The Hound of the Wolf

For the strength of Pack is in the Wolf, and the strength of Wolf is in the Pack -Rudyard Kipling

Monday, December 05, 2005

Perfected mediocrity and mediocre perfection

Living in a perfect world is many people's dream. Whether it is career, wealth, family and social relations, most will probably be wishing for the best. But here is an absolute truth: Utopia shall exist only in novels and fairy tales. The thoughts of perfection is just an escape from the truth that it will never occur.

Perfectionist (if they do really exists) will never really get perfect results. Once perfection is attained, it will mean a stop from growing and improving. Can someone who aims for excellence and works hard to do well on his craft be considered a perfectionist? I guess not.

Mediocrity, the inexact opposite of perfection, exists. Mediocrity can be seen based on one's point of reference. Example, PBA players are known as the best athletes in basketball in the Philippines. Let the best players compete with any NBA team and you might regret watching the game if you're on the PBA side. Are they perfect? Absolutely not. Mediocre? Yes.

Larry Walls, the creator of Perl, was asked during an interview if Perl was created to be the perfect scripting language. He said "no" but rather stated that Perl was created to be very flexible and adaptive to future demands by making its core parts stable yet can be integrated to additional modules. Perl, he said, will never reach the state of perfection.

Examining things well, true perfectionists are those who believe that perfection does not exist at all. But here is another qualifier. They are the self-confessed sluggish and mediocre individuals who look at themselves belonging to the bottom of the pack. But the catch is this...... "mediocre" individual who restlessly aims for the best, works hard for his craft and never gives up until something good (not perfect) comes up.

To give weight on my assertions above, browse the site and search the game between Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs (Dec 10) and, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz (Dec 12). If you are an avid NBA fan, you might be surprise with the results. The inexperienced Hawks winning over the defending champs by 10 point and the inconsistent Jazz over the "Beast of the East" by 14 points. Twist of fate? Maybe not.

Quote for the day: Violence is the last resort of the incompetent.