The more discussion

an example of Focus on what's important

Kent Beck, software development expert, said in a course I attended, that he often found the following to be true.

The more discussion there is about something, the less important it is. Everyone agrees about the really important ones.

U.S. Army Africa discussion, by U.S. Army Africa

Obviously, it is not always true, but in many cases it is. People can get into almost religious wars about things like which brand of sports car is the best even though most of them are really similar, and any of them would be a great car.

4 comments

1 Karin { September 9, 2011 at 08:28 }

I can’t help but wondering about the importance of the subject of religious wars about religion…

2 Henrik Jernevad { September 9, 2011 at 11:47 }

Nice comment! To go out on a limb, I’d say religion is unimportant. People in all times have managed to live their lives successfully no matter what religion (if any) they have followed. It’s probably more important than sports cars, though. :-)

3 Karin { September 9, 2011 at 12:57 }

I agree =) The ethics, which can be seen as part of the important ones, seem to be more or less the same in most religions anyway.

4 Henrik Jernevad { September 9, 2011 at 13:50 }

And in most communities of non-religious people too…

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