According to a new study released by the Department Utilizing Statistics & Tables (DUST), 99 out of 100 Americans believe that perfection can be attained.
This study, conducted over the third weekend of July, randomly selected two adults in each state.
“We have analyzed the data countless times, and we have concluded that this study reveals that either Americans are very positive, or not at all realistic,” Dr. Claire Yung, an Associate Director of DUST explained to this Modern Philosopher. “One might say that the way you interpret the results tells those around you if you see the world as half perfect or half imperfect.”
Dr. Yung giggled after that comment, leading me to believe that it was some sort of inside statistical joke that my creative mind would never quite grasp.
The pursuit of perfection is a sore subject for me, Modern Philosophers, and the reason that I chose to write about this obscure study. When I was growing up, my Evil Step Mother was constantly pointing out my imperfections. When I’d get a 99 on a test, she would demand an explanation for why I hadn’t earned a 100. There were days when I was sure she was going to try to return me for another stepson merely because I was left handed, which could be seen by some as an imperfection.
I decided to bring this survey to another data team to see what its members made of the results. Dr. Jonathan Feivor of Minds Outside Limited Data (MOLD) told this Modern Philosopher that he didn’t think much could be made of the results simply because the sample size was too small, and the control question too vague.
“A hundred people surveyed, top two answers are on the board, am I right?” Dr. Feivor asked with a chuckle. “Are the DUST mites phoning it in? Pun intended, of course. Who does a phone survey of only one hundred people? They’ve got the budget over there, so what in the world are they spending it on if not data collection?”
What was his problem with the survey question? “Do you think perfection is attainable?” he asked as he upgraded his chuckle to laughter. “First off, it’s a stupid question. Who cares if people think perfection can be achieved? How is that going to stop hunger, end wars, or help to find a cure for cancer? How non-committal can a query be? Perfection by whom or what? Over what time period? What’s your definition of perfection? Does the government really finance such stupidity?”
I wanted to tell Dr. Feivor that it was an imperfect world, but I didn’t want to be so on the nose. I did, however, leave MOLD headquarters feeling much better about how trivial a pursuit perfection actually is.
One thing still weighed heavily on my mind, though, so I went back to the DUST lab to ask Dr. Yung a final question. I had to know in what state the lone holdout lived. Where was that respondent who kept the survey results from being perfect?
Dr. Yung glanced at her clipboard. “Virginia,” she replied before disappearing into a sea of people in lab coats.
I knew it! The Evil Step Mother lives in Virgina…
Embrace your imperfections. They make you unique and prove you’re not a Machine!
HAHAHA! Who wants to be perfect anyway…what’s the fun or challenge of that? Now, I can be a perfectionist to a point, not the same thing. You stay your imperfect self, we like you that way. 😄😄
Thank you…
madness
🙂
Great post. Our imperfections are what make us unique and human. Just imagine how boring the art would be if we were all perfect artists.
Excellent point!
I think perfection is just a human concept. Not quite applicable to the world we live in, but an ideal we can strive towards. What it specifically entails is up to each and everyone of us. While asking if it is attainable is a sensible question, if seen this way, I naturally (if it isn’t obvious already) would answer “no”. Then again I’m not American.
Still I think it would be interesting to see the results with a larger sample size and how other parts of the world would respond.
Okay. We can check for a larger sample…
I’m just glad I can be a part of 1% somewhere. 🙂
Good one. 🙂
obtaining perfection is to stop dreaming
Excellent point!
The American Psyche seems to hold the belief that everything and anything can be fixed, improved or become great. The society is rife with self help books and quick fixes to problems telling people that anything can be learnt or bought. Love? confidence? self esteem. There’s a book or television show for that.
Of cause… Only if you’ve got the right amount of cash.
Money can buy perfection you think?
No I personally I don’t believe it can. However, I believe much of the American public believe so.
In fact, I don’t even think perfection is something feasible or even possible. Everybody has flaws. Perfection cannot exist without imperfection.
Excellent Deep Thoughts. You should stop by the Think Tank tonight because I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s topic…
Very funny. I think our imperfections make us perfect, think of how boring the world would be if everyone was perfect.
Perfectly stated! 😛
Reblogged this on Healthy Grimace and commented:
Imperfection is the lazy man’s perfection. I know I’m perfect, but then again…I’m also a lazy man.
I’ve tried going down the perfection path before and let me tell you, it’s a long and winding and frustrating road. I’ve come to the conclusion over the past few years that I would rather be perfectly imperfect because perfection? Well, ain’t nobody got time for that 😉
Excellent Deep Thoughts, Wendi. I like the way you think… 🙂