

This leads me to the last type of man that I'd like to shout out. Every time I spot him, I just feel so bad for him. What a painful existence it must be. 

It's the try-hard (also known as the beta male).

That guy who shadows another to try and boost his position within the group. That guy who changes his personality when the boss walks into the room. That guy who buys an expensive car to show off, even though they really can't afford it in the long term. That guy who takes selfies on holiday, but doesn't actually stop to appreciate their surroundings. That guy who compares himself to others. That guy who slips a disc because he's trying to deadlift 3x his body weight, while streaming live. That guy.

So, I guess, the point of this rant is this: don't be that guy.