Good Riddance, Twinkies?

A unique, useful product. An intriguing, infectious perspective. What motivates people to go to the rooftops with their messages? Whatever the message is, that’s not the motivation. The irresistable urge to get the word out and get people on board is the deeply held belief that the world would be a better place collectively and all people would be better off individually, if only the message would be broadly accepted.

There are exceptions but this is fairly universal. Both business and personal agendas are driven in this way. Spread the news. Get the message out there. Help people overcome objections. Point out the need for what is being offered. It is likely that anyone pausing to consider this will be able to identify at least one significant product or idea that they push in some similar fashion. But, what if everyone everywhere did accept one person’s complete platform of preferences? I’m inclined to think a lot of the way that the world works would break down. It seems to me that the tension that accompanies diversity of perspective has a healthy effect on human intercourse.

If the whole world adopted my own way of thinking, there are whole industries which would cease to exist because I find them either worthless or even harmful. You may have devoted your life to some vocation that I think should be outlawed, so I won’t specify a serious example. But I think we can safely consider Twinkies. In my world of clones, Twinkies would cease to exist. That impacts a lot of people…laborers on the production floor, packaging and shipping personnel, delivery drivers, sales staff, accountants, etc. In a world where no Twinkies are being consumed, all those people would lose their jobs and have to find something useful to do. A quick response might be, “Well that's all right because people in the Twinkie business really should lose their jobs. Twinkies are so unhealthy, the promotion of them shouldn't be tolerated. So that's a good effect.” Not so fast there, Trigger. You are a Twinkie salesman. Not literally, but something that you believe in and promote is repulsive to someone else. If you work in a paper mill, your job would certainly be in jeopardy in a tree-huggers world. If you run a cattle ranch, your life drastically changes in a vegetarians world. There are some religious people whose world of clones would ban country line dancing and bourbon whiskey! There are some atheists whose world of clones would outlaw Santa Claus and Gregorian chant!

The point, as usual, is to take a moment to breathe and relax a bit and ponder whatever it is you are pushing. Consider whether you are simply caught up playing your part in a system, or whether you have a meaningful motivation to see others embrace your message. Consider the possible legitimacy and benefits of other perspectives which you have previously viewed as antithetical to your own.