Replace the Box Contest - Survey

"We are more ready to try the untried
when what we do is inconsequential.
Hence the remarkable fact that
many inventions had their birth as toys."
    -- Eric Hoffer

"Think outside the box" became a cliche because it was a great way to call for creativity ... urging people to breakthrough the pre-conceived notions and outdated rules that were limiting their thinking. It encouraged them to challenge their assumptions.

Somewhere along the line, however, it lost its punch and became a meaningless exhortation to be wild and crazy and ignore all the rules. We asked people to suggest replacements for this cliche and now it's time to vote for the suggestions that have the power to replace this cliche.

Please go to this very quick survey and tell us what you think.
http://surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=17959827411

Be sure to suggest any new possibilities that come to mind ... We'll announce the results next week.

Comments

[John Tunney]

I like the reply: "What thinking and which box are you referring to?"

[James Barnes]

Just for fun: "Boxing Day" could be our answer: Celebrate all the out-of-the-box thinking AND in-the-box thinking on a new US holiday on the day after Christmes (like the Brits, and they don't really know why they do it, there are lots of correct answers!) "Think about others" "Be otherish" and do something nice for someone you do not know on Boxing Day and every day.

I have no argument with the expression "Think outside of the box." I feel that it is what it is and perhaps it helps some people to think about their thinking. Joyce, I understand why you might be tired of it. How about adding: "think about the box" AND also "think about your thinking".

[mr. sun]

Here you go:

http://mrsun.us/2005/01/cliche-hunter.html

Think outside the box -- you're still tethered to the box. Think up a new catchphrase, doomed to become just as stale, and you've just put yourself back into the box by undue preoccupation with boxes.

It's like saying "don't think about a pink elephant." Your mind immediately goes to the pink elephant, defeating the purpose. Thinking and boxes remain, albeit the box is now pink and elephant shaped.

In fact, the exercise itself is more an iterative fractal thinking loop. More like repainting the box than getting rid of over simplistic mental sedatives these phrases have become.

[/pd]

LEts break the box !!

The box is the problem - not the thinking !!!!