Everyday Systems: nosdiet: message 2960 of 3212

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--- Debbie Feder <deborahfederlmt@...> wrote:

> Look, you are a computer guy.. You think in
> fail/success terms... it 
> may not be so jarring or depressing to you to think
> this way...

According to the Economist, 60% of software projects
are considered failures by the people who commissioned
them, so maybe we programmers ought to think about
this even more than we do!

Over 60% of Americans are now overweight. Do these two
statistics have anything to do with each other? Of
course not. But it makes me think that maybe
reprogramming mental software has a thing or two in
common with the other kind... such as the need for
clarity around desired goals and behaviors. If
success/failure is too harsh, choose gentler terms,
but make sure they're similarly clear. Personally, I
like a word with some teeth.

> I believe for
> some people, the 
> word failure will actually inspire them to succeed,
> but for a bunch 
> of others, who may already be really sad and in need
> of a way 
> to "cheer themselves on"... setback is helpful

You're right. As long as people are aware of both
dangers, they'll be ok. Sail between us, folks...

> How about "on
> target" or "off 
> target"... this, I actually think, is the best way
> to approach our 
> efforts.. It's non judgemental yet
> accurate...Whaddaya think boss?

Honestly (pathetically) I think of the scene in star
wars where the guy keeps repeating "stay on target...
stay on target" right before his x-wing gets vaporized
by Darth Vader's tie fighter. But Luke winds up
destroying the death star, so I guess it worked...

http://shovelglove.com/images/chop_01.jpg

(notice mementi mori in background)

> Have a orange and fuschia day :)
> 

I will, "descriptively," but prescriptively I'll stick
with primary colors.

Reinhard