MONDAY MUSE (9 August 2010) HOBSON’S CHOICE
‘Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants, so long as it is black.’ - Choice offered on the Ford Model T. In the late 16th century, Thomas Hobson rented out horses to university students at Cambridge. The students picked up their favourite steeds, and hence a few of Hobson's horses were overworked. To remedy the situation, Hobson began a rotation system, giving the customer the choice of taking the mount nearest the stable door or none at all. This rule became known as ‘Hobson's choice’. Although, the term is used to mean ‘no choice at all’, Hobson’s choice is not an illusion of choice. Also, it is not the same as Morton’s fork which is a choice between two unfavourable options. It is a free choice in which only one option is offered. A person may refuse to take that option. The choice is therefore between taking the option or not. It is about aligning with either of the two alternatives: take it or leave it! So often, we find ourselves in a bind over a situation of Hobson’s choice. We feel cornered as we think we have no choice. However, it is pertinent to note that every road offers the option to walk or not. If we consider the option of opting out, we are liberated from the situation of single choice. Many people have made a successful paradigm shift in their lives and careers because the chose to be better at understanding the second option in Hobson’s choice. Let’s BE BETTER at a choice that seems only one Hobson’s choice is about take that or none! - Pravin K. Sabnis
