The Two Things…
Contrary to Jack Palance in City Slickers, this site claims that “For every subject, there are really only two things you really need to know. Everything else is the application of those two things, or just not important.”
Seems silly, until you start to read some of the examples.
Some of my favorites: The Two Things about Computer Programming: 1. The only way to idiot proof software is to take away their computers. 2. Simple is better.
The Two Things about World Conquest: 1. Divide and Conquer. 2. Never invade Russia in the winter.
The Two Things about Economics: 1. Incentives matter. 2. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
The Two Things about Star Trek: 1. Don’t beam down in a red shirt. 2. You can always talk evil computers into destroying themselves.
The Two Things about Women 1. When complaining, they donâ??t want your advice, they want your sympathy. 2. Donâ??t you dare tell them you can sum them up with just Two Things.
There was only one on the site that I found disturbing: The Two Things about National Security: 1. Bring overwhelming force to bear. 2. Let them hate, so long as they fear.
I’m afraid this mindset is going to get us all killed. I’m not going to turn this entry into a political commentary, but this idea that others will behave as long as they have a pistol pointed at their head is outdated in a world where not only people, but seemingly entire subcultures are willing to die to inflict damage on their enemies. The western world (who I think in large part subscribe to the “Two Things” above) may need to re-think them a bit. How about this?
The NEW Two Things about National Security 1. Be prepared to bring overwhelming force to to bear on those against us. 2. However, the object of the game is to convince them we are WITH them.
The US has historically been pretty good about number 1, and a dismal failure at number 2 (and this problem extends far beyond the current administration, back through the entire Cold-War era).
Obviously written by a man - even if women COULD simplify what you need to know (and all of the involved corollaries) about a given topic into just two things, we wouldn’t. In doing so, we’d eliminate our need (and means) to bond through meaningful conversations about all the intricacies of life! Is this really just a conspiracy to keep women quiet??
Yes, as a matter of fact, it is.