Is experience something you get, when you didn't get what you wanted?

I think so...

I hate learning that way.

this reminds me of a quote...

nice little twist on that stupid Forrest Gump one...

"Life is like a box of chocolates: a cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift

that no one ever asks for. Unreturnable, because all you get back is

another box of chocolates. So you're stuck with this undefinable whiff-

mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down until there's nothing else to

eat. Sure, once in a while there's a peanut butter cup, english toffee,

but they're gone too fast, the taste is fleeting. So you end up with

nothing but broken bits filled with hardened jelly and teeth-shattering

nuts. If you're desperate enough to eat those all you've got left is an

empty box filled with useless brown paper wrappers."

-The Cancer Man

No. Experience is the result of actions and the results of choice no matter if the goal was met or not.

Sometimes. Like when you get hired at a job you don't like.. "Well, at least I got some experience."

No, experience is gained by learning from the dumb*ss mistakes you make.

Yup, that's a great way to look at it.

that's a great way of putting it