Re: Plot Resolution: The Lady or the Tiger

David Friedman <ddfr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> In article <1h8nbo5.1fado8m1oq01dyN%zeborah@xxxxxxxxx>,
> zeborah@xxxxxxxxx (Zeborah) wrote:
>
> > Just because it's a fairly obvious requirement doesn't stop it being a
> > "tactic". If you're going to storm a castle then breaking the door down
> > is a fairly obvious requirement; would you object to calling that a
> > tactic?
>
> Interesting question--about connotations. To me "tactic" in that context
> suggests one person somehow trying to take advantage of another.

My dictionary says "an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a
specific end". I'd *usually* use the word in the context of a problem
that requires a solution; but whether it takes advantage of a person or
not is completely beside the point to me.

In addition, to me "usury" in any context implies taking advantage of
the lendee. This is beside the point to my original comment but doesn't
negate it.

In any case I'm telling you this as information only; for a whole host
of reasons I am not at all interested in arguing either definition with
you.

> Is every decision one makes tactical? If a carpenter decides to charge
> twice as much for a table as for a chair because it takes twice as much
> time to make, would it be natural to describe that as a tactic?

Certainly no less natural than it is to describe every decision a person
makes about crossing a road to get a dollar as being about how much that
person 'values' a dollar plus risk of being run over vs nothing plus the
relative safety of the pavement.

Zeborah
--
Gravity is no joke.
http://www.geocities.com/zeborahnz/
.