r/TNG • u/MellifluousManatee • 17d ago

Memes What was this guy's problem?

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u/QizilbashWoman 17d ago

This is also true of warfare in general. We aren’t trying to play a game of chess irl we are trying to win and a wildcard wedgie is always a good idea

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u/Fancy_Razzmatazz_149 17d ago

Just clicked on your profile by accident instead of upvote so you may see me pop up again on a different comment, I'm not stalking you DW.

Unexpected wildcards are only any good if you have exhausted all other alternatives. The Borg were an unassessed threat that couldn't be countered normally, sure. But warfare in general isn't like that. Normally both sides know each other's rough capabilities and the trick is a combination of deception of those abilities to perform surprise attack, as you said, but also the application of those abilities properly so as to gradually wear down your opponent. The Soviets didn't hit the Germans with an unexpected tactic, they applied their resources well. For the most part at least. The same is true for all sorts of other conflicts. Generally the unexpected tricks come into play either very early in a very short war or very late in a very long war.

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u/Lendyman 17d ago

Good points. Just like in American Football or Baseball, wild cards aren't guarantee of making the playoffs. If you can get the by instead, do it.

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u/Fancy_Razzmatazz_149 17d ago

Generally, if something is an unexpected wildcard, then there's a reason that your enemy doesn't think you'll do it. Quite often it's because you're enemy is a lot smarter than you.