This item text has been erased.

8 responses total.

Wow, talk about your loaded questions ...
Probably not, if I didn't know the person very well.  I am a pessimist by
nature, and I know that I am dependent on other people's enthusiasm to create
good things in the world, so I don't like to discourage them.

If I didn't know them very well I probably wouldn't, since I wouldn't
really feel comfortable saying so.  If I did know them well, I might say
something, or I might not, depending on what I was basing my doubts on.

I would tell them if I had serious doubts.  Otherwise, I would probably 
doubt myself, and feel too uncertain to say anything.  
,

I'm sure my doubts would be based on some individual concerns.  I'd bring
up those concerns to see if they had been thought of by the person and
then would feel I had done my duty.  My record of picking future success
is dreadful, so I'd be sure not to overinflate the value of my opinion.

Re: #1.  The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds.  The
          pessimist fears that this is true.  (Sorry for repetition)

Re: #0.  The burnt hand teaches best.  After that, advice about fire goes
          straight to the heart.  (With apologies to JRRT)

Seriously, though, if you don't really know them, all you can really do is
ask a few questions (like Have you thought about contingency A?) to see if
you can stir up some clear thinking in them.  But, what the heck do I know
about business.  Maybe it's a great opportunity to purchase stock in this
company-to-be!

I have a similar problem.  Except, it's my brother, and he's very headstrong
about what he wants to do...  How can I tell him he's foolish for 
pursuing what he says is a lifelong dream?

I'm not sure you can, Bret.  He may have to find out for himself.

"."

Casually yes

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss