thinking outside the box
Posted by Robin on September 26, 2002 at
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.)
- Archived discussion & diagram R. Berg 09/26/02