FEAR OF THE NEW AND THE UNKNOWN
The Fable of Roasted Pigs
The fear of the new and the unknown can plague us, but the new always comes to change things for the better.
First of all, allow me to make a little clarification. The fable I’m going to tell here is not my own. This is a story told in the training of company’s employees to discuss the issue of common sense in project design and process improvement. In fact, the fable has unknown authorship, so I couldn’t quote its author. If, however, any reader knows this fable’s origin, please say this in the comments.
But the intention of this essay is not to divulge a story created by others. In fact, I want to discuss the fable under other optics: the fear that we have to change an established system.
Legend says that the origin of roast meat is as follows.
Once, there was a fire in a forest where there were some pigs, which were roasted by fire. The men, accustomed to eating raw meat, tried and found the roasted meat delicious. From there, every time they wanted to eat roast pork, they burned down a forest.
Over time, problems began: sometimes the animals were too burned or partially raw. The process was very worrying to everyone because, if the system failed, the losses caused were very large. Millions were those who fed on roast beef and also millions who were engaged in the task of roasting them. Therefore, the system simply couldn’t fail. However, curiously, the more the process scale grew the more it seemed to fail and the greater the losses caused.
Due to the numerous deficiencies, complaints increased. There was already a general clamor for the need to profoundly reform the system. Congresses, seminars, and conferences began to be held annually to seek a solution. But it seems that they didn’t get the process up to an end. Thus, the following year, congresses, seminars, and conferences were repeated.
The causes of the system failure, according to the experts, were attributed to the indiscipline of pigs, which didn’t remain where they should, or the inconstancy of fire, so difficult to control, or even to trees, which didn’t burn as they should, or to the soil humidity, or to the meteorological information service, which didn’t hit the place, the moment and the amount of rain, and so on. As it turns out, the causes were difficult to determine.
By this time, the system for roasting pigs was already quite complex, as it was perfected over the years. A large structure had been set up: diversified machinery, individuals dedicated exclusively to lighting the fire, arsonists who were also specialized (arsonists from the North Zone, the West Zone, etc., night and day arsonists with specialization in morning and afternoon, summer and winter, etc.). Wind experts proliferated (the anemotechnics).) There was a Roasting and Roast Feeding General Director, an Igneous Techniques Director (with his Advisors General Council), a Reforestation General Assistant, a National Commission for Professional Training in Pigology, a Higher Institute of Culture and Food Techniques, and the Advisory Bureau of Igneous-Operactive Reforms.
The forest and jungle formation projects were in full activity, according to the latest implantation techniques, using regions of low humidity and where the winds would not blow more than three hours in a row.
There were millions of people working on woods preparation, which would soon be burned down. Foreign experts studied the import of the best tree seeds, more potent fire, etc. Large facilities kept the pigs confined before the fire, and there were mechanisms to let them out into the woods only at the right time.
Teachers specialized in the construction of these facilities were formed. Researchers worked for universities that prepared teachers specialized in the construction of pig facilities. Foundations supported researchers working for universities that prepared professors specialized in the construction of pig facilities, etc.
The solutions suggested in the congresses included, for example, triangularly applying the fire after reaching a certain wind speed, releasing the pigs 15 minutes before the average forest fire reached 115 degrees, positioning giant fans in the opposite direction to the wind, in order to direct the fire, etc. It’s not necessary to say that few experts agreed with each other and that each based their ideas on specific data and research.
One day, an Arsonist Category FL/SWDM-RS (i.e., a Forest Lighter specialized in Southwest Daytime Morning, with a bachelor’s degree in Rainy Summer), named John, decided to say that the problem was very easy to solve because, according to him, it was enough, first, to kill the chosen pig, cleaning and cutting properly the animal, then placing it on a metal grill over hot coals, until the heat effect, and not the flames, roasted the flesh.
Having been informed of the employee’s ideas, the Roasting General Director sent for him to call his office and, after hearing him patiently, said to him:
— Everything you have said is very well, but it doesn’t work in practice. What would you do, for example, with the specialists in igneous techniques if we were to apply your theory? Where would all the knowledge of the arsonists of various specialties be used?
— I don’t know! — John said.
— What about seed specialists? In imported trees? What about the designers of pig facilities, with their automatic air purification machines?
— I don’t know.
— What about the anemotechnicians who took years specializing in universities and whose training cost the country so much money? I’m going to have them clean little pigs? What about the lecturers and scholars who, year after year, have been working on the Reform and Improvement Program? What am I supposed to do with them, if your solution solves everything? Huh?
— I don’t know. — John repeated, embarrassed.
— Do you realize now that your idea doesn’t meet what we need? Don’t you see that if everything were so simple, our experts would have found the solution a long time ago? You certainly understand that I can’t just summon the anemotechnicians and tell them that it’s all about using little coats, without flames! What do you want me to do with the miles of forests already prepared, whose trees have no fruit and no leaves to shade? Come on, tell me!!!
— I don’t know, sir.
— Tell me, our three pigpyrotechnic engineers, don’t you consider them to be scientific personalities of the most extraordinary value?
— Yes, it seems so.
— Well then. The mere fact that we have valuable engineers in pigpyrotechnics indicates that our system is very good. What would I do with individuals so important to the country?
— I don’t know, I don’t know, sir.
— Did you see it? You have to bring solutions to certain specific problems! For example, how to improve the currently used anemotechniques. How to get more quickly west arsonists (our greatest shortage), how to build facilities for pigs with more than seven floors, etc. We have to improve the system, not transform it radically, you understand? You’re missing wisdom!
— Really, I’m perplexed! — replied John.
— Well, now that you know the dimensions of the problem, don’t go around saying you can solve everything. The problem is much broader and more complex than you think. Now, between you and me, I must recommend that you not insist on your absurd idea. That could bring trouble for you in your position. Not for me, you understand… I say that for your own good, because I understand it, I fully understand your position, but you know you can find another less understanding superior, don’t you?
John, poor him, didn’t utter a single word anymore. Without saying goodbye, half stunned, half scared, he sneaked out walking down and no one ever saw him again.
This fable illustrates how difficult it is to change a system that has been pre-established and functioning for a long time, however innovative the idea may be. You don’t believe me? Try to radically change some processes in the company you work for to see what happens!
There was a scientific experiment in which five monkeys were placed in a cage with a ladder in the middle and, on top of it, a bunch of bananas. When a monkey climbed the ladder to pick up the bananas, the scientists threw a jet of cold water at those on the ground. After a while, when a monkey threatened to climb the ladder, the others would pick him up and beat him before he did. One time later, no monkey climbed the ladder anymore, despite the temptation of bananas.
So scientists replaced one of the monkeys with a new one. The first attitude of the new resident was to climb the ladder. But he was taken out by the others, who beat him up. After a few beatings, the new member of the group no longer climbed the ladder.
A second monkey was replaced and the same occurred — with the first substitute enthusiastically participating in the beating of the rookie. A third was changed and the same pattern repeated itself until the last of the veterans was replaced.
The scientists then stayed with a group of five monkeys who had never taken a cold bath. Even though, they kept beating the one who tried to pick up the bananas. If it were possible to ask any of them why they hit anyone who tried to climb the ladder, probably the answer would be, “I don’t know, but things have always been like this around here.”
Doing things because “it has always been like this” is one of the forces under pouring the attitude of the Roasting General Director in the Fable of Roasted Pigs. But it’s not the only one! As can be seen in his speech, many people could lose out on the process change, because the entire production chain of roasted pigs was based on traditional technology, founded on wood burning. Fear of the new can really pose a hindrance to progress!
In fact, every new disruptive technology provokes in those who are already in the system a justifiable fear. Think of the fear of taxi drivers when the transport apps arose, or the anguish of typists when popular computers with text editors began to become popular. When VoIP technology came along, phone companies panicked! In some countries, they have reached the point of triggering justice, alleging unfair competition.
When the winds change direction, fools complain and wait for it to return to the previous direction, but the wise simply adjust the sails. That’s what happened to the post office. In the former, much of the revenue of these companies came from the delivery of paper correspondence (letters, notifications, subpoenas, etc.). With the internet’s emergence, email has become a much more efficient tool for this, much faster and cheaper. However, the internet has also catalyzed online product sales. What the post office companies had to do was simply “adjust the sails”, changing their performance focus in the market. Today, they no longer deliver letters, but parcels. Bingo!
The problem is when disruptive technology reaches an economic sector that is the foundation of every economy and all global technology. Then the problem is more like that of the Fable of Roasted Pigs. The entire world’s technological infrastructure, built over the last century, is based on the use of fossil materials as a source of energy and raw material; oil industry, petrochemical, basic industry for other industries, etc.
Think about the number of petroleum products we use in our daily life: fuels, plastics, synthetic rubbers, paraffin, resins, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene-based products, etc. Materials such as nylon, acrylic, spandex, polyester, used by the textile industry, have elements derived from petroleum. In the food industry, dyes, preservatives, and flavorings use products obtained from hydrocarbons, not counting fertilizers and pesticides used in food production. Products extracted from oil are used in cosmetics, medicines, cleaning products, automotive industries (plastics, synthetic rubber for tires, etc.), footwear (synthetic rubber), drinks (plastic bottles), etc. The asphalt of our streets and roads has elements taken from petroleum. Even gum has oil in its composition!
These rich examples illustrate why it will be very difficult to replace oil as the world’s leading source of raw material in the short term. It’s equivalent to replacing the woods with barbecues in our fable. All industrial technology infrastructure will have to be replaced, which is not an easy task. Replacing taxis with transport apps, or typewriters with computers, was not so difficult, because it didn’t mobilize the entire industrial production chain worldwide. But replacing petroleum is something else!
However, there is a problem (or solution, depending on the point of view): we have no alternative. The amount of petroleum in the world is finite and sooner or later it will run out. Besides, the burning of fossil fuels is ruining our planet. So inexorably and inevitably the solution will come, it’s only a matter of time. Fossil fuels are already being rapidly replaced by biofuels or even electricity. The other derivatives will take a little longer to be replaced, but they will be for sure.
The fear in the new, of stirring up what “has always been like this”, is natural in us. But we must face it. The new always comes, regardless of our will. The lesson we can draw from the Fable of Roasted Pigs is that there’s always a better way to do things. Today’s great solution probably won’t be the best of tomorrow. We shouldn’t fear change, even if it is disruptive. Not least because it will run over indifferent to everyone who denies it.
