This is pretty common failure avoidance technique.
But it lacks ambition.
Imagine a father or a mother with a newborn infant, "Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with...changing nappies" so I just won't bother. The kid cries "You want to "fix" the problem?..." The kid cries. "My own approach is always to fit the solution to the problem in such a way that the optimal outcome (i.e. reduction of abuses in the short and long-term) is achieved." The kid cries.
Is that being a responsible Adult? The kid might ask. I dunno. Not my kid. Anyway, who gives a shit about the kid? The kid is kind of fucking annoying.
Maybe that's just the world we live in.
But the difference between an Adult and a Child, is that the Adult doesn't have the luxury of being the Child.
Somebody has to clean up the Shit.
Maybe the kid has a point?
Good writing should be convincing, certainly, but it should be convincing because you got the right answers, not because you did a good job of arguing.
Fine, but I think you generally have be familiar with the problem domain to devise the optimal solution. I am in a good position to change the diapers or punish my own child. Not quite so for someone else's, particularly if they are not in my own geographic vicinity.
Comments
Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with...
You want to "fix" the problem?...
My own approach is always...
This is pretty common failure avoidance technique.
But it lacks ambition.
Imagine a father or a mother with a newborn infant, "Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with...changing nappies" so I just won't bother. The kid cries "You want to "fix" the problem?..." The kid cries. "My own approach is always to fit the solution to the problem in such a way that the optimal outcome (i.e. reduction of abuses in the short and long-term) is achieved." The kid cries.
Is that being a responsible Adult? The kid might ask. I dunno. Not my kid. Anyway, who gives a shit about the kid? The kid is kind of fucking annoying.
Maybe that's just the world we live in.
But the difference between an Adult and a Child, is that the Adult doesn't have the luxury of being the Child.
Somebody has to clean up the Shit.
Maybe the kid has a point?
Good writing should be convincing, certainly, but it should be convincing because you got the right answers, not because you did a good job of arguing.
http://paulgraham.com/essay.html
In other words, the point of thinking is to solve, not to display thought.
Same as for the Harvard students.
Fine, but I think you generally have be familiar with the problem domain to devise the optimal solution. I am in a good position to change the diapers or punish my own child. Not quite so for someone else's, particularly if they are not in my own geographic vicinity.