I've always been one to take the cost-benefit analysis into account when I'm making a decision. I weigh opportunity costs into this analysis, which is why, for instance, I'll measure prices by the number of Bollywood DVDs I could buy with that amount of money. "This is far too expensive. It costs 10 DVDs!"
A cost-benefit analysis also underlies certain relational decisions. After my sophomore year in college, where I spent the entire year griping about certain roommates without ever telling them why I was irritated, I decided that I needed to either tell people when something was bothering me or else stop being bothered by it. Being the extremely nonconfrontational person that I am, however, I will almost always decide that I just need to get over whatever it is -- that usually requires much less effort and stress than actually discussing issues with someone. I've really been much happier since I adopted this approach.
The cost-benefit analysis also explains why I often put up with the status quo even when it's not ideal. Since I hate making decisions, I frequently am of the opinion that having a problem fixed isn't worth the effort of making a decision as to how to fix it. This is why, for instance, I haven't taken any action since the hinge on my laptop broke several months ago. Sure, it's a pain to always have to hold the lid up or prop the laptop up against the wall, but if I don't do anything about it, I don't have to make the decision to either buy a new laptop (which itself involves several decisions) or attempt to fix this one (which would require the effort of figuring out if it's a fixable problem, ordering a new hinge or whatever is needed, and finding someone to help me repair it).
I know this laissez-faire attitude is sometimes puzzling to others, but life really is easier for me this way. Of course, I do feel rather bad when my sister comes to visit and I have to hand her a screwdriver to activate the shower, but I guess that's one of the costs of apathy.
In conclusion, I was going to come up with something witty to tie this all together, but then I weighed the costs and decided that it just wasn't worth it. So, the end.
6 comments:
Seriously, you are going to have to marry a non-confrontational man who just quietly gets things done. If I meet one, I'll send him your way :)
So this has nothing to do with your post, but I heard about it at work and thought of you. Starting spring 2010 BYU will be offering a "Cinema and Culture in India" class. Apparently they'll be using evidences in the film work of Satyajit Ray.
So I guess a long afternoon at work is good for something. :)
Oh, and another piece of random BYU trivia.... Did you know the football team now offers a woman's football clinic each August? I think we all have you and Amber to thank for that.
Thanks, Chantal. It's good to have someone looking out for me. I would like to point out that I get things done if I care enough about them -- I just don't like wasting energy on things that aren't important, like broken shower handles. If you can still turn the shower on and off, what's the rush to tell the landlord that you need a new handle. That's my philosophy.
That is interesting about the cinema class. I have to say, though, that I've only seen one Satyajit Ray film, and I hated it. I infinitely prefer commercial films to artsy stuff.
About the football clinic, I'm glad the authorities realized how good our ideas were and decided to act on them. :)
I think the post is hilarious. Wittily tied together at the end. :)
Russell
Thanks, Russ!
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