Jason Buffington .com

video transcript

This week, both my blogs are about the difference between accuracy and perspective. Be sure to check out my DPM blog on the dangers of citing statistics.

Maybe you’ve seen a version of this picture before … where both points of view are equally correct.  And both are equally incorrect in how they’re admonishing the other person.

The sad irony is that it would take either person simply two or three steps in any direction other than pushing forward to accidentally notice that another point of view might have some merit.

Imagine if either one of them would just walk over to where the other person is standing, turn around, and actually say “Let me try to look at it the way you do”.

But they don’t or won’t because:

• The blue person not only sees the 6, but believes the purple number isn’t blue enough
• The red person only sees the 9 and believes the purple number isn’t red enough.

I don’t care whether you see a 6 or 9 – or prefer whichever color – and will delete those comments.

No one looking at the cartoon is going to suggest “splitting the difference” and calling the figure on the ground a 7.5 — but there is mixed truth somewhere in between for this picture and every other divisive topic you might be stuck on. So, maybe the next time you’re in conflict and a stalemate, first take a few steps “in any direction other than forward” to intentionally and objectively look at it differently.

If this speaks to you, don’t forget to like, comment, or re-share.

See you next Monday