When In Doubt, Do Nothing. Sound Advice Or Not?

[Lee]

Tolstoy quote, he actually said "when in doubt my dear fellow, do nothing."

We are seniors here and I would hope that most of us have learned not to jump into risk.

On the other hand with risk comes reward.

Which is the better advice?

 

[katlupe]

Not sure which is better advice. For myself though, I do not jump into risk. I take my time and think or research before doing anything. Maybe taking that extra time caused me to lose an opportunity. Doing things in the past without caution has caused me more regret than not.

 

[Mr. Ed]

If I were a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, do (1) scamper to safety or (2) wait and determine my life at risk based on the acknowledgement of the vehicle may hit me?

I thrive on taking risks, providing the risk are not something really stupid.

 

[Lawrence]

I give advice to smart people if they ask for advice. I do not give advice to stupid people because I have learned through the school of hard knocks that you can't fix stupid.

 

[raybar]

Whether "if in doubt, do nothing" is good advise depends on the situation.

For example, if you came to a fork in the road, and didn't know which way to go, would you do nothing - just sit there until you starved to death - or would you go one way or the other and see where it went?

For example, if there is some serious danger, and you are not sure whether to run or hide or fight, would you just stand there waiting for the danger to kill you, or would you do something - anything - to try to stay alive?

 

[Fyrefox]

I like the way that the medical profession qualifies this by saying, “Do no harm.” In other words, endeavor by any actions you take not to make matters worse…

 

[Ruthanne]

I love his advice. I have used it very often.

 

[RFW]

It's a good advice when you are stationary. I've seen way too many people plow through impact attenuators when they can't decide whether they want to stay on the highway or exit (yes, I'm speaking literally).

Fun fact: Those yellow barrels are filled with sand, not water as Hollywood wants you to believe.

 

[hollydolly]

Except in the example above where if I do nothing I'll starve to death... then I've always taken the risk.. ALWAYS... but this last little while I've started to play it a little safer.. it suits me now to play the long game... frustrating, but better for me...

 

[feywon]

Depends greatly on the situation. In many situations if you 'do nothing' life or other people make a choice for you. Examples:

Not voting
Taking too long to mull over a job offer, or whether to pursue a personal relationship with someone. Timing matters.
Evacuating ahead of impending natural disasters in timely manner.
Putting out a small fire, actual or metaphorical, before it gets to big to extinguish.

I don't take foolish risks that serve no good purpose as i did in my youth, but 'doing nothing' not really in my nature. Even when i meditate i am 'doing something', despite what a casual observer might think.

 

[Jeni]

The "when in doubt my dear fellow, do nothing."................ does not seem to be good advice in many situations...

Risk is where opportunities and adventure lives.....
I have watched so many friends and family ...with the do nothing / sit on the fence types really flounder.

I wish i had taken more risk in my youth had more glimpses of the road not taken.

 

[timoc]

When In Doubt, Do Nothing. Sound Advice Or Not?​

I once had a dream that I was hacking my way through a jungle with Dr Livingstone.
We parted some branches and there in front of us were half a dozen male silverback gorillas.
"Don't panic", said Dr Livee, "Pretend that you are a tree."
I did as he said, then the biggest silverback came over, I froze and then he pee'd on me.
We got away from there smartish I can tell you, but I couldent help noticing how, when we passed the female silverbacks, they were blowing kisses and flashing their eyes at me.

 

[Don M.]

This falls in line with the saying "Haste makes Waste". "Snap" decisions often have negative results, but if a person can take the time to think of the possible "options", they can usually make the correct decision.

 

[feywon]

This falls in line with the saying "Haste makes Waste". "Snap" decisions often have negative results, but if a person can take the time to think of the possible "options", they can usually make the correct decision.

But what may appear as a snap decision to an observer may actually be something the person has given much thought to, and develped habits that allow quick decisions that will keep them safer in bad situations. This is particularly relevant to driving, but could be true of how one deals with various risky situations

 

[RadishRose]

I'm not sure......

 

[MMinSoCal]

I like the way that the medical profession qualifies this by saying, “Do no harm.” In other words, endeavor by any actions you take not to make matters worse…

In medicine, there is what's called the watch-and wait-approach. Watch and wait involves closely monitoring a patient's condition without giving any treatment until symptoms appear or change. Also in medicine, pharmaceuticals in particular, "Do the benefits outweigh the risk?" is used to determine if a drug is ok to be administered in Category C (pregnant, breastfeeding, etc.) situations.

 

[Knight]

Tolstoy quote, he actually said "when in doubt my dear fellow, do nothing."

Doubt is experience telling a person not to take a risk

We are seniors here and I would hope that most of us have learned not to jump into risk.

On the other hand with risk comes reward.

Not always, but as the years pass the failures experienced in taking a risk build sound reasoning for Tolstoy's advice

 

[Gaer]

Not making a decision IS A DECISION!
My whole life, my thought was : if I can't decide, do nothing! You know what? It got me nowhere!

 

[Jan14]

If my doubt is greater than the benefits of making that decision, defiantly I hold fast.

 

[Don M.]

But what may appear as a snap decision to an observer may actually be something the person has given much thought to. This is particularly relevant to driving, but could be true of how one deals with various risky situations

For sure...Especially Driving. When behind the wheel, a person Must stay concentrated on the traffic and road conditions, etc. When I'm driving, I constantly focus on oncoming and surrounding traffic, and try to think of what I would do if another vehicle suddenly swerved into my path, and be ready to make a "snap" decision to avoid them.

A driver who isn't focused on driving, and is playing with their cell phone, etc., is a serious hazard to everyone around them.

 

[Lakeland living]

Whether "if in doubt, do nothing" is good advise depends on the situation.

For example, if you came to a fork in the road, and didn't know which way to go, would you do nothing - just sit there until you starved to death - or would you go one way or the other and see where it went?

For example, if there is some serious danger, and you are not sure whether to run or hide or fight, would you just stand there waiting for the danger to kill you, or would you do something - anything - to try to stay alive?

Common Sense, is what is missing...very rare up this way at times

 

[chic]

I think waiting, when you can, is sound advice. If you're in imminent danger then DO something. The situation is important in regards to this question. Nothing is black and white or simple.