“Vaccum Vacuum” or the cow’s dribble
In soccer, the term ‘dribble of the cow’ describes a player who quickly changes direction by pushing the ball to one side and then rounding it on the other side to regain control. This leaves opponents behind in the vacuum. Legend has it that the term originated in rural soccer, where cows would invade fields, dribbling better than players. Taking a cow’s vacuum teaches how to navigate sudden problems or obstacles without relying on established knowledge. Cows seem to know that being able to adapt and innovate is important for getting over obstacles.
The knowledgeable reader, or their artificial intelligence, may have noticed that the title is wrong in Latin, as the correct adjective would be “vacceus”. “Vaccum”, with 2 cs and 1 u, never existed. The wrong title was kept due to the virtue signalling of the ignorant who consider themselves cultured, and because of the similarities in terms and the repeated vac-vac sounds. The same title seems to work fine in the Portuguese version of this article (o vácuo da vaca), which you can read here: https://medium.com/o-que-faz-o-café/vacuum-vacum-reclamar-e-xingar-é-uma-coisa-se-virar-sempre-foi-outra-mesmo-o-discurso-de-que-a-38421adcbb2a
The initial idea was to discuss professional dissatisfaction and the wrong idea that changing course is a simple solution. Despite self-help books and motivational consultancies, professional dissatisfaction is not the sole responsibility of the individual. Job market demands are constantly changing, and formal education cannot keep up with the accelerated pace of these changes. Perhaps that’s why there are so many courses on how to deal with professional dissatisfaction so easily, just by changing the individual’s “mindset”. Entrepreneurship courses are also hip, but the conditions for these projects to succeed are not being provided. Teachers can teach that the job market has changed significantly and will continue to change, but if they knew anything about entrepreneurship, they wouldn’t be teachers (note: unfair and imprecise generalization).
However, the rush of runaway cows on soccer fields has something to teach about how to deal with unsatisfactory situations without depending on courses, books or social expectations. We need to be more like cows, who never had teachers, to progress and overcome dissatisfaction. Searching in the vacuum for simple and effective solutions that challenge traditional forms of thought is also relevant in urban planning. However, not in the way it has been taught in many courses, with old books about other places in other situations. The traditional principles and practices of urban design are not sufficient to solve complex issues in rapidly changing urban landscapes.
The examples of innovative solutions in urbanism are more numerous than traditional teachings can show. Urban designers are rarely taught that they must always be willing to find innovative solutions, adapted to the specific needs and challenges of each place, community, and situation. They must be open to unconventional ideas to effectively solve urban problems, like the runaway cow dribbling across the rural soccer field.
By challenging traditional knowledge and experimenting with new ideas, architects and urbanists can help create better urban solutions. Most of the famous canons of urban planning were established a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away — another vague, unfair, and imprecise generalization. It is frequently necessary to break with conventional forms and modes and seek new solutions adapted to the specific needs and challenges of each place. In the history of urban development, there are many examples of how breaking paradigms could lead to innovative and effective solutions. And there are many methods that urban designers can use to think more creatively and innovatively, such as divergent thinking, modelling analysis, scenario planning, prototyping, and multidisciplinary collaboration. There are also many interesting sources, such as technical publications from the UN and the World Bank, which often present studies and research with relevant data. It is also possible to find examples of innovative urban solutions in specialized magazines, such as Landscape Architecture Magazine and Urban Land Magazine, which regularly showcase successful case studies.
Moving forward (like the runaway cows), it is essential to approach any field with an open mind, whether in sports, profession or creating better cities. By embracing the ability to think differently and experiment with new ideas, urban designers can help create better urban solutions. It is essential to break free from conventional forms and seek new solutions that are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each place. In the history of urban development, there are many examples of how breaking paradigms could lead to innovative and effective solutions.
