OMG...Piggy, Sky...you are both so right!
I stopped caring what people thought of my art, and stopped entering competitve shows many years ago, and just started doing what I enjoyed. The moment I started not caring, people started flocking to buy my work!
As a middle school art teacher, I dislike placing my students' art in the annual Youth Art Month competition. It means many will perceive themselves "losers," and at their young and tender age, I think this is detrimental to self-esteem.
Seeker