NEVER ASSUME (they say)

[Libre]

I’m told that one should not “assume” things.
You know the old saying: When you ASSUME, you make an ASS of U (YOU) and ME!
Ha Ha! Good one. Except it’s wrong.
People could not operate or function at all, without making constant assumptions.
How much do we actually KNOW, without making ANY assumptions?
Practically nothing at all.
When I speak to you, do I KNOW that you have not suddenly lost your power to understand the meaning of my words? When you speak to me, do I KNOW that you are not an identical twin just posing as you? Or, am I just ASSUMING these things? Of course, sometimes assumptions can lead to errors. The alternative is to sit motionless in a chair, but then you still have to assume the chair won't break, the floor won't collapse, the roof won’t fall in, the Earth won't open and swallow you up, and gravity won’t suddenly reverse itself and thrust you out of the chair and up to the ceiling.
May I assume that we are human beings with minds, and we are not androids made yesterday, with artificially implanted memories? Am I CERTAIN that you are not an astral projection, a spirit, a mirage, an hallucination, or a pookah? Or am I just assuming? Are we in a dream, and am I merely imagining writing this? Are you and I actually REAL?
I assume that we are. Since I assumed, that makes us both asses.
Or rather, I assume that it does.

 

[ersocia]

i also hate that saying for another reason...

"when you assume, you make an ass out of U and ME."

really? please, explain to me how YOUR assumption makes an ass out of ME.

 

[Libre]

Yeah, well, the person who thought up that bright saying had to do SOMETHING with the ME in ASSUME. Should have found something else to do entirely.
But nothing gets me more steamed than being accused of "assuming", because it is something that every one of us does from the moment we are conscious to the moment we die.

 

[NigelShaw]

Lol I had this very thing said to me last week in a meeting. A slightly inexperienced project manager running a headphone project-
"We need 20 headers making for all baa airports and they need to be done by next friday"
Me-
"Ok that's doable I guess, where are the drawings for the units?"
PM-
"you can't have any because they need prototyping first before drawings are supplied"
Me-
"ok, I'll assume for the sake of this instance that all units are the same?"
PM-
"Assume will make an ass out of you and me" smug grin
Me-
"you already assume that I can perform this miracle with no information or sizes of the units. You assumed this before asking me. As you have already told the client it can be done, your 'assumption' has already made you look like an ass"!
Pm-
Walks of with tail between legs :-S

I hate that saying too lol

N

Sent from my OMNIA7 using Board Express

 

[Isskint]

Has anyone thought that the saying may be related to the use of the word in place of "take on" or "take over"? EG an actor assumes the role of a drunk. Bill Gates assumed the role of CEO.

Even if you accept the definition of assume as in assumption, it means the saying is pointless as assumption is generally arrived at after taking in to account evidence and past experience. EG you have sat on a chair before and gravity did not flip so you can rightly assume it will not happen this time. PRESUMPTION however, is made without taking into account evidence and past experience.

So i believe the saying is really about people using assumption when they really should have said presumption, i presume someone will read this?