ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Complexity trap

The complexity trap is like a maze that people get stuck in. You know how sometimes you make things too complicated and it's hard to find your way out? That's kind of what the complexity trap is like.

Imagine you have a big puzzle to solve. You start putting all the pieces together, but then you notice that some of the pieces don't fit. So you keep trying different ways to make them work. You start moving the pieces around and trying them out in different places. But the more you do this, the more confused you become.

The same thing happens in other situations where things get too complicated. For example, imagine you're trying to plan a party. You start making a long list of all the things you need to do - like buy decorations, make invitations, and buy food. But then you start worrying about other things like what kind of music to play, what kind of drinks to serve, and what time the party should start.

Before you know it, you're overwhelmed and it feels like you're stuck in a trap. You're not sure what to do next or how to simplify things. You keep adding more and more tasks to your list, and it seems like the more you do, the more complicated it gets.

So, the complexity trap is when you get stuck in a situation that's too complicated and it's hard to find your way out. The trick is to try and simplify things by breaking them down into smaller tasks or asking for help from someone else who might be able to see things more clearly.