"failure Is Easy".

[Khandro]

In his new book ; '12 Rules For Life - an Antidote to Chaos', Jordan Peterson makes (among many other things) this assertion. These three words seem to me to have enormous profundity, would you agree?

[Buenchico]

The borderline between "profundity" and "a statement of the bleedin' obvious" can often be a very narrow one.

[jim360]

Maybe. What does he follow it up with?

[naomi24]

He's stating the obvious. What's profound about it?

[Khandro]

jim; He says, perhaps a given individual has just decided to reject the path upward, because of its difficulty.

It struck me because I have seen on TV a couple of days back on boys who were 'problems' - one refused to go to school and so a social worker talked and talked to him (on camera) and finally he agreed to go to one lesson, (but it didn't last). This was heralded between the social worker and the mother (who seemed to have issues too) as some sort of achievement, he seemed to be being rewarded with attention for failing to do what he should have been doing anyway.

Peterson goes on; "failure is easy to understand, no explanation for its existence is required ........ its easier not to shoulder a burden. Its easier not to think and not to do and not to care. Its easier to put off until tomorrow what needs to be done today, and drown in the upcoming months and years in today's cheap pleasures".

He then gives that Homer Simpson quote I told you about; prior to downing a jar of mayonnaise and vodka, "That's a problem for the future Homer. Man, I don't envy that guy!"

[naomi24]

If he says "failure is easy to understand", what's he banging on about? We know that because as he says, "failure is easy to understand". Hardly "profound".

[Jackdaw33]

Quite. Profound my arris. As Chico so eloquently puts it, he's stating the bleedin' obvious.

[woofgang]

I am not so sure that the failure of others is easy for people to understand if they haven't been in the failer's shoes....consider the failure to kick an addiction, to lose weight, to overcome a phobia...even to pass the driving test. From those to whom it presents no problem, we see such comments as "Oh all you have to do is........."
I would suggest that this fits in a third category apart from Buenchico's two which is "the bleeding sweeping statement"

[Garaman]

Jordan Peterson is the new Katie Hopkins.

[woofgang]

oh well that would explain it, thanks garaman!

[naomi24]

Woofgang, //I am not so sure that the failure of others is easy for people to understand//

It doesn’t seem to be a question of understanding the whys, wherefores, and difficulties people face – but rather simply that knowing failure is easy. I really do think we all know that.

[woofgang]

Naomi, Khandro's quote says "failure is easy to understand" but I do agree with you that failure is often easier than continuing to struggle.

[naomi24]

But it doesn’t go so far as to examine struggles with phobias, additions, etc., Woofgang, simply that it’s easier not to try at all. If this is an example of the ‘profundity’ of this man’s deliberations, I think he’s getting money for old rope.

[naomi24]

*addictions* not 'additions'.

[Khandro]

woofgang; I could envisage an intelligent conversation with you, which would possibly touch on underachieving young men, thanks. But for the rest, and considering my computer is running very slowly, it isn't worth continuing.
Oh! and jim said "maybe".
fini

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - it appears that this 'enormous profundity' is experienced by you alone, which is fine, but I am curious as to why you think it such a monumental statement?

[Peter Pedant]

hi Candy
your skool chumz arent being very sweet to you this morning. I saw the prog on unruly kids, and what they were saying didnt match what they were doing.
Failure was easy and failure might have been their stated reason for goofing off. But I thought they just didnt want to study but pass directly onto well paid jobs from which they wd also good off.

failure is easy and fear of failure may keep someone from even trying - I had a fren' who would only sit an exam when he was sure he wd pass
In the end - I was a few years ahead of him. - (the reason to take an exam is having enough money to pay the fee).
My father's view shared by others was that if you are eligible for an exam you should take it

[ OK boys back to the flood of
what dat den - failure ? dunno guv - never done it]

[naomi24]

Khandro, //woofgang; I could envisage an intelligent conversation with you, which would possibly touch on underachieving young men thanks. But for the rest, and considering my computer is running very slowly, it isn't worth continuing.//

But your man and Woofgang aren’t talking about the same thing so little point in getting all lofty and pseudo-intellectual about it. That long ceased to wash