One of the more fatuous exhortations I hear being used, usually by weary academics talking to incalcitrant students (or weary bosses to incalcitrant employees) is, ‘don’t give up’. I’m sure in the majority of situations the advice was well-intentioned. But it was also lazy. And, if we’re working on a wicked problem, potentially quite dangerous. And not just for the incalcitrant student or employee.

There are definitely times, wicked-problem-wise, when giving up is precisely the right thing to do. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.” So said one of my all-time favourite comedians, W.C. Fields. I think what he was getting at was the sort of situation where we find ourselves beating our heads against brick walls. Which, when we find ourselves blinded by the metaphorical blood dripping off our metaphorical forehead, is probably as good a time as any to give up. Except things are never quite that simple. And not just because W.C. Fields never actually said those words.

Here’s a hopefully better version of a give-up/don’t-give-up decision process:

You’re welcome.