November 26, 2012

• The Hidden Cost of the Safer Choice

  Being trained in Economics (among other things), I tend to use many of the constructs of that field in making my decisions. I tend to have a sharp eye for risk, and thus often settle for the safer choice. Choose the cheaper in-state school over the private school: choose the steady job over the uncertain contract.

  My friendships and romantic relationships also exhibit similar thinking at times. After all, aren't we told to befriend that person who is standing alone? And Christian guys, how often have you heard "Stop being so picky waiting for Miss Perfect and date so-and-so. She's nice!" So then, why not date someone a little beneath you: maybe they are interesting but rather unattractive, or rather boring but cute. It's kind of you! It shows open-minded thinking! They could be a diamond in the rough, just needing a chance and...

  But hold up, before we go too far. The problem is twofold. First, you don't necessarily put your full effort into the safe choice. Sure, one might want to get a degree from State U, but if it was a degree from Yale, you'd be even more excited. Sure, one might want to get married, but if the woman you are pursuing is a beauty queen, all the more enthusiasm, right?

  But even worse is the tragicomic moment where you are rejected by your safer choice, the fox in the henhouse stuck scrabbling in the straw after eggs because it's too slow to catch even the fattest hen. That boring girl who you tried to amuse at a series of increasingly bland lunches tells you that it isn't working out. That safe job lets you go because you aren't as gung-ho about wearing your flair as the other corporate drones. Do you know how much it burns to fail at mediocrity? I want to scream "I WAS SLUMMING, YOU BLAND BORE, THIS WAS AN ACT OF CHARITY" but of course, sour grapes cause acid reflux when you vomit them out of your mouth at the mediocre. At least when you fail at a noble cause, you can console yourself that "Well, that one time Miss America laughed at my jokes and seemed intrigued" or "Hey, plenty of kids fail out of Harvard, I'll just go to that state school." When you fail at mediocrity, that makes you below mediocre, and you are left to shake your head and wonder why you didn't aim a little higher. Fine, the homeless don't like your soup, and there you are, in your drab volunteer apron, realizing the thirsty sailor won't even buy beer off you. Makes one want to take a baseball bat and roam the countryside breaking splinter on splinter until finally the bat shatters and you're left with nothing in your hands but a broken nub.

  • 10:10 pm
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