The Problem of Complexity: or Why You Can't Just Do Things

Ever since the phrase, "You can just do things" hit the online ecosystem, it has troubled me, in large part because it gives the promise that "fixing" everything would be easy if we just had the will.

Let’s just begin this by acknowledging that I can be a bit of a pessimist. I am often the guy in the meeting giving dozens of reasons why your plan or proposal will not work. I am a “Doomer.” The end is coming. The only question is “When?” That said, this idea that, “You can just do things,” is dangerous if applied widely, mostly because it biases intemperate action over carefully conceived plans of action that are strategically and tactically sound and consider the multiple downstream effects of implementing a “simple” fix. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, this handy little phrase gives the impression that solving the problems of our Western societies is as easy as having the will to act decisively. The solutions are simple. We just lack the will to execute these easy, straightforward fixes. In many instances, it seems, that if only we had the stomach to mete out violence strategically, that all of our ills would be cured. This type of messaging makes for great propaganda as it simplifies the world and allows problems to be packaged as emotion. The answers are felt, not thought through.