We interrupt the funny stuff on this blog for some serious stuff. Can you believe that I have never heard this saying before? An online acquaintance and I were having a conversation via MSN messenger about jumping to assumptions and she said “Ever hear that assume makes an ass out of u and me.” Boy isn’t that the truth!
We are all guilty of jumping to negative assumptions at one time or another. I think that sometimes we react to things without having all the facts at hand. Coping.org has an excellent article on jumping to negative assumptions that is worth the read.
Today’s Lesson Learned
Avoid jumping to assumptions that can lead to confusion and severe miscommunication. Assumptions and jumping to conclusions seems to be a major cause of fall outs on forums and in the blogosphere as seen on a few blogs that I have surfed to.
Don’t assume that everyone uses words the way that you do. Communication can often be lost on the internet, because we cannot see ones face expressions, so words can be misinterpreted the wrong way.
By always making the worst out of a situation, you can never see the good. Remember, don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty.
Don’t worry, be happy!
Now back to our regular broadcasting.
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11 responses so far ↓
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 2:30 am
I love that saying – I use it frequently! I hate when people jump to assumptions based on what they want the outcome to be – I feel labeled, like they had slapped a sticker on me and put me away in a drawer, saying “There’s where you belong!”… might be my inferiority complex acting up (I’ve got that incommon with Napoleon, only he invaded countries, while I invade shoesales), or it just might be that people don’t realize how stupid and hurtful their assumptions are…
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 2:37 am
Heart, wow. Wow! That is exactly how I was feeling. Why must we put labels on people? I feel like a darn horse. I might as well bend over and and let them brand me by putting a label right on my behind.
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 2:40 am
The spelling alone of this word should teach all of us a valuable lesson about assuming. I was taught that assuming is like judging others. It’s wrong and it hurts people. If we have a problem with what a person says, it would be a good idea to ask that person what they meant before jumping to assumptions. Communication is more than talking or reading. It’s listening and asking and sometimes it means silence. If you feel the need to assume, remember that silence can be golden while assuming can make you an ass.
Thanks, Nicole
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 4:24 am
How true! How often has a comment made in jest been taken as an insult because the reader couldn’t see that the writer’s intention was ironic?
On the subject of miscommunication, well you probably witnessed a minor piece of miscommunication which led to me getting worried about the comments on my blog.
Thank you for letting me know that everything was okay!
I like the positive nature of your blog. Keep up the good work!
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 5:36 am
I have used that phrase often – and it is often so very right! Another one that is a staple in our family is: “Point that fingers at me and there are three pointing back at you!”
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Richie, thank you for sharing your opinion and I’m glad that you’re enjoying my blog.
Seamus, I’ve learned that some people would rather point fingers at people then look at their own miserable life that needs some work.
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I have found particular wisdom at a moment of need. Don’t pet the sweaty. My last ‘boyfriend’ was way too sweaty – ick.
thanks for commenting on my blog
Pinks
Wrote: Jan 9, 2007 at 5:05 pm
My teacher taught us that Mom.
Wrote: Jan 10, 2007 at 12:34 am
Pink, glad you found the wisdom needed. Thank you for stopping in.
Dragonboy, I don’t know about that English teacher of yours. LOL
Wrote: Jan 10, 2007 at 1:08 am
I agree that a lot of people make assumptions about people and it’s wrong because it definetely can be hurtful to the person that’s getting the assumptions said about them ((HUGS))
Wrote: Jan 18, 2007 at 5:39 pm
I had to come read what you wrote about assumptions. I almost had included the “ass out of u and me” in mine but changed my mind midstream, glad you included it, couldn’t believe you had never heard it! Probably a topic we could rewrite year after year, unfortunately.