Good enough?

[federalist22]

"Good enough" is in the eye of the beholder, and that does not always mean it's the best.

"Good enough" could involve duct tape under certain circumstances. It's a mindset that centers around the idea that something "is going to have to do."

[ucrt]

I'm responsible for two $20 million General Electric Gas Turbines. They've tripped more times this year than the previous 3 years combined. We are trying to start one of them right now.

Their design quirks and bassackward engineering often get ridiculous and frustrating but guess what we commonly say "GE" stands for?

That's right..."good enough"

Merry Christmas

[Hoss356]

"Good enough" is in the eye of the beholder, and that does not always mean it's the best.

"Good enough" could involve duct tape under certain circumstances. It's a mindset that centers around the idea that something "is going to have to do."

When i was growing up my dad taught me how to solder. He used to use the phrase "Good enough for the government", when I would show him some work he'd say "That's almost-Good enough for the government", so I asked what it would take to be "Good enough for the government". A little background on my dad, he was in quality control since the 50's, worked on the zero altitude ejection seat and in the space industry on several satellites. Anyway, he hands me a book on inspecting solder joints and connections where anything less then perfect fails.

Fast forward to the eight year I spent as a navy firefighter and when someone said "Good enough for government work" it meant the bare minimum to get by.

So "Good enough" is a relative term and in my fathers generation "Good enough" meant high quality.

[rob_s]

"Good enough" could involve duct tape under certain circumstances. It's a mindset that centers around the idea that something "is going to have to do."

This is actually the opposite of what I meant in the context of the original post.

We have all had "good enough" moments in life. I recall having the muffler dragging on my '71 Torino one night on I-10 and crawling under the car with a Leatherman, a AA Maglite, and some baling wire I found on the side of the road. Good enough. I remember mowing the yard as a kid and missing the hard-to-read spots around the trees. Good enough. I remember my single days at last call at the bar and picking out that girl across the room through the haze of my beer-addled vision. Good enough.

But that's not what this is about. This is about people that start out at "good enough" as an end state or a goal. They wire up the muffler with baling wire on a 2009 BMW M5 while they're in a garage full of tools and parts. They leave a 4' swath around every tree despite using a o-turn mower and having a wee eater sitting right there. They go home with the fat chick at 9 PM after having only one beer.

In both sets of examples, "good enough" is often an excuse used after the fact. You get caught with the fat chick, somebody explains that your Olympic Arms isn't really "milspec", you show up to a 3-day class with a Fake-point RDS, etc.

We've all been stuck in situations where "good enough" will have to do, but for some people "good enough" becomes a mantra. I've had nothing but horrible luck with "good enough" (go back and re-read the examples in my first post) when I start out there.

[Paulo_Santos]

I think I finally get what Rob is trying to say. It is more of a "buy once, cry once" message. Where some guys will buy something cheap thinking it is "good enough" and then it breaks and you have to buy what you should have bought in the first place. "Buy once, cry once".

Am I on the right track now? I'm a little slow sometimes.

[jp0319]

It really falls onto the person in question's standards. Some people have lower standards in life for themselvs and for their stuff. Others have a higher standard in life and for theirselvs. This is usually reflected in the stuff they have and the gear they buy. No matter how much money you make or dont make if you have high standards for your self in your day to day that usually reflects in your stuff. I grew up poor in georgia I didnt have much, what I did have I took care of. When I became an adult I decided if I was going to get something it was going to be the best, and I take care of my "stuff". I am pickey with my guns, electronics, tools, golf clubs etc, etc. I habitually clean and maintain my guns (though I may not "need" to), I take care of my tools, and electronics etc. Because I know that yes I bought quality but if I treat it right it will last far longer than if I treat it like crap because I can. I only use quality "proven" firearms beacuse I may at some time need to defend my home with any of them and I want to know they work, I dont buy anything that I dont research on my own through multiple sources. As the old saying goes anything worth doing is worth doing right the first time. Sorry for the rant. JP

[NOLACOPUSMC]

This is actually the opposite of what I meant in the context of the original post.

We have all had "good enough" moments in life. I recall having the muffler dragging on my '71 Torino one night on I-10 and crawling under the car with a Leatherman, a AA Maglite, and some baling wire I found on the side of the road. Good enough. I remember mowing the yard as a kid and missing the hard-to-read spots around the trees. Good enough. I remember my single days at last call at the bar and picking out that girl across the room through the haze of my beer-addled vision. Good enough.

But that's not what this is about. This is about people that start out at "good enough" as an end state or a goal. They wire up the muffler with baling wire on a 2009 BMW M5 while they're in a garage full of tools and parts. They leave a 4' swath around every tree despite using a o-turn mower and having a wee eater sitting right there. They go home with the fat chick at 9 PM after having only one beer.

In both sets of examples, "good enough" is often an excuse used after the fact. You get caught with the fat chick, somebody explains that your Olympic Arms isn't really "milspec", you show up to a 3-day class with a Fake-point RDS, etc.

We've all been stuck in situations where "good enough" will have to do, but for some people "good enough" becomes a mantra. I've had nothing but horrible luck with "good enough" (go back and re-read the examples in my first post) when I start out there.

i understand what you are saying...I think.

My angle is that a firearm is a tool. in reference to your first analogy about the "value-priced" cordless tool kit. I actually got one of those for Christmas, and they have been through hell and back, and they are working fine. I think more often than not, the issue with these kinds of things is that not so much the level of quality, but the consistency of quality.

Take for example Hi-point pistols. We all know the reputation. Now as much as I hate them myself, I have had several students come through my Concealed handgun class and shoot the hell out of them and they functioned flawlessly. i have also seen two separate slides completely separate within 200 rounds. The problem is you never know if you are getting the diamond in the rough or the lemon next to it.

With more reputable brands, the lemon is more of an oddity. You buy with a higher level of confidence that you are getting a quality product. It is less of a gamble. Now given what most people buy a firearm for--some level of self-defense, it is not something that you can buy and HOPE you got a good one.

At the same time, when it comes to "combat rifles", many of us will not be going to combat. therefore, our "good enough" is different than that of a OMC or a US Marine. However, despite what may be good enough for it's intended role, i agree that "
just good enough", as a minimal acceptable level should not be the end goal.

The bailing wire will be good enough to get me to the service station, but not as a permanent fix. kinda like the people who drive around on their spare for weeks.

Good enough is an acceptable outcome for the intended purpose of said variable.

A Smith and Wesson MP-15 is good enough for almost anything i will need a carbine for. That said, a LMT, Noveske, or BCM would be better (perhaps) but is not necessary.

A Level IV with plates for duty use would be awesome, but all variables considered, a LEVEL II with trauma plates will hopefully be good enough.

[Rated21R]

interesting read. having only had 3 hours of sleep, i will come back and update my post when i can put together an actual thought.

[rob_s]

the issue with these kinds of things is that not so much the level of quality, but the consistency of quality.

This comes up often, especially when the Chart is first posted in a new place. Many people will get upset and say "my XYZ brand carbine is flawless and I'd put it up against anything made by any other manufacturer!" It may very well be true, but we first need to define our terms (round count, usage, cleaning cycle, etc.) as well as understand that it is a sample size of one. It is entirely possible that a brand xyz carbine with very few blue boxes will run without issue and that a brand abc with more checkboxes will choke. What all those better materials, proper assembly processes, and testing procedures come down to is reducing the likelihood of a choke, or increasing the consistency of quality.

Sample size of one? Somewhat irrelevant as it may be an outlier. Sample size of 1,000? Now we're talkin' data that we can parse!

[david.carroll01]

As an illustrator and writer I am afforded the unique opportunity to look at design and visual enticement as selling points for a book. I can produce tremendous writing with maximum visual appeal all the way around at the low cost of what time I put into the project and what software it takes to get it into an e-book format. Beyond that, it can be on the Internet and make money

[Bob Reed]

Hello, here's a coupla old rules of thumb to keep-n-mind, regardless of what you're buying.

The bitterness of a poor product remains long after the sweetness of it's low price has been forgotten.

Quality isn't expensive, it's priceless!

[Gun]

Good enough is only good for horseshoes and hand grenades, .... or was that close enough.

Aw hell, now I'm confused.

[Ellingson]

I think the meaning of good enough is related to the bromides because they follow the other people and don't catch the new modern inventions but i also don't follow the good enough according to my mind.

[Jerry R]

Very interesting read Rob. When looking to spend my hard earned $$ on anything that has a real function or purpose, my mantra has always been ---------- "It only costs twice as much to go first class." I've never been much on "just make do" or good enough.

A lot of great input here though. Nice to see attitudes (in this light).

[jbjh]

The enemy of 'good' is 'good enough'. There's no room for apathy in my world. Doesn't matter the subject.