by Ryan Gray

Created on: January 27, 2010   Last Updated: January 31, 2010

The equation that is associated with people who assume has been handed down from generations. Those who assume will make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'.

Despite having this information, people continue to assume. It happens everyday because it's human nature.

The question of why people do this is not difficult to answer, but it takes some time to explain because there are a number of reasons that it happens so often.

Perhaps the number-one reason why people assume is because it is easier than taking the time necessary to dig for the facts and information to find out the truth.

Is this the night we are supposed to go to the conference at school? Are we having pizza at Mike's on Friday night or Saturday night? Was I supposed to pick up Bobby at the sitter's house today, or is that tomorrow?

These are the kinds of questions that could lead a person to assume what should be done and make the wrong choice, instead of “digging for the facts” - or making a few calls – to find out the correct course of action.

When faced with a situation, the person who chooses to assume automatically puts his or her own thought process into motion. That often leads directly to action and input from others is not needed.

Rather than waiting around to find out the exact details of the plan, the person in question assumes that he or she should do something and moves forward with his own plan. No waiting or listening to anyone else; just assume that what is being done is right and go.

Conversely, assuming leaves a door open. If a person assumes he should do one thing and finds out later that what he did was wrong, he already has an excuse to take the heat off of himself. He wasn't sure what to do, so he did what he assumed was right.

The person trying to avoid the spotlight can also assume what should be done and take action. But if he discovers that the assumption made was wrong, he can point the finger in a different direction and claim he was doing what he thought another person wanted done. A significant number of people are schooled in this art-form.

Upon closer examination, it was determined that the focus here may not be whether or not people like to assume. Instead, the question to ponder is why so many people choose to assume. Or do they even choose?

If a person knows that doing something is bad for them and they are presented with constant reminders of this, yet they continue to do it anyway, does that make the problem an addiction.

If so, then a whole lot of people are addicted to making asses of themselves and others. That sounds like a problem that may never be solved.

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