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QaR
January 2008 
Obviously
Posted on Nov 7th, 2007
by 
Dawn
Dawn
"Nothing is so obvious that it’s obvious. When someone says that something is obvious, it seems almost certain that it is anything but obvious – even to them. The use of the word “obvious” indicates the absence of a logical argument – an attempt to convince the reader by asserting the truth of something by saying it a little louder." --Errol Morris
Access: Public
It can be such a hurtful word, can't it? What brought this quote to mind?
To me, something that may actually become obvious is only obvious because the person has spent time, energy, and pain to gain that perspective. But most people I know who have spent their time, etc. to see/understand something don't call it obvious, but rather call it clear (i.e. when I think of you and your ability to work with raw data and transform it into something viable)
I read the quote in a recent blog entry of Errol Morris. It reminds me of something I often do myself. I think that when I do it, it comes from laziness or an impatient desire for people to just accept my premise, rather than to have to think it out or explain it. So, I put it in my blog to help me remember it.
I like your word “clear”–it represents the end result of ALOT of thinking, to me.