New site for practising thinking

I was becoming aware that work on my regular project was taking too long and that there is a need to address the gap of software for thinking rather more urgently. So I've just spent two weeks and two days on developing a website to get something happening.

It's far from perfect: The name "Functional Thinking" is only a working title - it seems in any case to be used previously.

I'm sure there are bugs that will become apparent through user testing.

I don't have any agreement with de Bono to use his tools so I refer people who want more than basic details to CortThinking.com. I am aware of Graeme Allan's excellent description of the CoRT tools at New Millenium Thinking but since he isn't charging money I assume that de Bono would prefer visitors to go to the other site.

Whether EdB likes the idea of his tools next to other peoples': I doubt it, but I really don't want to create an exclusive enclave that says "do it de Bono's way or nick off". After some practical experience with tools from different sources I imagine that people who otherwise would will start to appreciate the de Bono tools.

Give it a go...

http://www.practisethinking.com

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on July 19, 2011 at 0:16

I thought you suggested the money idea in a chat on the dBS - maybe I remembered wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Asa Jomard on July 19, 2011 at 9:57

Phil,
Your memory is as bad as mine;-) Just surprised that I might have come up with an idea involving money. I tend to be bad at those;-)

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Permalink Reply by Franis on July 20, 2011 at 12:13

A little brain research results always gives an interesting caveat of science.

People are such short-term end-gainers!! They want instant results, NOW!

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Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on July 20, 2011 at 21:42

I agree Luis that people (including me) often think when they should because they don't see the benefits because they haven't done the thinking yet.

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Permalink Reply by Danny Stevens on July 23, 2011 at 16:24

Hi Phil,

like the simplicity of the site. I just made a mistake on this simple site though. I answered the Diff/P question about PMI with my Diff/E answer dagnabbit, and there is no way to fix it. Would you mind moving to the proper place for me? Thanks.

So, some green hat thinking is needed for functions to allow distributed moderation of answers. I'll put the question on the site.

Oh, I just went and looked at the Green Hat "function":

Input Type: Evaluable

Description
An idea, proposal or suggestion.

Examples

Children should be paid to go to school.

All public libraries should be closed.

I don't think this is right. It seems to be telling me that green hat is for evaluating ideas rather than generating them.

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Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on July 24, 2011 at 2:57

Hi Danny,

I was aware of the anomoly - I left it there to see if anyone would notice.

I have changed it to have a dual input: Put on your Green Hat to generate ideas or to generate alternative ideas/perspectives related to an existing idea. It could easily require further improvement.

I have also moved your answer to the correct question.

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Permalink Reply by Danny Stevens on July 23, 2011 at 16:46

When listing questions how about listing the ones with fewest answers first? Do a PMI on this? Ok, I'll put it over there as a question.

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Permalink Reply by Asa Jomard on July 23, 2011 at 17:04

I am fond of random lists;-)
That makes it more interesting than simply seeing the most recent/ popular or least popular items. !

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Permalink Reply by Phil Bachmann on July 24, 2011 at 3:03

I have devised a system that you'll be given plenty of lists to choose from - and the ones that you use most will appear on your main menu.

The idea of someone seeking out unanswered questions to answer is legitimate as is wanting a random list. I can't deny either of you!

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Permalink Reply by Danny Stevens on July 24, 2011 at 13:13

Good man!

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Permalink Reply by Gijs van Beeck Calkoen on November 12, 2011 at 20:23

I would like to report about my use of the site.

Firstly I used it to train some basic thinking techniques, and gradually to discover and practice some new ones.
Then I tried the techniques on more remote and abstract problems.
Recently I began to use the site to force myself to think about an issue. The site serves as a thinking agenda. Once posted a question on the site, I feel obliged to do my homework in exchange of receiving contributions of other participants. Sometimes the question simmers in my mind for a week, before I dare to post my answer.