[tor-teachers] The Parable of the Clever Servant and Her Leaky Bucket

[Alison Macrina]

This is great Nathan! Thanks for sharing. Also, a good reminder for us
all to fire our bosses.

Alison

Nathan of Guardian:
> Tired of the same old analogies and metaphors for talking about
> encryption and security, I decided to embark on a bit of a creative
> writing exercise inspired by Rumi, the 13th century Persian
> poet/writer/teacher/thinker....
> 
> ****
> 
> A servant was given a bucket and told to draw water from the well down
> the hill. The bucket was full of holes, making the servant's work
> difficult, annoying and even dangerous, since she had to take more trips
> through the woods at night to bring enough water to the house each day.
> The woods were full of wolves and vagabonds, you see. The servant's
> master would watch her from the house as she made trips to and from the
> well throughout the day.
> 
> The servant, being smart and resourceful, decided to patch the holes in
> her leaky bucket with tar and sticks. The repaired bucket kept all of
> the water inside, and made the servant safer since she could easily
> finish her work with less trips in the daylight hours. She also found a
> faster path around the woods, that took her away from the house. She was
> proud of herself, but apparently her master was not. He summoned her one
> morning, and asked why she had repaired the bucket, and why she no
> longer walked by the house. She was confused, as she thought he would be
> pleased with her improved efficiency and safety. Instead he said
> "Without the trail of leaks upon the path in front of the house, I
> cannot easily see what you are carrying is actually water, and instead
> wine you are sneaking in from your vagabond friends! I made your bucket
> leaky on purpose, and the fact you have patched it and changed your path
> proves you are up to mischief and wrongdoing."
> 
> The servant built up her courage and replied "Are you drunk each
> morning? Are you bathing in wine? Of course not. You only need to taste
> the water at your table, and see the clarity of that in which you bathe
> to know I am honestly performing my duties. I am no friend to the
> vagabond. I fear them. I only patched the leaks and found a better route
> to make my job easier and safer, so that you may have your water, and I
> may live a longer life." The master considered her wise words, and then
> promptly threw her in the dungeon, since she was clearly too smart and
> skilled to be trusted.
> 
> A new servant was called, given a new leaky bucket, and told that for
> her safety, she should never ever patch it, and she must always take the
> house path, else she might be eaten by wolves, sadly like the servant
> before her.
> 
> 
>