RAT FIGHT
Written 10/24/22
Published 11/20/23
Two rats in a cage. They like to fight sometimes for fun. One rat is bigger than the other, he usually wins.
Given that Rat A is more likely to win, Rat A will want to fight more often and his urges will be more frequent.
When Rat A wants to fight Rat B has 3 options.
1. Retreat and do something else.
2. Accept defeat without a proper effort and be depressed.
3. Fight!
Rat B may have good reason to do any of these things.
1. The fight is supposed to be fun. If Rat B is not having much fun, he may find another activity with which to engage himself that does not involve Rat A.
2. The fight is more fun when you win, but it takes effort and energy to fight. Reserving energy may prove useful for future endeavors.
3. Gosh darnit, Rat B might just have what it takes. I like the cut of his jib.
Rat B decides to step up to the plate. No contest, pinned in seconds.
What did Rat B do wrong? Was he destined for failure all along?
Rat A is bigger. Rat A is more likely to win. This is given.
Rat B doesn't like to fight very frequently. Because he loses very frequently.
But this week he's got a chip on his shoulder.
Rat A requests to fight Rat B 5 times per day.
Rat B accepts once per day.
Rat B gets his shit pinned up real good roughly once per day.
Rat B is angry. But anger is a reaction. Anger is not a useful solution.
Rat B starts to accept 2 fights every day. Loses them both pretty bad.
Sometimes though, Rat A is tired and Rat B wins the second fight of the day.
After a few days of this Rat B notices that he is winning more fights.
Rat A is more tired due to more fights, which helps Rat B win.
Rat A wants to fight less to conserve energy.
Rat B meanwhile wants to fight more to get stronger.
Rat B eventually realizes the key to success.
Controlled voluntary exposure to unfamiliar territory in the context of a desirable goal.
Rat B is now requesting to fight Rat A 5 times a day.
Rat A accepts 3 or 4 and only wins about half the time.
The fights are more even now. What happens next?
1. Rat A hits the hamster wheel and gets back into prime fighting shape.
2. The fights stay even. Clash of sworn rivals.
3. Rat B becomes the cinematic underdog hero we all wanted to see shine.
Let's say the fights stay even. What happens next? Well...
1. Rat A hits the hamster wheel and gets back into prime fighting shape.
2. The fights stay even. Clash of sworn rivals.
3. Rat B becomes the cinematic underdog hero we all wanted to see shine.
One of them eventually emerges as the winningest rat. Or the cycle continues.
Let's say Rat B gets his act together and starts winning every single fight.
Rat A is in a tizzy. He's depressed. A king rat dethroned. What should he do?
1. Retreat and do something else.
2. Accept defeat without a proper effort and be depressed.
3. Fight!
