Spoon-feeding and Deboned Fish


I felt like fish. So, I went to buy fish and chips.

When I got to the shop, the kid in me (scared of accidentally swallowing a bone. But more importantly, because it requires more time and effort to debone a fish.) opted for a deboned one. They didn’t have any at that time, so I settled for “boned” fish.

I think having to be on the lookout for bones, and then having to debone the fish, made the fish tastier. I know, that sounds a bit silly; but that’s what it felt like.

Every single boneless bite that I swallowed felt like something that I’ve “earned.”

After only a purchase or three of boned fish, I found myself actually enjoying the “deboning ritual.” Earning each bite. Now, I doubt I’d go for deboned fish anymore.

That got me thinking of how producers often avoid the risk of letting consumers do some “work” before they get the best of their produce. Movies, books, et cetera.

How many, say, writers have the guts to write intellectually demanding writings, even though that means that some, ten to one the majority, of the readers will struggle to make sense of their writing immediately?

Maybe your readers will actually enjoy the challenge of having to think deeper before they get your writing. It might take some a month or twelve, but in there lies triumph.

What would a riddle or a conundrum be without the “Aha!” moment?

Sure, Rolls Royce, can make their cars more “affordable,” but that would take away an imperative facet that subconsciously make people pay a premium for their cars.

( …the feeling of having “earned” something.)




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— October 11, 2010.