The Real Problem

I like problems. Fixing problems is fun, but working out *exactly* what the problem is is funner (and usually three quarters of fixing the problem, but I digress).

I've been thinking about that phrase, where people say 'the real problem is...' Increasingly, I think that's not a useful phrase. Consider this scenario - which is the 'real' problem?

1. My car is making a terrible noise

2. I might need to take the car for a service, but honestly, I'm just not sure

3. Why do things like this always happen to me?

Answer (in my opinion): They're all the real problem. They're all problems, and they're all real. But here's the kicker: None of them are actually solvable. None of them contain enough information to make itself solved. They contain enough information to identify what information might be needed to solve them, but they don't contain enough information in themselves.

So let's add real problem number four:

5. My car's timing belt is about to break

Now *that* is solvable. The solution is: Go to the mechanics and get the timing belt replaced. That will solve problems 1 and 2, but not 3, which is still a pretty good run. Point being -

The problem that has a possible solution is the real real problem.

(Unfortunately, 'I don't know enough about cars to realise that the timing belt needs to be replaced' is a real problem unto itself... but that's for another day.)