Switched
October 17th, 2020
Starring: A & B
A and B are sitting inside. A thunderstorm is brewing outside.
B
Looking crazy out there.
A
Insane.
B
Can we get some more light?
A
There’s a switch around the corner.
B goes around the corner and switches on a light.
A
Better?
B
Much.
Your switches are flipped.
A
Yeah, it’s on.
B
No, I mean your switches. They’re flipped. Up is off and on is down.
A
Oh…?
B
Usually it’s the other way.
A
Is it?
B
At my place, it’s the reverse.
A
It’s like that most places I go. I always think they have it switched.
B
I always believed up was up, down was down.
A
It’s a wiring issue then.
B
Right. You might need to rewire yours.
A
The switches still work, don’t they?
B
Yes.
A
Then why rewire a switch if it accomplishes the same task?
B
To reduce confusion. There’s a general consensus on how things are supposed to be wired.
A
General consensus is its own kind of wiring. How are we to believe it?
B
Because it’s the general consensus. And generally, the consensus is generally correct.
A
Because you’re wired to believe that wiring is correct.
B
It is correct.
A
Relative to how you’re wired. That wiring could be switched tomorrow, and we’d all feel a completely different way about how switches should be wired.
B
But it won’t be. It won’t be because that’s how we’re wired.
A
That’s not how I’m wired.
B
Maybe you should rewire, and then you’ll see the need to rewire.
A
Maybe you should respect my wiring.
B
I am. I’m just warning you that your alternative wiring might lead to more short circuiting with people who are wired differently.
A
And anyone who’s wired differently won’t rewire if they’re told to just rewire. It’s a process.
You don’t just flip a switch.
A big lighting strike, then a massive thunder clap. The power goes out.
B
You got any flashlights?
A
Yeah.
…
Can we just sit in the dark though? For a minute?
B
Why?
A
I don’t know.
When was the last time you sat in the dark?
…
…
B
Ok.
Let’s do it.
They sit in the dark.