2010-12-27
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Flying
Ok, as I mentioned, the other day in a dram I was thinking about flying. Specifically about the sort of super-hero "think and you move thru the air" sort.
I've tagged this "geekery" because it's *such* a geeky thing to think about. And "writing" because they way I was thinking and the way in which I intend to explore the idea amounts to the sort of world building a good writer needs to do with regards to their world.
Starting assumptions:
It's possible to fly unaided.
The ability can be taught.
Without the first assumption, we don't have a post. :-)
Without the second we are dealing with a "unique" ability/situation. One which has had a fair bit of exploration.
So, now we need to define the ability a bit more. different parameters/limits will have quite marked differences in the resulting world or story.
First things that come to mind are "how fast?" and "how much?"
Being able to fly at walking speed will have results quite different than being able to fly at supersonic speeds.
Likewise, "how much?" as in what can you take with you also greatly affects the outcome.
Consider one extreme of "how much?". If people can only fly while naked, that is different from being able to carry a normal load, much less extreme loads.
( Off we go into the wild blue yonder )
I've tagged this "geekery" because it's *such* a geeky thing to think about. And "writing" because they way I was thinking and the way in which I intend to explore the idea amounts to the sort of world building a good writer needs to do with regards to their world.
Starting assumptions:
It's possible to fly unaided.
The ability can be taught.
Without the first assumption, we don't have a post. :-)
Without the second we are dealing with a "unique" ability/situation. One which has had a fair bit of exploration.
So, now we need to define the ability a bit more. different parameters/limits will have quite marked differences in the resulting world or story.
First things that come to mind are "how fast?" and "how much?"
Being able to fly at walking speed will have results quite different than being able to fly at supersonic speeds.
Likewise, "how much?" as in what can you take with you also greatly affects the outcome.
Consider one extreme of "how much?". If people can only fly while naked, that is different from being able to carry a normal load, much less extreme loads.
( Off we go into the wild blue yonder )
Entry tags:
Effort vs results
"You're not trying!"
Thus runs the familiar cry. Be it from a PE coach, a teacher of some more academic subject, or a parent.
Right or wrong, what they *actually* mean, even if they don't realize it themselves is "You aren't achieving the results I expect you to."
Note the rather significant difference between those two statements. The former is an *assumption* based on their observations of your results and what they think is your attitude. It's also an attempt to make the lack of desired results your fault.
The latter is a statement of fact. Worse, it highlights the fact that their *expectations* are a critical component of the situation.
Consider. The kid isn't doing well and perhaps looks sullen and resentful. Or maybe listless.
"Obviously" they aren't trying. Right?
Maybe.
Or maybe they've been giving it their best shot and failing because they lack the ability or because your expectations are too high. And continued failure *combined with accusations that they aren't trying* is why they are acting the way they are.
And the failure in spite of actual (and unrecognized/ignored) effort may be because the adult has *assumed* things. Like assuming a kid knows things the adult does. And without those minor but *crucial* bits of info (or technique) the task isn't *possible* to complete satisfactorily.
This is a somewhat specific case of a far more general problem.
People confuse effort and results. They assume that sufficient effort *will* produce results. And they also assume that lack of results means lack of effort.
This affects *everything*. It's part of why the jobless are assumed to be at fault. Likewise for welfare.
It's also why so many programs that are producing no results or are actually counterproductive survive. They are "major efforts". Just look at all the money/manpower being thrown at the problem.
As an overly simple example, a group of people can push on a log all they want and it won't move if the middle is up against a big rock. Push *sideways* and once it's past the rock *then* it can easily be rolled to where you wanted it.
But as long as that rock is there, adding more manpower won't help.
Now consider where the problem is less obvious. Say long branch stub that got buried in the ground when the ground was a sea of mud.
The log still won't roll. But there's not an obvious reason. And to an uncritical, uncaring or just plain stupid boss, the reason it won't move *must* be that the worker or work crew isn't trying. It *can't* be that there's a *hidden* problem making the situation different from other, outwardly similar ones.
Nope.
I'm sure the parallels with various policies, government programs and various common memes are now obvious.
But that's not going to help with getting folks to quit confusing effort and results. Not any more than they are going to quit believing that good intentions *can't* have bad results unless someone did something out of malice to cause them. (Another rant for another day).
Thus runs the familiar cry. Be it from a PE coach, a teacher of some more academic subject, or a parent.
Right or wrong, what they *actually* mean, even if they don't realize it themselves is "You aren't achieving the results I expect you to."
Note the rather significant difference between those two statements. The former is an *assumption* based on their observations of your results and what they think is your attitude. It's also an attempt to make the lack of desired results your fault.
The latter is a statement of fact. Worse, it highlights the fact that their *expectations* are a critical component of the situation.
Consider. The kid isn't doing well and perhaps looks sullen and resentful. Or maybe listless.
"Obviously" they aren't trying. Right?
Maybe.
Or maybe they've been giving it their best shot and failing because they lack the ability or because your expectations are too high. And continued failure *combined with accusations that they aren't trying* is why they are acting the way they are.
And the failure in spite of actual (and unrecognized/ignored) effort may be because the adult has *assumed* things. Like assuming a kid knows things the adult does. And without those minor but *crucial* bits of info (or technique) the task isn't *possible* to complete satisfactorily.
This is a somewhat specific case of a far more general problem.
People confuse effort and results. They assume that sufficient effort *will* produce results. And they also assume that lack of results means lack of effort.
This affects *everything*. It's part of why the jobless are assumed to be at fault. Likewise for welfare.
It's also why so many programs that are producing no results or are actually counterproductive survive. They are "major efforts". Just look at all the money/manpower being thrown at the problem.
As an overly simple example, a group of people can push on a log all they want and it won't move if the middle is up against a big rock. Push *sideways* and once it's past the rock *then* it can easily be rolled to where you wanted it.
But as long as that rock is there, adding more manpower won't help.
Now consider where the problem is less obvious. Say long branch stub that got buried in the ground when the ground was a sea of mud.
The log still won't roll. But there's not an obvious reason. And to an uncritical, uncaring or just plain stupid boss, the reason it won't move *must* be that the worker or work crew isn't trying. It *can't* be that there's a *hidden* problem making the situation different from other, outwardly similar ones.
Nope.
I'm sure the parallels with various policies, government programs and various common memes are now obvious.
But that's not going to help with getting folks to quit confusing effort and results. Not any more than they are going to quit believing that good intentions *can't* have bad results unless someone did something out of malice to cause them. (Another rant for another day).