Why do some people assume a lot?

If I tried to tell you, I would be making assumptions.

No, seriously, it is because of laziness of thought.

Lack of intelligence, critical thinking etc.

Your assumption of others assumptions could just be their experience. Being around the block a few more times.

I think people make assumptions based on their own experiences.

It’s hard to look at any given situation through eyes other than your own unless you make a conscious decision to do so.

It is also, sometimes, the only position to take to “get the ball rolling” so to speak. For example: If I read a question on this site I have to make a few assumptions as to intent, etc. in order to begin formulating a response. Now I could forgo making any assumptions and wait until the person spelled out their entire situation in painstaking detail before I jumped in there. But that would sure leave a lot of dead air time or some really, really long questions.

I guess I see assumptions as just a “starting point”. As long as both parties are willing to modify their assumptions as new data is gathered I see no problem with a timely assumption or two.

Now sticking to an assumption despite conflicting data is a whole nother thing…in my book that is where assumption becomes presumption.

Your question is so vague that I’d have to make sweeping assumptions just to provide an answer.

Do I assume you wish me to answer your question? :-)

Because they like to make an ass out of u and me.

This is one of my pet peeves.

I have learned over the years that more often than not whenever I allow myself to make an assumption I am usually wrong.

Most people assume first and ask questions later when it should be the other way around.

Everyone would benefit by asking questions such as ’ what do you mean by that’ or ’ am I understanding you correctly’ etc. before jumping on the assumption wagon.

I recently went head to head with a member that has a hair tregger assumption hangup and and assumes that even a joking comment is sort sort of personel slight/attack.

I have little patience for jumping to conclusions and even less for paranoid projections. lol

Sometimes though it IS okay to make an assumption when it is based on past expereince.

I assume if I try to jump on my neighbors monster horse that he will dump my ass in short order, I can safely assume if I walk through the ghetto at midnight I might get mugged.

These would be of a more common sense assumptive conclusion.

I can also safely assume that those that have assumption issues also have defensiveness issues and steer clear of falling into that hole on the sidewalk. lol

Human brains are designed to fill things in- even when proof is right in front of us that may show contrary evidence. Take drawing for example. When most early students (of any age) start drawing, they add what ‘should’ be there to what is already there. The chair in front of them will only have three legs from where they are viewing it- yet they draw four.

It’s also how we recognize a human face on the barest hint of a line, or a dog from just the tail. We fill in the rest.

It’s hard work to battle that and some are better at it than others. Sometimes people who are usually good at it forget. I just chalk it up to human brain behavior.

It’s like a reconnaissance mission. You need some kind of elaborate plan before you go waltzing in what could very well give Billy Bayou some nightmares.
That said, the problem is when the assumption becomes absolute for the person, with no open possibilities for anything else, even if something else is shoved in their face.
At least, that’s how I do it. I assume alla time with the best judgement I can, but only until further material is put forth. Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but I don’t think so, as many of my assumptions don’t cater to anything that would benefit me.
I try not to let them turn into unfounded interpretations or perceptions.

Assumptions are nothing more than fictitious stories our minds invent, unless, as I mentioned, they are based on prior actual/factual experience with a person, place, or thing, and that assumption has proven itself several times over when, at that time, it becomes a probabilty rather than an assumption.

The biggest problem with assumotion IMO is that they are almost always negative.

Whens the last time someone invented a positive assumption? It’s pretty rare. haha

Assumption is a great exercise in thought watching, and a pretty good indication of someones overall positive/negative outlook in general.

If I make a humorous comment and someone catches it for what it is, I ‘assume’ they are possessed of a good self esteem and cheery nature. On the other hand if they react negatively and without humor I think it is safe to assume they tend towards a negativistic side and, obviously, humor isn’t really part of a negative persons makeup.

When I make an assumption it is usually based on experience and established patterns of the person or situation I am making the assumption about.

@Coloma Whens the last time someone invented a positive assumption? It’s pretty rare. haha
You might be surprised.

@Symbeline

Of course, always the exception! :-)

@Coloma
If I make a humorous comment and someone catches it for what it is, I ‘assume’ they are possessed of a good self esteem and cheery nature. On the other hand if they react negatively and without humor I think it is safe to assume they tend towards a negativistic side and, obviously, humor isn’t really part of a negative persons makeup.

Perhaps the comment isn’t humorous to others. Perhaps different people have different perceptions of what “negative” might be. And I am not sure that there is any proof that “humor isn’t part of a negative person’s makeup”.

@eden2eve

Well, I agree, humor is subjective, but…usually random humor that is well expressed cannot be mistaken for anything other than.

I do find that many rather pessimistic types have an under developed sense of humor, which falls in line with a negative personality, which falls in line with a lot of personality ‘issues.’

I don’t know about ‘proof’ but I DO know that a well developed sense of humor is indicative of a healthy, evolved and stable personality.

@Coloma
“Well expressed”... by whose definition? We need to be careful not to assume that everyone sees our expressions in the same light that we do.
Also, I think it’s wise not to assume that pessimists have an underdeveloped sense of humor. Their sense of humor may be different than mine, but who am I to judge that it’s underdeveloped?
But in fact, it’s an assumption to judge that certain people are pessimists based on my evaluation of few random samples of their correspondence.
So… assumptions, judging… these are a couple of things that I try to avoid. Not always successfully, but I KNOW that I am not always right, and I would be very presumptuous to believe that I can define another person’s character. I may like, or not like, certain persons, or the things that they do, but I am no authority on another person, and will not presume to state how unstable, pessimistic or negative they may be.

@eden2eve

I agree, I am not attempting to box up the totality of another in a water tight package.

Although, it is a fact that a well developed sense of humor is part of a healthy mental condition.

I am a pretty intuitive and observant type, just sharing a few observations, but certainly not etched in stone.

Because when people see something, hear something or read something this triggers hundreds of memories. Our memory acts like a sixth sense and this can lead to assumptions while interacting with the outside world.

@mattbrowne

Yep, that’s why I am big on thought watching..it’s amazing what our inner voices can teach us is we are watching.