You may have heard the old saying “Perspective is everything.” Is it? It can be. One can argue for or against nearly any perspective, thought, idea, or even a set of facts. The ability to argue forcefully does not make what is wrong turn magically into what is right.
Perspective matters, but perspective is not everything. Sometimes a perspective is just wrong.
Unfortunately, we humans have the ability to argue one side or another (sometimes more than one side) with ease and convenience, and far too many of us don’t bother to think beyond the words we adopt to support our perspective.
What changes the perspective?
Logical consistency, factual accuracy and some degree of emotional appeal to the audience are elements in debating, where one side often prevails over the other party by presenting a superior “context” or framework of the issue. In a formal debating contest, there are rules for participants to discuss and decide on differences, within a framework defining how they will do it.
That’s how it’s done on a formal basis but few us do much more to defend or denigrate a perspective than raise our voices or snicker at someone with a different point of view.
Doctors conduct tests to determine a specific illness which can then help them to chart a course of healing or comfort. They develop an experienced and factual perspective on your illness and then determine a course of action.
Sometimes they are wrong. Perspective is not everything.
After many dozens of tests, half a dozen doctors have developed a unified perspective that I have ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; a debilitating, devasting disease with no cure. Time will tell if they are correct but only when I die.
Still, I find some doctors willing to try a few long-shot tests to see if the visible and obvious symptoms are indicative of something else instead of ALS; perhaps something not deadly, something with a cure. Yet, there are other doctors who prefer the wait and see approach and are not willing to do anything. Some doctors won’t even bother to consider alternative perspectives regarding an ALS diagnosis.
To me, thinking outside the box is a good perspective.