How to Murder an Idea

04/19/2010

It is not an exaggeration to say that play is as basic to your child's total development as good food, cleanliness, and rest.
Joanne E. Oppenheim

A promotional booklet entitled "Imagine" put out by the consulting firm Synecrticsworld lists "17 Ways to Murder an Idea." Here are my favorities...

See it coming and quickly change the subject.
Ignore it. Dead silence intimidates all but the most enthusiastic.
Feign interest but do nothing about it. This at least prevents the originator from taking it elsewhere.
Laugh it off. "Ho, ho, ho, that's a good one, Joe. You must have been up all night thinking that up.
Modify it out of existence...You seem to be helping the idea along, just changing it a bit here and there. By the time the originator realizes what's happening, the idea is dead.
Drown it in cold water, as in "We don't have the staff to do it...the intangible risks would be too great...that's all well in theory, but in real life..."

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