Notice of Continued Temperature Compromise Operations
Two people agree on a temperature that satisfies neither of them, and call this a resolution.
To: The other person in the room From: The person who set the thermostat Re: Current temperature setting Date: Ongoing
This correspondence is to confirm that the current room temperature was selected following a process that both parties participated in and neither party found fully satisfactory.
The process was as follows.
Party A indicated that the room was warm. Party B did not disagree, though Party B's preferred temperature was somewhat cooler than the temperature Party A had in mind when raising the concern. Rather than identify this distinction, both parties agreed on a number that split the difference.
The number is now active. Neither party is comfortable.
This is called compromise.
The governing rule: a social inconvenience may continue indefinitely if ending it would require naming the inconvenience.
Naming the inconvenience would involve Party A stating their actual preferred temperature and Party B stating theirs. Both parties are aware that the stated temperatures would differ. Both parties are also aware that the temperature discussion would then become a preference discussion, which is a kind of negotiation, and the word negotiation implies that preferences are real and different, which both parties would prefer to leave implied rather than stated.
The current temperature is three degrees from what Party A would choose alone. It is four degrees from what Party B would choose alone. Both parties are aware of this. Neither party has mentioned it.
The temperature has been described, by both parties, as fine.
Fine remains the operative status. Future adjustments will follow the same procedure. The outcome will again be fine.
This office considers the matter resolved, pending the next time someone reaches for the thermostat.
With regards, The Temperature Compromise Working Group (Informal, membership two, quorum not achieved on any vote)