Seth's Blog : Hobson's choice

Hobson’s choice

…is no choice at all.

The stable owner gets to pick which horse you get. Take it or leave it.

Some people prefer this. It means that we’re off the hook and not responsible. It relieves us of the emotional labor of choice. Let someone else worry about it…

And so we give up our agency and our freedom, simply to avoid responsibility.

The thing is, there is still a choice: The choice of whether or not to go into the stable in the first place.

Every time we choose a job, cast a ballot (or choose not to), or select a path, we’re making a choice. What happens after that is still our responsibility.