Habit Change Is Like Chess (Blog)

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

It originates from Steve's imperfect analogy, not me.

Is there ever such a thing as a perfect analogy? Aren't all analogies, taken to the extreme rendered impotent?

[Savage]

Every analogy is imperfect. It's supposed to be. By defnition an analogy is a similarity or comparison, not an equality.

Pointing out the space where an analogy loses its similarity to the target is like pointing out your belly button to passersby. Sure it's there, but nobody cares because we already know about it.

[Acting Like Godot]

I agree. It wasn't a criticism on my part; I was merely responding to Ron's query on why "one-upmanship" had crept into the picture. It crept in simply because the analogy used was chess - a game where you must necessarily have an opponent.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Every analogy is imperfect. It's supposed to be. By defnition an analogy is a similarity or comparison, not an equality.

Pointing out the space where an analogy loses its similarity to the target is like pointing out your belly button to passersby. Sure it's there, but nobody cares because we already know about it.

Analogies guide someone through unfamiliar territory by comparing it to something they already know. The guide-maker sees the borders where the analogy loses usefulness, but the person relying on the guide who is inexperienced in the territory cannot. See "The War on Terror" for an example of how an analogy can limit perspectives.

All analogies are lossy, but some guide better than others. The article made good points about changing habits in stages, that the analogy (a one-vs-one, win-lose, turn-limited boardgame) undermines rather than supports.

Please take this as constructive comment, rather than dismissing it out of hand.

[Acting Like Godot]

And also note that a good part of my post was simply advice to Steve Pavlina on how to play chess. And not so much about how to change habits etc.