Great minds think alike...
...but is it because all the other minds were ignored? I don't particularly like the phrase. I used to like it, but now after I spent a few hours of my weekend thinking about it, I find it rather...I don't know...condescending.
Consider one. Here's a meeting of minds to resolve a problem. One guy says A, another says B, and another says C, and the last one says D. After an hour of head banging [brainstorming is too soft a word for it], they realize that A is B while C can incorporate D.
Now the battlefield is torn between A and C. After another hour, they find out that with little change, D can also be done while doing A, without the need for C.
Now the argument falls in favor of A, with three minds thinking it should be done. The guy who says C is adamant, but concedes to the idea.
Can the guy who proposed A from the beginning say that 'great minds think alike?' Why else would 'the group' reach 'a conclusion?'
Consider another. One person says A, another says B, another says C. The first person shuns the second and third for not sharing his view. A fourth guy says A, and he was immediately befriended by the first guy, claiming that 'great minds think alike.'
Looking at these examples, I say we should change that phrase to say 'Like-minded minds think together.'
Cheers,
SQ
P.S.: BNG4EVR! Didn't think I'd forget to put this little gem here, now did you?
Consider one. Here's a meeting of minds to resolve a problem. One guy says A, another says B, and another says C, and the last one says D. After an hour of head banging [brainstorming is too soft a word for it], they realize that A is B while C can incorporate D.
Now the battlefield is torn between A and C. After another hour, they find out that with little change, D can also be done while doing A, without the need for C.
Now the argument falls in favor of A, with three minds thinking it should be done. The guy who says C is adamant, but concedes to the idea.
Can the guy who proposed A from the beginning say that 'great minds think alike?' Why else would 'the group' reach 'a conclusion?'
Consider another. One person says A, another says B, another says C. The first person shuns the second and third for not sharing his view. A fourth guy says A, and he was immediately befriended by the first guy, claiming that 'great minds think alike.'
Looking at these examples, I say we should change that phrase to say 'Like-minded minds think together.'
Cheers,
SQ
P.S.: BNG4EVR! Didn't think I'd forget to put this little gem here, now did you?