Archived discussion & diagram

Posted by R. Berg on September 26, 2002

In Reply to: Re: thinking outside the box posted by Robin on September 26, 2002

: In Reply to: Out of the Box posted by Ned Ramano on December 26, 2000

: : Maybe I missed it in the archives, but I could not find an explanation for the phrase "Out of the box"? Was it created by a cruel busness person or is there a better explanation?

: : Thanks, Ned

: There a fairly new business cliche in the U.S. -- "thinking outside the box," meaning thinking beyond usual ways of doing things. I'm sure someone else will have more details. All I know is the phrase comes up at every business meeting/seminar I've attended in the past couple of years.

: "thinking outside the box" also refers to following
: a path of logic other than the commonly accepted
: one; i.e. a refuted theorum or mathematical given,

:
: "out of the box" has three meanings:

: 1. A brand new, unused item,
: 2. a race that has begun,
: 3. a release from severe confinement.
: (box = solitary.)

A n archive search using "outside" produced a previous discussion involving an old nine-dot puzzle that tests creativity: http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/7/messages/354.html (or use link below).

• Outside the box