Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Start, Stop, Do, Don't

I've written here before about the accelerator/brake habit of those who seek a particular goal but then, as they near it, let self-doubt cause them to abandon or sabotage their endeavor.
There is a similar practice that can be equally frustrating and I'll bet many of you have seen it: Those who urge a particular course of action while simultaneously opposing the very conduct that would be required to succeed in that course.

"Why isn't this task being accomplished more quickly?" they moan, but then, if the resources are requested to do precisely that, these same folks will rapidly will line up in opposition.

It's the old game of claiming to favor Four but opposing the numbers that make Four. There's a popular reverse version in which people solemnly denounce Four but then strongly advocate combining 1 + 1 + 1 + 1.

Cute.

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