Buridan's Ass

Recently I've become obsessed with the parable known as Buridan's ass: an ass, placed equidistant between two haybales and unable to make a decision, starves to death. I think most would agree the ass got what was coming to it. Clearly there are times when we can't have it both ways (regardless of what "it" is); when we can't be good liberals and wish everyone a nice day; when bad comes from making a choice but worse comes from not making one at all.

I'm thinking of how these situations play out in the movies, especially in hero movies. Spiderman has to choose between a tram-ful of people and Mary Jane. Batman has to choose between Robin and a random love interest. In both cases the hero somehow saves both parties. He wins big. Likewise, in Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" the main character doesn't just choose one religion. He chooses three, even while denigrating agnostics for not being able to choose.

It's a damned thing, this part of life consisting of making tough choices.

Yesterday I turned 30.