The runback doesn't exist

In my opinion, this new era of good online netcode, good ranked, and an insanely high amounts of online tournaments (at least for SF6) has fundamentally warped our understanding of what it means to get better at Fighting Games. Did you go 0-2 in your online tournament? Enter the next one tomorrow or play on ranked! Is something clearly not working during ranked? Keep rage queuing! You'll definitely get it next time. You just need to play more!!!! 

This extremely high amount of accessibility has not only led to the "just keep playing a lot" mentality (which in my opinion is already unhealthy), but it has also created a belief that there will always be a "next time". At some level, we all want to take another shot at things. Whether it be a failed test in college, or just another shot at making that dish you messed up. In some ways, this outlook is healthy. We're never perfect at stuff at first, and practice definitely makes perfect.

However, just because you are able to try something again, doesn't negate the fact that you failed the first time. While this may seem a little obvious, there are a lot of people who act as if this is not the case. Lost against someone in bracket? Money match them right after! Lost to someone in ranked? Play them in a custom room immediately! Sometimes, people actually do win in the runback, and then act as if all is right with the world once again. 

This mindset ignores losses for what they are: Losses. Losing is important, it tells you that you have more to improve on, or that something didn't play out quite like you expected it to. In order to learn, we have to make mistakes and find out what doesn't work. Therefore, losing is necessary in order to win. However, the feelings that come from a loss suck, and we often do things to make them go away. In some way, our desire for a runback is our way of trying to escape from the consequences of a loss. 

While winning the runback may feel good at first, running away from these emotions is the same thing as running away from the lessons that they provide. In my opinion, it's best to accept our losses and shortcomings for what they are, so that we can learn from them and become better versions of ourselves.