Doing and Trying

YES.

What's annoying is that in the explicit, specific context, it makes sense. Luke said he'll "try" and Yoda knew what that meant - he'd make an effort, knowing damn well he was going to fail, and that, of course, meant he'd fail. So - at that time, in that context, "do, or do not" was the proper advice.

As general advice? It sucks. And yet, many people view it as general, not specific.

As general advice, it means to actually try instead of just pretending to try. There are a lot of situations where you can pretend to try and ensure failure.

On the gripping hand, it can be taken too far. My standard, automatic response to any request is "I'll try" or some variation, even when it's something that, after a moment's thought, I know perfectly well I can do.

Something about reduced expectations.

I don't like Yoda's quote either.
I've seen too many situations in my life where no amount of effort could change the outcome.
I do agree that someone needs to give something their very best effort before they call it a lost cause. Sitting down and giving things a good think-through before putting forth a solid effort also tends to help things happen.
:^)

My son's first Kindergarten teacher had a class motto: "We don't say `I can't'-- we say `I'll try.'" I have represented Ms. Carol as being at war with Yoda ever since. (Watch out, Yoda! You fight like a Muppet, but Ms. Carol-- doesn't.)

This was not a problem in Ms. Carol's class.

Agreed about the general proposition.

Personally, I was simply amused at the notion of Yoda and Ms. Carol in combat.

Amen. I always thought Yoda could take a walk for that comment.

Agreed on what you say. Definitely.

As far as the specific situation is concerned, this immediately seemed to me to be << too early >> in the Luke-Yoda relationship for that kind of command. It would have been different if, later on, after seeing Yoda perform some Jedi magic and being convinced that Yoda would not give an "impossible" command and also having some idea of what Yoda was about, Yoda gave an order like that and Luke had to man up and give it everything. At that point, he could promise an accomplishment and not fear being thrown into Mitochlorian Hell if he failed.

But just a couple of screen-minutes after Yoda's "silly old fool" performance ("Mine! Mine! Oooooooooooo ... You seek Jed-Eye!"), they were still getting to know each other. I kind of think the whole scene was played out to-turn-doubt-into-wonder in the - audience - ... not really Luke.

Sometime, I plan to blog on why this is not a problem for me anymore. I put a tiny bit of it into this entry here.