With every Christmas and holiday season, we find ourselves repeating the same old patterns, year after year.
You read well-intended columns, much like this one, that suggest, “Just don’t do this” and you’ll be fine. Of course, if all it took was pure will-power, I’d suspect there’d be a lot less need for therapists.
So instead of telling you things you should or shouldn’t do, I’m going to suggest some simple strategies for actually sticking to those other lists.
New York City’s Board of Health is considering a ban on any sugary-laden drink greater than 16 ounces. The thinking behind this ban is simple — if people won’t control their own intake voluntarily, we — e.g., the government — will do it for them.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed the ban in May, and since Bloomberg appoints the health board, you can imagine which way they’re going to vote on the issue.
The ban is misguided for numerous reasons, but primarily because the ban is really only going to affect what cup sizes a consumer can purchase. Which is just plain stupid. If you still want 32 oz. or more of any sugary drink, you simply buy two 16 oz. cups. Or if you’re dining in at most fast-food restaurants, you have access to self-service drinks — meaning you can get as many refills as you want.
Government — no matter how righteous the cause — shouldn’t go down the slippery slope of trying to regulate citizens’ nutritional intake. While the underlying rationale might make some sense (“People’s obesity is costing us money!”), it’s simply ridiculous to assume such a ban would have any measurable impact on the underlying health problem.
“Misery loves company and our company loves misery.”
— I.M. Kidding, NOT founder
Nothing should ever change. We have been doing things inefficiently and ineffectively for eons. Why stop now? Fun theory is the latest effort of a business endeavoring to make changes in the world that are uniquely fun, proactive, and effective. Each of their innovations has produced a positive change in the environment, or in people’s behavior for the better.
Their motto?
“Fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better.”
Our competing motto is:
“It is easier to do nothing and give up.”