Nudging the Donkey

This helps me make decisions. I hope it helps you.

Imagine a donkey equally hungry and thirsty placed at exactly equal distances from sources of food & water. In such a framework, he would die of both thirst and hunger as he would be unable to decide which one to get to first. Now inject some randomness in the picture, by randomly nudging the donkey, causing him to get closer to one source, no matter which, and accordingly away from the other. The impasse would be instantly broken and our happy donkey will either be in turn well fed then well hydrated, or well hydrated then well fed.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Fooled by Randomness

Also, check out the origins of this concept.

3  comments so far…

  1. said:

    tip:
    be careful where you stand.

  2. JD said:

    Thanks, Mom. I know I can always leave it to you to extend a metaphor further than it needs to be.

  3. said:

    This is just to say

    I have shot
    your donkey
    but he kicked me
    when I tried to
    nudge him
    off the cliff
    Forgive me
    I can sleep now
    no more
    obnoxious brays.

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