Originally Posted by
sunshine321 
I think a loser is someone that has caused their own demise and can't see the forest for the trees to do a thing about it when the answer is so clearly in front of them. They basically won't help themselves.
I think if I had to define the term, I'd go with the above.
That said, it's a term my XABF used to use all the time (when referring to other people).
I do not remember using the term on anyone, ever, since about fourth grade.
I believe the term
today is used to hurt, which means that when I hear someone call someone else a loser, I try to look at both sides of the equation. XABF used it to "offload" some of his own feeling on inadequacy, and blameshift to others, meaning the word was (usually) more a reflection on himself than his target.