November 10, 2008 - 09:25, by Dostalek, Kevin
I once had a boss who always said that perceptions were neither right or wrong, they simply "are". This statement was usually made just after another statement that started "it is my perception that..." This is all rubish.
Perceptions can indeed and often are wrong. The origin of this particular platitude actually intended that "if my perception is X" then there is no point in saying that it is not. This however, does not mean that X is actually true. There are many ways that we fool ourselves into perceiving that X is true when it is not:
- Experience Errors - Sometimes we extrapolate from our past and apply them to current situations not taking into account either the differences or the randomness factors.
- Sense Errors - Sometimes we draw the wrong conclusions based on inputs that are either intentionally or unintentionally incorrect.
- Subconcious Denial - Sometimes wanting something to be true clouds our objective ability to judge the truth in something.
Ensuring your own perceptions and others are in fact true is generally the first step in solving more complex problems, andn they can usually be "corrected" by working on examining the 3 above problems using some of the following strategies:
- Experience - Try to isolate the important details of the perception and look at them objectively. The critical thinking skill of determining causality is key here.
- Sense Errors - Insure that you are working with acurate data. Question each input you are getting from your actual senses, as well as information being delivered to you by others.
- Subconcious Denial - While there is much to be said about "think then do"- if your thinking is flawed then so will your doing. Commit to the truth, because it will set you free.
Here's an example of how easily perceptions can be flawed. Look at the picture below. Which square (A or B) is darker than the other one?
The answer is actually that they are the exact same color. If you don't believe it, use some of the strategies from above (e.g. isolation, data checking, etc...) to doublecheck-- one way is to use Vista's snipping tool and capture only the two squares and compare them.
October 17, 2008 - 02:51, by Dostalek, Kevin
There has been a rumor that Microsoft has a standing offer to aquire Research in Motion (
RIMM) the makers of the BlackBerry for $50/share. This seemed dumb early in the year when RIMM was trading for almost $150/share, but just a couple weeks ago RIMM stock fell to within 22 cents of this supposed target.
A Microsoft aquisition of this magnitude could be the iPhone killer. What do you guys think?