tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120607605276079906.post6117218136037379579..comments2023-06-20T11:45:11.879+01:00Comments on Kebab time: My WeaknessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120607605276079906.post-88140114244329500492012-05-11T11:36:12.020+01:002012-05-11T11:36:12.020+01:00A handy rule: never assume malice when simple inco...A handy rule: never assume malice when simple incompetence explains things. It's worked for me nine times out of ten, well I say nine - eight times out of ten perhaps....Andy Dwellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4120607605276079906.post-85948753798969064782012-05-11T06:27:19.859+01:002012-05-11T06:27:19.859+01:00The old Russian proverb "Trust but verify&quo...The old Russian proverb "Trust but verify" springs to mind, Billy. Unless someone is extremely touchy about the other person's scepticism (i.e. "Are you insinuating I would lie?"), most people, if you ask them what they will get out of a deal, or why they're coming to you with their business, will tell you some story or another, and you just have to apply a little common sense to judge whether their story is more likely true than not. The old joke about the woman trying on a dress and asking the sales lady "Do I look fat in this?" and the sales lady answering "Do I look naive enough to give you a straight answer?" most assuredly applies here! Don't be cynical-- be sceptical. The difference is that a cynic's mind is made up already-- people are going to mess with me, and it will take a lot of work to convince me otherwise-- whereas a sceptic says "Pardon me if I don't make up my mind just yet."<br /><br />Not sure if this applies, but I heard a good one you might like:<br />Optimist= the glass is half-full;<br />Pessimist= the glass is half empty;<br />Realist= Who gives a toss? I'm thirsty, give me that glass of beer!Some Geezer wot has no expectations, hence, can always be pleasantly surprisednoreply@blogger.com