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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jack7" data-source="post: 4915078" data-attributes="member: 54707">In general I concur.Ara is thinking outside the box.My assumption upon encountering any novel idea or approach to a problem is twofold. 1 - to verify that I actually understand the real problem or suggestion, and not just my assumption of what is being stated. For instance I will typically say, "If I'm reading you right," or "assuming I'm understanding what you mean correctly," etc. And 2- to try and think of a way to exploit or improve upon the idea, suggestion, or approach.I get the first from my detective and military training. Never automatically assume you understand anything if there is any doubt that you really do. You will waste time and possibly lives making such silly assumptions unless you are really sure you understand the real problem or idea or concept involved. And always try to fully understand both the overall concept and the associated details before rushing in to draw definitive conclusions. Examine the evidence, and assume the other person's point of view and try to comprehend their approach to the idea. Patience is a virtue that usually pays rewarding dividends. So I try to avoid reflexive mental assumptions. Especially quick ones.The second I get from my scientific training, and from my personal experience being involved with various experiments and from designing inventions. Wrong things can be improved upon, right things can be exploited, and almost everything can be improved. So I also try and avoid dismissing anything out of hand until I've explored the actual possibilities, and compared that against likely function.I find these two approaches, especially in combination, have helped me avoid a lot of crap in life I would have otherwise fallen victim to. It's how I suggest my students proceed as well.But one last thing I think important. I also try and avoid making linguistic assumptions. Yes, words have specific and precise meanings, but that doesn't mean people always use language in that way when communicating. It has been my actual experience that truth be told, they usually don't use it precisely. Therefore, for more than one reason, language is an inherently limited way of communicating truth. Just hold that in mind whenever you are trying to decipher what someone else actually means. Because often they say one thing and are in reality implying something else.</blockquote>

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