In the age of home improvement and accessorization, we also seek to ensure our homes are safe from intruders. However, sometimes the measures taken to achieve this security can leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and distressed instead. This is a story of one man’s experience with the unexpected consequences of installing a burglar alarm in his home.
McWilliams and his wife spent a significant amount of money, $325, on an advanced burglar alarm system for their newly finished house. Their excitement was short-lived, however, as they soon discovered that the complexities of this security system were causing more trouble than it was worth.
A month after installing the alarm, McWilliams and his wife were awakened by the smell of smoke. As he went downstairs to investigate the source, he found a burglar smoking a pipe in his living room. The surprised homeowner addressed the intruder, telling him that smoking was not allowed in their home. The burglar apologized, explaining that as an unfamiliar guest, he was unaware of their household rules. He also mentioned that such conventions did not apply to burglars. McWilliams begrudgingly accepted this explanation and lamented the changing times where manners seemed to be forgotten.
With the entire house now alarmed, McWilliams and his wife hoped for some peace and quiet. Their cook quickly dashed those hopes by setting off the kitchen door alarm every morning at 5 a.m., with the noisy device situated right above their beds. To resolve this issue, an alarm expert installed a switch outside the kitchen door to enable the turning on and off of the alarm.
However, this solution was not foolproof, as the switch itself turned out to be faulty. The expert returned and “fixed the thing” so that opening the kitchen door would automatically disarm the entire alarm system. Unfortunately, this contraption also proved to be flawed, allowing burglars to simply open the door to disable the entire alarm setup.
Through his comical tale, Twain uses McWilliams’s unfortunate situation as a means of highlighting the confusion and distress that can arise from an overly complex environment. He illustrates that human beings, according to Herbert A. Simon in “The Sciences of the Artificial,” are quite simple, and the apparent complexity of our behavior is often a reflection of the complexities of the world around us. Too much complexity in life can lead to increased confusion within ourselves.
Rather than placing blame on McWilliams, Twain lightens the mood by finding humor in the absurdity of the situation. He encourages us to seek joy and laughter even amidst our cluttered lives. The world may be a complex place, but laughter can help dispel fear and find solutions to most challenges.
In conclusion, while it is essential to secure our homes and protect our belongings, we must also remain cautious of the potential negative consequences that can arise from overly complicated security systems. As illustrated by McWilliams’s experience, sometimes less is more when it comes to safeguarding our living spaces. By maintaining a sense of humor and finding laughter in unexpected places, we can better navigate the complexities of life and find relief from the stresses they may cause.