Assumptions

Assumptions are very scary things.
"I assume that this will be done by someone"
"I assume that since someone is doing this, he/she will do it for me too"
"I assume that since he/she is _____ (a certain classification of people), he/she is _____ (a particular characteristic)"

It seems innate in many to assume things according to our convenience. Maybe if we assume this, we don't need to do something; maybe it will help us classify people and group them more easily so that we know how to interract with him or her. Let's face it, assumption is very much an act of laziness. And it is a dangerous act.

It irritates me sometimes when people do assumption. Not to say that I don't do assuming (in fact I do it quite alot = =), but assumptions sometimes lead to situations of "taking things for granted". Assumption of a person leads to stereotyping.

How can you say something about someone if you only know where this person comes from? How can you tell how a person is feeling if you haven't asked him/her? How can you assume someone, anyone, as the obligation to help you do anything?

Very often, such things are done unconciously. Assumptions just come naturally because it is so convenient. But if only you take that slightly extra step to think about the situation at hand, you will see a totally different picture.