Although an effective method of persuasion, saying something louder, or with many more words, does not make it more compelling.

Some years ago, my kid got seriously sick, so I went to the doctor. The doctor did what doctors normally do, sent for some tests, looked at some books, spoke on the phone, drank some tea, and finally came with a diagnosis.

Although I know nothing of medicine, but as I often found that I don’t have to know about a subject to follow someone’s resonating, by talking to him and asking question, I managed to follow his mental process, and thought it was flawed, so I challenged him.

First, he got defensive, and insisted that his diagnosis was correct, but when I asked him to sign a statement that he was absolutely sure of his conclusion, and that he would be personally liable in case his diagnosis was proven wrong, he declined. This created an opening to e exploring other paths, until we found what was wrong. His original diagnosis was wrong.

So for those of us who are not suicide bombers with unquestionable convictions, how sure you are you when you are sure of something?. Is there the slightest possibility that you might be wrong?

By the way, my kid was treated, and he is all fine now.

It was my project on the display.
Everybody saw it. I got the award.
A great future awaiting you, the teacher said.
Her words still echo in my mind.

The future was mine, so it was so hard to believe
that at the final test I was still sitting with blank mind
in front of a blank sheet when the bell rang.
There was no second chance.

I can still remember the big match.
I was standing in front of the empty goal.
Everybody cheered, and I missed.
I never played again.

And yet, at my work I had a future.
At last I was given the chance to go on my own.
But when we turned the switch on it all went dark.
My adjustments were wrong.
It was an expensive machine.

So after many years
When I ran into my teacher she said
“I always knew you’d reach far,
What are you doing these days?”
I could not utter a word
So with tears in my eyes
I just smiled,
Turned my back and walked away

We often use the term Devil’s Advocate, but what is it? In my view it’s merely someone who is willing to challenge your thinking, and asks you to think about things you refuse to think about. Isn’t attaching such a label, just like attaching any other label, reflects more about you than about those to whom you attach the labels?