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A box is limited only by the size of the walls you give it
01/03/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
An ability Uncle Geoff takes for granted, is being able to look at things from different perspectives and viewpoints or what is commonly called thinking outside of the box, or really outside his own personal mindset. A useful asset for any science fiction editor or writer. A box is limited only by the size of the walls you give it.
or
Thinking out of your box sees the bigger picture.
Hello everyone
An ability I take for granted is being able to look at things from different perspectives and viewpoints or what is commonly called thinking outside of the box or really outside my own personal mindset. A useful asset for any editor or writer. To limit yourself to only one perspective in any profession should be seen as self-limiting or too single-minded to the views of others, especially in today's world.
It doesn't necessary follow that you will agree with alternative viewpoints but deeper understanding also tends to bring better counter-arguments and even a change of mind if your own argument is flawed and you're open-minded enough to consider the possibilities. If nothing else, it does allow for seeing the bigger picture and look at all options. If everyone does it then although it might not stop people having different opinions it might be easier to draw compromises for the greater good.
As some of you might have found, my logic for covering arguments tends to be far more effective because of it. I use the mantra of: If I can't defend my argument adequately and rationally, then it deserves to be changed. Not necessarily to your way of thinking but it is taking into account in any secondary assessment in case I missed anything. I'm really only doing my job correctly when I write articles or editorials by looking at the arguments that you're likely to raise first then I have more time to come up with the answers which might also alter some of my own thinking and reduce emotional bias.
When it's applied to stories and characters changing their minds in stories, the logic can be used for all sides as they reach an overall conclusion. You can't do that unless you can think outside of your own personal box and see other viewpoints let alone distinguishing fact from fiction with a balance of that grey area called 'common sense'. The best bonus is that it allows a better balance and authority in your own informed opinion, especially when the research is done, which is more thoughtful than an entirely emotional response.
This ability has to be stretched when not only understanding a differing motive point of view but totally different mindsets where different factors have to be taken into account. Writing about aliens, there is always a need to home in on motivational levels that can relate to the standard western mindset as that tends to be where our readership lies. After all, things such a greed, self-preservation, pride, jealousy, love and hate are things we all can see as being pretty much universal although to what degree is the level of difference in any mindset. It is something that can be related to. However, I've discovered this past month that even on this planet, there are radical differences even across the globe and my learning curve of thinking out of my box is growing once again.
The first came from a British BBC TV programme called 'Alternative Medicine' illustrating the difference between western and Chinese mindsets. This side of the ocean, we tend towards curing one illness whereas the Chinese treat the entire body with the intention of looking for other problems along the way. They've also taken to combining old techniques like acupuncture with modern operations. Although we've embraced acupuncture without fully understanding why it works to some extent over here, watching the doctor in the programme was like watching an impasse in understanding, especially when acupuncture and not general anaesthetic was being used with open heart surgery.
The second came from the violent after-math when an image of Mohammed was used in a small Finnish newspaper cartoon which then appeared in other countries' national papers which resulted in a massively insulted world-wide Muslim community taking to the streets. The western mindset had obviously not realised that Muslims don't have images of Mohammed on display and to do so as an affront, especially by the infidels. They need to see an image of their founder because he is the servant of God can mostly be put down to thinking like we do and not seeing from their community's perspective. It's not difficult to see the anger if not thinking it through became more extreme in response.
The western mindset is not beyond putting anything, including any members of its religion, under a bad light as it tries to make a point. The assumption was made that the same would be accepted across the board that this would be true for everyone than, I suspect, a direct slur on Muslim religion and values itself. The target was so-called Muslims who committed terrorists in their God's name when the rest of their community said there was nothing in the Koran to justify such actions certainly scattershotted across the world. Considering how the press go to town on things they know will stir populations like the brutalities of war and the effects of catastrophe on their readership this was somehow neglected in the thinking.
I doubt if that particular lesson will be forgotten in a hurry but it does illustrate the differing mindsets we have in our shrinking world, the speed of communication and how little we know when something is taken differently to what is expected. Had anyone thought outside of their own particular box of mindset then this is one emotional tinderbox that wouldn't have been ignited by choice. The only way to do that is work outside of our own mindset boxes and hope that the effort will be reciprocated from the other side.
In many respects, mankind is still in its infancy when it comes to being adult about a lot of things. We can be quick to anger emotionally than put some thought behind why we are angry and how far we should go in expressing it regardless of which ever country we live in. For some, it is rather easy to be lax over such attitudes providing you aren't personally involved or in the middle of such dilemmas. It's always seen as somebody else's problem and glib statements or paragraphs as often seen in newspaper letters pages tend to show the correspondent hasn't seen the wider picture...or is that just me? We have to show some responsibility for us all if the innocent are to be protected.
To be fair to all though is an uneasy balancing act which being politically correct is making for blandness than better rationale or argument. Tolerance has to work both ways and in whichever country you live. If you go through life afraid that you might antagonise someone then we face becoming a static society which is also wrong. The world is ever shrinking and respect has to come from all sides not just from one. As long as any side can't face the other's arguments then there will always be a dangerous middle-ground lacking compromise. This doesn't mean that things cannot be done but it would prevent people walking down the path of terrorism seeing it as their only option. Of course, it would help if members of the reactionary side saw this as well but that might be a long time coming as long as we don't understand their mindset or them ours as well as we should. Without this, it will always be a powder keg waiting to be ignited.
Thinking outside of your mindset box needs commitment from all if it is to succeed. It's going to take longer for a group steeped heavily in their own religion than ourselves to see the only people they are hurting is themselves. What distinguishes the western mindset is a desire for rapid change and growth whereas the Middle East doesn't want to see its values change let alone question them which is paradoxically at odds with what they use from the west. It certainly is going to need more openness to prevent us walking in on things with both feet sinking in the sand.
If we can't rise above the petty, respect others as long as they can show the same for us, forgive mistakes before they get too bad and escalate into disaster, then we might have something to show when the first alien ambassador comes a-knocking at our door. However, at this time, we do not appear to be making the first step towards being tolerant and understanding from all sides and that's a dangerous route to take. We learn by demonstrating that we can rise above other people's intolerances but we also need to understand what affects their boxes as well before we have any hope of widening them to accept ours.
A difficult business, huh? Let's hope I haven't stepped on any toes myself here. Editorials of this nature are always tricky to cover all bases sufficiently. SF readers generally do tend to be a little more open-minded but I wonder how many of you from across the world have considered other mindsets are not like your own? After all, the main template for any comparison is always your own mindset first with evaluation based on how far other people's mindsets vary from your own.
From a Science Fiction perspective, the cardinal rule has always been when the aliens arrive then the nations of the world will be in accord to how we treat them. Whether this is in peace or war depends entirely on the author. Some writers have rarely shown the reaction when they haven't but it still applies the western mindset, largely cos that is where the readership is. I doubt if anyone outside of the Muslim world is going to ponder deeply on the ramifications should an alien ambassador arrive on their doorstep but it would be a scary moment should the aliens themselves share their views on the world rather than our own. It would be arrogant to assume we were always in the right. Hopefully, they might be more mature and open-minded but it would be hazardous if they were not. A need to understand everyone else's boxes can not only widen our attitudes but that of others as well.
Thank you, take care, good night and think safe.
Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.co.uk
(Less Serious) Thought For The Month # 1: I'm very respectful of books. When I pull them, I take them on a date and end up in bed with them.
(Less Serious) Thought For The Month # 2: The new american 'Invasion' series would be sorted out a lot quicker if they brought in that nice Sheriff Lucas Buck in from Fulton County to give a helping hand.
Scandal Sheet: Have you noticed in media interviews how the interviewees say how much they admire so-and-so for being a human being? Ever got the feeling that Hollywood might actually be over-run by aliens?!!
A real Zen thought for everyone: Reality is based on absolute numbers so why does mathematics go into fractions?
PS If you've survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything before giving a review. You want the bottom line about what you're going to choose to read. We roadtest books so you have some idea of what you're letting yourself in for. That means actually reading the product and telling others what you think. For that, we're always on the outlook for more reviewers. Do you think you have what it takes to review a book? It's a skill that can be easily mastered and we need a few more.
Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively about the good and bad points about the books you read. We even let you choose from our pile of received books rather than foster something on you that you wouldn't read normally. You'll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy and that can always lead to other things. I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn't I? If you like reading books in the genre, can really think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled mostly prohibits elsewhere), then use the link below and see our requirements. We can't pay you but a review for the price and regular supply of books, this has to be a good incentive. We have one of the most popular and biggest SF review columns on the Net. Do you think you're up to writing a review? If you think you can, then you're really going to think you've landed your hands in the biscuit tin. It won't hurt to try and see if you have the right stuff. Look up the Review Guidelines:
PPS: For those keeping track, I'm still about 24 months (March 2004) behind. With going through the ebook samples, I have removed some who've gotten published elsewhere. Thank you for your patience but let me know if you've sold elsewhere so I can reduce my pile or if you've changed address, especially e-mail address. I can't give you my comments unless either is up to date. Currently, doing spot-checks to see if you're still there when I reach your sample in the pile is making it easier on my time and catching up on the slush pile. This isn't much of a repeat, just to show you're not forgotten.
Those sending in ebook samples, be prepared for a long wait and read the Guidelines elsewhere on this website. They are there to help you do some of the right things and reduce the number of times I'm repeating myself over silly grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that you shouldn't be making. It makes editing a lot easier if any editor has less work pointing out poor English which should have been sorted out in the first place and more focused on other areas of your work. As a writer, it is your command of the English language and its grammar that will show how serious you are about writing.
General advice: There's an old editorial adage, if you can't aim for perfection why should an editor nurse-maid you to that state? If you're a writer, then you should understand the words, sentences and grammar of the job you're supposed to be writing or are you considering it as mundane and boring as any other job to get right? Fall in love with making every sentence the best you're ever written, read up and understand the rules of grammar. Put the time in researching any subject you're using in the story. Be prepared to put a story away for a few weeks and go back to it for a self-edit. A lot of the time, errors will just stare you in the face when you didn't see them the first time round. Once you know where your weaknesses are, they can be sorted and allow you to move a little higher up the ladder towards making your material look its best. Look up the Common Problems Link:
Please don't confuse the above link with my short story slush pile which is kinda low at the moment. We're always willing to give short story writers a chance to be seen if they can withstand my scrutiny even if we can't pay for their efforts, your material will be seen by a lot of people. If you can get a short story written well then it'll make it easier to move up to novel length. Look up the Short Stories Link:
Don't forget also, we've got a teaching ground of one page stories, so check out the rules elsewhere on the website. Flash fiction stories link:
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