Bias....An AHA Moment?

[Guest guest]

> Sort of germane:> picked up on my use of the word "bias". She gave it the > meaning in common, merely social use, where its common *connotation* > implies malice.> I meant no such thing. In my world, my life, the connotation is > merely "unwanted". Often also it connotes "unconscious", or more simply > "unnoticed".> In science, "bias" may be the degree to which an instrument is "off", > not reading correctly. This may be because, unnoticed, its battery is > old and failing.> The "bias" I meant in my ASPIRES post *rarely* is malicious. It > arises in ordinary conversation from things we believe strongly about, > but which merely, and innocently, we forget to describe.> Like disclaimers we think *surely* are unnecessary and don't add in. > Like implied premises we *assume* "everybody knows".> > Like my own unthinking premise: Everybody knows the exact, technical > use of the word, and "of course" will read it the way I meant it.> > - Bill, 75, AS; ...precision is no shield against bias.Precision indeed! This is it! It's NT/AS role reversal! It's what was being discussed in another post about how NT communication changes, so the same thing is said 80 different ways. This was fascinating because you felt took the word "bias" in its most common usage. You went on to say the word: bias, has several figurative uses as well. NT's use figurative speech all the time, which usually drives AS a bit crazy. You say, "things we believe strongly about, but which merely, and innocently, we forget to describe." Welcome to the NT world!You say, "Like disclaimers we think *surely* are unnecessary and don't add in." NT communication all the way!You say, "Like implied premises we *assume* "everybody knows." Now your SWIMMING in a sea of NT'ness!Now all we have to do is define the matrix. Question: Communication: When is it literal, when is it figurative, when does it assume, what parts are unnecessary, and which parts can we forget to describe and *still* have reliable communication between NT's and AS?Regards,Anita 55 NT