When something becomes a competition it erodes the desire to do it for its own sake.

This is true primarily if it's a game that only some people are allowed to play.

If other people are competing and you aren't, they'll outcompete you and knock you out of the game.

So you have to compete to play.

If you're competing it's about the competition first and foremost, not for its own sake.

Things can still be competitive and in an infinite orientation if everyone is allowed to participate.

Competition is a powerful acid that strongly selects for high quality, effective solutions... but at the cost of turning infinite games into finite ones.