You're not an ass for assuming

Making assumptions doesn’t make you an ass. Not examining your assumptions does.

Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

How often have you heard the adage, “Assumptions make an ass out of you and me?” It’s usually said in a singsong voice with a tone that conveys a level of obviousness that suggests the adage need not be stated in the first place.

I beg to differ.

On the one hand, I appreciate the advice because I encourage asking questions rather than jumping to conclusions — or worse, accepting something without investigating it first.

On the other hand, I dislike this advice because it suggests that somehow we can actually avoid making assumptions.

I’d like to suggest that assumptions are essential. The point isn’t to eradicate assumptions; it’s that we need to actively identify and assess them.

.

Why assumptions are essential

We exist with a constant onslaught of information, and the rate at which things change exponentially increases each year. Somehow, we have to make sense of all this information, integrate the changes, and make decisions about how we act in response. 

…