Is there shame in mediocrity?

Of course there’s shame in boredom. Words like “normal”, “ordinary” or “safe” are scorned by all who have yet to experience their opposites, which renders youth a hazardous adventure and perpetual boon to military recruiting offices.

No, not at all. I’m generally a happy, content person. I have an average level of success, average looking, average fitness level, probably an average-ish I.Q. and I would not change any of it. It’s a good place to be.

No shame I suppose.

But no source of pride of achievement either.

I’m fond of funny motivational quotes.

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I’ve finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” Dave Barry

Thanks to your question I just found this site which I love!

https://despair.com/collections/demotivators

And my all-time favorite!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010FZX4B6?tag=duckduckgo-ipad-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

No.
Most people are mediocre. By definition.

Why do you find motivational quotes annoying?

And there is no shame in mediocrity, if it isn’t an excuse for being lazy.

Not really, no. There is if you and/or others want there to be.

Thank heavens for mediocrity! How else can some blowhards feel superior?

For me, yes. Luckily I don’t have to worry about that because I’m great. :)

But seriously, mediocre isn’t going to be good enough for me, but that serves only as a motivator. I don’t feel distressed if things don’t always rise above mediocrity. It just gives me something more to strive for.

Essentially, yes!
Most people are driven by ambition, we strive to better ourselves from a very early age.
Accepting mediocrity is tantamount to giving up, limiting yourself & being content with that.

Totally.. Be your best. Take more vacations. Spend more time with your kids. Ask your grandpa about his experience saving UCMEs grandparents in WW2.

Better yourself. But money shouldn’t be your main driver. Family, lasagna, your kids knowing you know their name should be a priority.

I just read a blog post from some failed uber for lawnmowers start-up that the “founder” only slept for fours hours a night and thought this was a badge of honor. It was stupid. And once you hook me up with a lawn person I will just pay them and cut you out.

In school, a ‘C’ is considered average. The norm. The median grade. Should have been good enough for most people with some above average at a ‘B’ and a few in the exceptional range with ‘A’s.

Then colleges and parents and employers wanted more above average and exceptional results (for a variety of reasons) and ‘C’s were soon considered below average. Problematic. An indication of a learning disability perhaps. “Average” became a negative word. And forget about the kids pulling down ‘D’s. They might as well have earned an ‘F’ given the stigma attached to a ‘D’. Kid must be an idiot and a trouble-maker to be getting ‘D’s.

Got an ‘F’? Then you clearly don’t give a fuck and might be a future serial killer. Keep an eye on that kid.

I cannot stand the cultural and social value that “good grades” have cultivated. The judgement and pressure put on kids to perform up to an ever-rising set of expectations.

Yes, you should work to do well in school and take is appropriately seriously — but because you’re trying to be the best ‘you’ you can be. And if your best is a ‘C’, f it’s “average”, then fuck everyone else and their expectations and projected shame.

Only if you are capable of excellence.

I don’t care what annoys you.

Grades are simply inflated these days. There is no academic rigor anymore.

Oh, dear Lord. (whistles)
You made many, many poor people.
I realise, of course, it’s no shame to be poor.
But it’s no great honour either.

If I were a rich man

There is nothing wrong with mediocrity, so long as one is content, and they are not stagnating. That would result in losing ground.
If you are content with mediocrity, and you maintain it, then you are a step ahead of most humans. You are where you want to be, while they are still seeking their achievements.
Some people race, and want to win. Some want to race, and make a good showing. Some are content to show up and get their feet on the block.
Not all the runners are going to get that finish line tape across their chests. If one or more is happy with where they are when the gun goes off, then that means whoever crosses that finish line first won’t be the only contented person. How can that be a bad thing?
I think contentment is the greatest goal to have.

Not to me, and not by today’s standard. Most people will remain mediocre from birth to death, and the larger world will never notice. Some people will fight that fact their whole lives, which is what I find sad.

@Mimishu1995 haha the question wouldn’t proceed until I didn’t write something in the detail box, so I just wrote a random thing that popped in my head. Usually motivational speakers and their quotes in my opinion seem to come from a very fake, try-hard place, that’s why.

@KNOWITALL yes. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.

@Patty_Melt i agree, contentment is so important. Thank you

Thank you all. This comment section has genuinely motivated me.