In a curious little nook of the world, where the sunbeams danced and the shadows played, a question flitted through the air like a butterfly: “Is that a paper plane? Is that a pencil? Is it an eraser, perhaps?” But lo! A voice rang out, clear and bright, “Nay, my friends. That’s Elementary Man!”

Miles away, in the hallowed halls of the Cogently University, a most pressing matter looms—who shall ascend to the lofty chair of head of Philosophy Department? A matter of great import indeed! The professors champion the cause of Dr. Emily Bright, whose brilliance shines like a beacon in the fog.

At first, the learned assembly agrees that a worthy candidate must possess experience and a trove of scholarly papers. Dr. Bright, with her impressive credentials, seems the perfect fit! But lo and behold! Harold Howard, with a flourish, alters the criteria. “Nay!” he proclaims, “The new head must also be a master of mingling with the townsfolk and securing the golden coins of funding!” Dr. Bright, ever resourceful, excels in these arts as well! But wait—what’s this? Harold shifts the rules yet again! Now, he declares, the new head must teach in a manner as antiquated as a dusty tome.

Enter our detective Elementary Man, summoned to untangle this web of confusion. He converses with the professors, uncovering a curious truth: the rules are as slippery as a fish! One exasperated teacher exclaims, “Each time Emily meets a rule, Harold conjures a new one from thin air!”

Determined, Elementary Man seeks out Harold. “Good sir,” he states, “you are moving the goalposts! This is most unfair to Dr. Bright.” Harold, with a wave of his hand, insists that change is the very essence of progress, yet our detective suspects he is merely complicating matters for sport.

Elementary Man soon discovers that Professor John Rigid, a stalwart of the old ways, is in cahoots with Harold. John views Dr. Bright as a tempest threatening his tranquil pond of tradition.

Elementary Man calls forth a grand assembly of the faculty. “Dear colleagues,” she declares, “the rules are a riddle wrapped in an enigma! We must establish clear guidelines for selecting our new head.” The professors begin to grasp the absurdity of their predicament.

Dean Carter Fairview, ever the peacemaker, nods in agreement. “Indeed! We must craft rules that are fair and transparent!”

At long last, the professors unite in their resolve, agreeing upon simple and straightforward criteria for their new leader. Dr. Bright is free to showcase her innovative ideas without the specter of shifting sands. The faculty soon recognizes her brilliance, and she is crowned the new head of the Philosophy Department!

Detective Elementary Man beams with satisfaction, for he knows the importance of clarity and fairness. The university, having learned a valuable lesson, now embraces new ideas while honoring the wisdom of the past, like a garden blooming with both old and new flowers.

Moral: It is incorrect to create misjudgments of a new person or option based on an ever shifting criteria. While criteria are not to be set in stone, they must be based on a list that is not quickly changed.