Anyway, back to my desire for an interesting illness.
Researching an unrelated topic using Wikipedia a short while ago, I came across Buridan’s Ass. Despite its name this is not a remedy for the aforementioned piles but a philosophical paradox. It refers to a hypothetical situation where a donkey who is equally hungry and thirsty is placed precisely midway between a stack of hay and a bucket of water. Since this paradox assumes the donkey will always go to whichever is closer, in this instance it will die from both hunger and thirst because it cannot make a rational decision over which to choose.
This paradox fascinated me because I can understand the logic behind it. I mean, how is the poor donkey going to make a decision if he is equally hungry and thirsty and also placed an equal distance from both the hay and water? Poor donkey. I wish I could find a way to help him but I am at a loss to suggest just what he should do.
And herein lies my problem.
I also suffer from not being able to make decisions. If it comes to decorating, I can never decide on a pattern for the wallpaper or a colour for the paint. In the end I usually just give-up out of sheer frustration at the vast selection and pick up the nearest tin or roll. This might explain why the Jammy Toast Centre has yellow paintwork and purple tie-dye walls (I joke!). A similar case in point is the Jammy Toast website here. I have swapped and changed the look, the feel and the theme over the years so many times because I always see another one I prefer. The grass is always greener on the other side.
Fortunately, after today’s research, I now know what this is. After reading about Buridan’s Ass it turns out there is also a condition referred to as Analysis Paralysis. It means you over-analyse a situation to the point where a final decision is never made. Some people who suffer from this kind of illness cannot make it to work some days because they cannot decide upon which tie to wear. My condition is less severe and only covers small personal decisions – this is called Casual Analysis Paralysis.
It can even occur when playing games where a player is so overwhelmed by the decision tree that they face that they take an inordinate amount of time to make a move. The undertone is often scornful, implying that the slowing of the game diminishes the enjoyment of other players. In chess this is referred to as Kotov Syndrome.
So good news all around then, I not only have an illness; I also have a syndrome.
Can’t wait to be invited to a party now so I can bore everyone to death with this information.
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27 Comments on “Buridan’s Ass”
Remind me not to play chess with you.
I want an illness that rhymes. Analysis Paralysis will do!
How’s old Rabbit Poo today? Not heard from her for a while.
I do put replies up Matt only my father likes his persona on here and as I tell the truth he just deletes my comments.
The truth is Matt, she can’t use technology. I have spent months trying to teach her how to reply to comments but she just doesn’t take any of it in. She just puts a comment anywhere she likes and I have to move it to where it belongs.
As for my persona… don’t make me laugh as if there is anything you haven’t told the Toasters by now!!
I thought Sue was going out dogging but she was getting me a Chippy Tea
I have a desire for an interesting wellness.
Slow day at Jammy Toast today then? You really need to get out more!
Amanda Holden my arse…
It’s Saturday and I haven’t know what to do with it. Things I wants against thinks I Needs against things I am obligated to do for other…. That’s Analysis Paralysis in action!
Somewhere there is a happy medium between analysis paralysis and impulse decisions. If anyone ever finds it let me know…
Them mushy peas going straight through beez on shitter 10 mins
I hate being photobombed…
Analysis paralysis can be a real bitch except I never knew what it was called until now.
You learn something new every day. I suffer with analysis paralysis but never knew it existed until I just read this. So I Googled it and there is all sorts of information about it! There is even a Wiki page about it…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis_paralysis
That great feeling when you really fancy a drink & you’re trying to get your youngest child to bed & they tell you that they’re not tired.
Analysis Paralysis? Don’t hate the player, hate the game!
When the kid keeps asking where the batteries have gone from the TV remote and you have to pretend like you didn’t steal them for your vibrator.
Keaton always said, “I don’t believe in God, but I’m afraid of him.” Well I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze.
You have stolen from Mr Soze. That you did not know you stole from him is the only reason you are still alive. He feels you owe him. You will repay your debt.
The internet brings information to us in seconds – bloody tons of it. That is the cause of analysis paralysis.
Now this I can relate to!!
Good Morning.
Oi Sue I wonder how old Fat Dave is?
Fuckin’ hell… get him on Antiques Road Show, we might get a few quid for the old bugger!
I’m 105% sure my soulmate does not exist on this planet.