The Common Sense Committee is now in session

We all know that feeling of disbelief: yet another study is reported with results so obvious that a four-year-old and its pet cat could have held a quick consultation and come to the same conclusions. However, I do have sympathy for both the researchers who’ve conducted the study and the media outlet that publishes it. We need people to conduct research: where would we be without it? Things that might appear obvious aren’t necessarily so and just because most people agree that something is an indisputable truth doesn’t make it one – just a quick glance at history reveals all manner of generally accepted facts, barely questioned at the time, that now seem shocking, violent, ridiculous, harmful or just plain fanciful. And all media, both conventional and social, are desperate for content, so they fall eagerly on any new findings that might catch the attention of their readers and viewers, preferably making them snort in disbelief. Snorting in disbelief is quite fun after all.

I have less sympathy when organisations decide to do things they so obviously shouldn’t. I know life is complicated and it’s easy to second-guess every decision that’s ever been made while comfortably sitting at home with a cup of coffee. But surely common sense should prevail sometimes and I can’t imagine who decided it was a good idea to reconfigure offices so that people were all sitting practically on top of each other, with no privacy whatsoever. I don’t understand how anyone can work when constantly distracted by their neighbours. And hot desking? I have to admit that I haven’t worked in an office for a long time, but when I did people really valued having their own space and personalised it by putting up posters saying “You don’t have to be mad to work here, but it helps” or a “Round Tuit”. Gosh, the 80s were fun!

Coca Cola seems particularly adept at making decisions that don’t play out well. Years ago they decided to change their recipe to a new and improved one. Coke drinkers were furious. I think it’s a myth that people don’t like change – I think many do, but only if they’ve actively chosen it. People feel powerless when change is imposed upon them. Undaunted, Coca Cola’s next folly was an attempt to sell bottled water in Britain under the grandiose name of Dasani. This all sounded wonderful until it was revealed that the bottles contained nothing but Thames water, which is freely available from our taps. Dasani was quickly withdrawn and is not sold in Britain to this day.

I’ve thought for some time that what we need is a Common Sense Committee – every time a large organisation is thinking about making a major change, they should be forced to run it by this committee. Should we take away the right of working people to display jokey posters? No. Should we change the taste of the world’s most popular soft drink just because we can? No. Should we bottle tap water and try to sell it to people? No.

We all know that decision by committee is never efficient, so I have – selflessly – decided to make myself the sole member of the Common Sense Committee. All questions happily entertained.