Others Assume, I Presume

I just had a gander of the words assume and presume in my dictionary. There are a number of meanings for both words. The definition I knew for both was identical. The dictionary says they both mean: to take for granted; suppose.

Let me presume for a moment. I presume that the word presume existed first. Then sometime much later it was decided that homespun, humble, folk wisdom needed a new saying. Cleverly the folk wisdom folks let assume mean the exact same thing as presume for a few years before springing the new folk wisdom cliche on everyone.

Suddenly every guru and every self help book said don’t assume. You make an ASS out of U and ME. Such humble folk wisdom was then established and repeated everywhere to the point where I’m sick of it. It was viral before the term viral was viral.

I say “I presume” to get away from this horrid saying. Because supposing and taking for granted are what extrapolating and interpolating are. These are powerful math and science concepts. You’re entirely right if you say they are not always true. But to use these concepts is quick and a lot of times leads to good results.

So some people may say assume makes an ass out of u and me. But I’m a blogger and I am the PRES of U and ME. I’m sorry PRESS isn’t spelled right but we bloggers don’t always have editors.