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Hobson's choice, I believe, was a favorite term of Lance
editor Larry Deck and most philosophy students. A "Hobson's
choice" means having no choice at all. You either accept what you're
given or just bugger off.
I believe the origin comes from Oxford. Before the
invention of the kegger and stamping out crop
circles in wheat fields, Oxford University
students contented themselves with weekend pony rides. The proprietor of
the local pony ride was called Hobson. Available ponies were placed single
file in a fenced queue. If you wished to ride a pony, you had to take the
next pony Hobson offered you in the queue. Unfortunately, most of Hobson's
ponies were pretty scratch and dent. The pony offered was pretty much not
the pony you wanted to ride. You could not, however, pick your pony, as
there was no way to get the pony through the fence.
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