The Limits of Numbers

“Not everything that counts can be counted. Not everything that can be counted, counts.”

 

Have you noticed how numbers are taking over the world? How quantity supersedes quality? How our sense of self is driven by Facebook likes and sense of public service by poll numbers? Has it struck you that people’s opinions have never been asked for more and yet we have never done less to prepare them to make an intelligent assessment? How what people think about what you’re doing is more important than the integrity of your actions? And don’t get me started on IQ and numerical grades as an assessment of intelligence. 

 

I’m trying to imagine Dr. King’s checking his poll numbers before deciding to march on Selma. Gandhi asking his Facebook friends if they think he should fast or not. Mozart trying out his new composition online to get public opinion about whether he used too many notes. 

 

We might note that Jesus had only 12 followers. By today’s standards, what a loser!

 

PS On a scale of 1 to 100, how would you rate this post? I’m trying to figure out what to write tomorrow.