From the history of WFL: "Trite Idealism Refuted"

In order to flesh this blog out a bit more, I will be posting a few blogs I've written elsewhere (since this will become my primary blogging medium). Here is one from a number of months ago..

"You can do anything you set your mind to."

This phrase is still way too prevalent in our society (or, alternatively, in specific subcultures). We are known as people who grow and learn, but there are still a number of kinks in the progression - and we are certainly consistent in our own fallibility.

Lets create a hypothetical situation. Lets say 3 people enter a contest to produce something. Each one says "I'm going to set my mind to produce the best product within the constraints of this contest". Who will win? If we can do anything we set our mind to, then, from a purely technical aspect, each one should produce the best product within the constraints.

Realistically, though, it won't happen. One person will have better resources, more technical expertise, or some advantage over the other participants.

We live in a world with constraints. Circumstances that control the outcome. You can certainly interpret these circumstances in various ways, but the idea of being able to win 100% of the time is pure motivational drek that serves little purpose other than to motivate the unmotivated, in my opinion.

Discussion welcome.

-WFL