Two Kinds of People
josh kaplan's journal, feb 17, 2019
Heinlein wrote, among many other things (such as the word 'wench', like, a zillion times...), that there are two types of people; mathematicians and peasants (unsurprising, coming from a graduate student of physics and mathematics with a grand opinion of himself. don't get me wrong... i truly love his intellect and most work... but i've read enough of his stuff and stuff about him to believe with assurance that he was his biggest fan).
I understand what he was saying, but i disagree with any polarized absolute. People are far too complex to be so easily reduced to such an elitist differential as thinkers and upright oxen. I believe all human beings are combinations in different amounts of all things. Using the Heinleinian scale, we are all part thinker and part oxen, in varying concentration, though again i question the simplicity.
let us say, just for giggles, we multiply his scale by it's square, arriving at 4 most basic elements of human aspect, which i choose to qualify as Pilot, Crew, Passenger, and Mechanic.
We are all some combination of each of these as defined by situation, desire, need, and talent.
The Pilot: defined as the leader, driver, ceo, family matriarch, et al.
The most basic task of this aspect is the targeting of a destination, and ensuring the arrival of the cargo.
The best pilot's will do anything, even in sacrificing themselves, to ensure 100% of their cargo arrives to destination intact. They recognize that they are also cargo (passenger), and will at a moment's need turn control to another pilot if necessary, and assume another aspect. They do not prioritize cargo by class or weight; all cargo is a single haul, one package of moral imperative.
The worst pilot's set their cargo on autopilot, selecting alternate vehicles and destinations for themselves, also resisting any prompt for another pilot's input or guidance. Cargo is prioritized by profit and loss, and the only true imperative is the pilot's own comfort and well-being. They have limited visibility of their own alternate aspects; passenger, crew, and mechanic, believing themselves to be the only passenger that truly matters, that they are not actually crew themselves (though they are, duh), and that they are themselves, expert mechanics. The former two of these are fairly self-explanatory in their absurdity, and the latter of the three has it's own separate level of surreal detachment, which i will address in due order.
Crew: defined as any position taken in support of the pilot's orders; navigator, shotgun, accountant, dishwasher et al.
The best crew member's are those that listen to the pilot's commands unflinchingly. They recognize their position in a support role, and do not question any established hierarchy unless it potently inhibits the ability to perform their assigned tasks. they also are familiar, not only with their own job, but the tasks and responsibilities of their fellow crew members, and can seamlessly assume the duties of those around them whenever needed, including pilot.
the worst crew members can be defined by a single statement. "Not in my job description."
Passengers: defined as everyone going forward in time.
in a situation whereas one finds themselves to be only passenger, devoid of responsibility, along for the ride (stockholder, dinner guest, patron, lazy uncle on the couch, et al) then the good/bad thing is simplified. a good passenger doesn't interfere unless they become crew, and a bad one interferes regardless of the damage it does to pilot, crew, and other passengers.
there is danger of being too much Passenger and not enough anything else. Comfort. comfort unchecked can turn lean warrior poet to bloated boorish toad.
The Mechanic: defined as the healer, engineer, teacher, artist, troubleshooter.
the mechanic's job is to recognize system degradation and failure, isolate problems, and fix them.
The best mechanics recognize that they cannot function effectively when weighted with other aspects, such as Pilot. They perform their duties with necessary autonomy, requiring a certain freedom from the pilot's strictures, crew regimen, and passenger demands. the purist mechanic will endure anything to affect repair, unless it disables them from addressing the next malfunction.
the worst mechanics look always to modify systems to suit themselves, seeking ease over effect and output over stability. repairs are prioritized by proximity and personal investment, easily ignoring other malfunctions. They disdain any input from other mechanics, and see themselves as single-seated pilot first, mechanic second, and set their priorities along these lines.
so... which are you; Pilot, Crew, Passenger, or Mechanic? whichever aspect you find yourself faced with, i hope you are among the best.
-end
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