"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts."
from A Scandal in Bohemia.
"It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment."
-from A Study in Scarlet.
"When you develop your opinions on the basis of weak evidence, you will have difficulty interpreting subsequent information that contradicts these opinions, even if this new information is obviously more accurate."
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb
And from personal experience, do not introduce these theories to a group because although you see the error of your ways getting the group turned around is extremely difficult especially when resources have already been expended in the wrong direction.
> And from personal experience, do not introduce these theories to a group because although you see the error of your ways getting the group turned around is extremely difficult especially when resources have already been expended in the wrong direction.
Actually, the dynamic of a group involved in making a change often involves finding the proper scapegoat to blame for needing to make the change. The person who identifies the problem is usually an excellent and obvious choice of scapegoat. That is why consultants are so highly paid.
Punish the innocent and reward the guilty is S.O.P.
Promote the political hacks who always seem to avoid responsibility for anything that happens.
But I don't mean to imply that I'm a cynic or anything like that ;-).
> Promote the political hacks who always seem to avoid responsibility for anything that happens.
The subtle truth is that organizations have an irrational side that originates in (a) the history of the organization and (b) the collection of individuals who make it up. Rational types tend not to observe this aspect of working life since they are more focused on the nominal mission or function of the organization and not on gaming the irrational side.
Advice from Aldous Huxley
Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
Aldous Huxley, Proper Studies (1927)
Advice from Aldous Huxley
One of my favourite Huxley quotes...
Here is another...
"The vast majority of human beings dislike and even actually dread all notions with which they are not familiar... Hence it comes about that at their first appearance innovators have generally been persecuted, and always derided as fools and madmen."
Thanks Derek.
Advice from Aldous Huxley
And another
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities."
? Aldous Huxley
Advice from Aldous Huxley
"A gramme is better than a damn"
Brave New World
Advice from Aldous Huxley
"Two wrongs don't make a right... Three lefts do.":-D
Advice from Aldous Huxley
> "A gramme is better than a damn"
>
> Brave New World
If you want to go through life as a doped up zombie.:-@
I read both "Brave New World" and "Brave New World Revisited" many years ago.