Comments on: In Search Of The Mythical Best http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/08/30/in-search-of-the-mythical-best/ Reflections of a Buddhist Physician Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:49:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jane http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/08/30/in-search-of-the-mythical-best/#comment-1119 Jane Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:39:11 +0000 http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/?p=3173#comment-1119 Great post. I would like to add: if you want a good physician, ask a good nurse her/his opinion. Great post. I would like to add: if you want a good physician, ask a good nurse her/his opinion.

]]> By: Goodness in the blogosphere : What My World’s Like http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/08/30/in-search-of-the-mythical-best/#comment-1084 Goodness in the blogosphere : What My World’s Like Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:42:17 +0000 http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/?p=3173#comment-1084 [...] In search of the mythical “best” [...] [...] In search of the mythical “best” [...]

]]> By: Glenn http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/08/30/in-search-of-the-mythical-best/#comment-995 Glenn Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:23:07 +0000 http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/?p=3173#comment-995 Alex, Although only a fairly recent subscriber, I have come to look forward to your posts. Thank you. And although I enjoyed and largely agree with this one, I hope you'll allow me to quibble a bit about one statement, that is that "good enough...actually means great." I think that for most people, the connotation of "good enough" really does suggest mediocrity. And to suggest that "good enough" means something else is to redefine the term in a non-standard way and that kind of practice just leads to confusion. If you'll permit me to suggest a different approach, I offer that what we should be looking for in the context we just were grappling with is "right measurement," that is, given that true perfection is probably unobtainable, we should strive to determine, in each circumstance, what the appropriate measure should be, i.e., something along a continuum from excellence to good enough. Said in a less dense way: although it's true that perfect is the enemy of the good, it's also true that good enough is the enemy of excellence. In that scheme of things, what's "best" is situationally determined. We want an excellent pilot to land the plane at night in a snow storm; but if I'm weeding the garden and pressed for time, maybe quick-and-dirty is good enough. Which is kinda where you landed too, I think. Thanks for the opportunity to rant about "good enough." <blockquote><em><strong>Glenn</strong>: I think you're right, that I redefined "good enough" sloppily enough to create confusion. I like the ideas you put forth here much more. Thanks for pointing out my thought error. Alex</em></blockquote> Alex,
Although only a fairly recent subscriber, I have come to look forward to your posts. Thank you. And although I enjoyed and largely agree with this one, I hope you’ll allow me to quibble a bit about one statement, that is that “good enough…actually means great.” I think that for most people, the connotation of “good enough” really does suggest mediocrity. And to suggest that “good enough” means something else is to redefine the term in a non-standard way and that kind of practice just leads to confusion. If you’ll permit me to suggest a different approach, I offer that what we should be looking for in the context we just were grappling with is “right measurement,” that is, given that true perfection is probably unobtainable, we should strive to determine, in each circumstance, what the appropriate measure should be, i.e., something along a continuum from excellence to good enough. Said in a less dense way: although it’s true that perfect is the enemy of the good, it’s also true that good enough is the enemy of excellence. In that scheme of things, what’s “best” is situationally determined. We want an excellent pilot to land the plane at night in a snow storm; but if I’m weeding the garden and pressed for time, maybe quick-and-dirty is good enough. Which is kinda where you landed too, I think. Thanks for the opportunity to rant about “good enough.”

Glenn: I think you’re right, that I redefined “good enough” sloppily enough to create confusion. I like the ideas you put forth here much more. Thanks for pointing out my thought error.

Alex

]]> By: Julia http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/08/30/in-search-of-the-mythical-best/#comment-933 Julia Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:44:52 +0000 http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/?p=3173#comment-933 That may be so, Alex, but I still think this is the best blog I've read. ;) Thanks. <blockquote><em><strong>Julia</strong>: :) Alex</em></blockquote> That may be so, Alex, but I still think this is the best blog I’ve read. ;)
Thanks.

Julia: :)

Alex

]]> By: Julian http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/08/30/in-search-of-the-mythical-best/#comment-926 Julian Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:25:49 +0000 http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/?p=3173#comment-926 Thought provoking as usual. I agree that trying to be the best in relation to others isn't an ideal goal. But trying to be the best that you can be is surely a worthwhile one? If you aim high you might fall short, but if you aim low you're unlikely to overshoot. <blockquote><em><strong>Julien</strong>: Well said. Alex</em></blockquote> Thought provoking as usual. I agree that trying to be the best in relation to others isn’t an ideal goal. But trying to be the best that you can be is surely a worthwhile one? If you aim high you might fall short, but if you aim low you’re unlikely to overshoot.

Julien: Well said.

Alex

]]>