Brute Force is often looked down upon. We sneer at it. Trial and error? Why bother when you can use sweet, sweet logic? Brute Force runs through walls, when there’s a perfectly serviceable door nearby. To me, Brute Force is epitomised by the X-Men character Juggernaut — ripped arms, wide helmet for ramming, no brains. Brute Force is dumb.
Me? I am far too cerebral for that kind of thing. And yet, the other day I found myself hunting around my parents’ house —
Me: “Where is Rabbit?” (This is my son’s soft — you guessed it — rabbit. If Rabbit doesn’t make it home, then his world implodes.)
Mum: “Dunno. Have you tried our bedroom?”
Me: “No need — he’s not gone anywhere near your bedroom.”
5 Minutes go by. Still no Rabbit.
Me: “This damned animal has to be somewhere …”
Mum: “Bedroo — ?”
Me: “Don’t waste your time. He. Did. Not. Go. Into. Your. Bedroom.”
5 minutes later. I’ve become a huffing machine, furiously rummaging through anything with a compartment — the dishwasher, the toaster, anything. I’m thinking: this would be a good time for the boy to learn about loss. Or responsibility. Besides, what kind of kid needs a fluffy rabbit any —
At which point, Mum appears over me, Rabbit in hand.
Mum: “The be –“
Me: “Don’t say it.”
It only took a glance in — Rabbit was sprawled on my folks’ bed. Yet I had Logic-ed my way out of the solution. Sometimes Brute Force is the smart approach.