"Mystery" problems that you don't understand and keep recurring no matter what you try are dangerous even if they stay tiny and inconsequential. They can grow into monsters in your mind as your history with them grows. They are not the same as chronic maintenance problems.
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The human mind does not handle *chronic* mystery well. We expect to gradually demystify things given repeated encounters. Chronic maintenance regimens only become second nature if there is no real mystery to them. You have a theory of why "this is the best I can do"
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It would be interesting to try and rewrite Moby Dick with the whale and the dangerous business of whaling are replaced by a minor problem. An example of such a story is Jerry's car with the demon BO smell problem
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That was a genuinely costly problem for Jerry though. I'm looking for stories where it's a trivial problem you could potentially live with.
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Replying to
I thought Batrleby was already written, and by the same author
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It could be seen that way. Bartelby's obsession with both idling and going to the office is not explained. He keeps coming to the office after being let go. His insistance on "I would prefer not to" is passion without reason Etc
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