Hypothetical of the week

[iurbina]

Assume, for a moment, that you are pulled aside on your way somewhere by the anthropomorphic personification of some force with basically limitless powers. Further, assume that it takes the form of Morgan Freeman, or Julia Child, whomever you prefer

Comments

[dacut]

Absolutely, without a doubt, the former.

Satisfaction means that you don't believe that something can get better. If I can't help make something better, then why am I here?

[sertrel]

Without a doubt, the former.

If it truly is good and useful for others, and assuming I'm not so dissatisfied that I destroy everything I create, then its utility/beauty/genius will live on after I die. My self-dissatisfaction dies with me.

I'd even settle for creating something that is derided during my lifetime, but after my death, I am vindicated.

[mcmartin]

If I'm walking into it head-first and consciously, the former wins easily.

I mean, I pretty much already don't like much of what I create. Having everyone else think it's awesome is more or less a bonus.

If making the choice means going to J.D. Salinger levels, though, the third option wins -- mainly due to ego and thinking that I *might* still be able to shake the world anyway.

[mizufae]

i agree almost completely with everything you have just said.

see? i'm so lazy i cant even answer it myself.

[darthparadox]

Definitely the former. On a regular basis, I acknowledge huge, glaring flaws in my work - I'm never happy (from an artistic standpoint) with what I do. However, I remain happy that the greatly imperfect work that I do is still capable of entertaining people. So the former would just be an improvement on this - I'd be creating works of unparalleled genius, and still be striving for improvement. I see no real problem here. Which is really just a rewording of what everyone else has said, but there it is, though perhaps in a more concrete way - there are very few Scatterplots that I've been completely satisfied with, but I enjoy the experience as a whole.

[seikoshinmura]

I can neither create works of unparalleled genius nor be satisfied with what I do, so either choice would be an improvement. Nonetheless, I would definitely choose the former. Yes, it would benefit humanity more, but I think my main reason's more selfish than that. Who wouldn't want to be remembered as a Beethoven or a Van Gogh instead of a Piers Anthony?

Julia Child's like the archetypal grandmother. So she's kind of like the Matrix's Oracle.
And Morgan Freeman...c'mon, it's Morgan Freeman!