Re: is thinking outside the "box" a good trait?
^ I agree. OP could have done a better job of framing the question. Here is another attempt ( with trembling fingers holding the stylus)
Do you always follow the herd? Yes or no question
If yes why?
If no why not?
Independent of above,
Do you think outside the box?
If yes why?
If no why not?
Or just interpret the original post and flow with it.
Brother Psyah, kyon kaali peeli itna lafda?(Jk)
Do I always follow the herd? - No
Reason: Firstly there are different types of herds ... the ones that require my allegiance I will follow, but I will question as well. If a response to the question comes out to be acceptable I will follow with caution and assess the progress of the act and be ready to pull out any time I see that the response is not being fulfilled. This way I follow but keep my wits about me and follow without inhibition if I understand and accept the response - but will follow with inhibition if the response is less than satisfactory and/or I do not understand it ... When the fruits of experience prove it true then next time I have less inhibition and less until it becomes second nature.
Other herds that do not require my allegiance I will not follow them and I may support them if the moment needs that to be the case, but I will not follow herds through emotional pressures - I do not like lynch mobs and will never herd in that direction - I consider such acts as a blatant surrendering of our human faculty of reason and makes us like animals.
Do I think outside the box?
Not often - but yes I have the ability to think outside the box ...
The case described above is not thinking outside the box at all ... The box is clear to see ... going against the grain is not necessarily thinking outside the box ... This explanation may be "out of the box" however ...
**The way I want to operate is be the first to peel away from bad herds and be the first join good ones ... Avoid travelling alone without a herd as much as possible, because strength is in numbers.
Just like day trading cut your losses and sell after clear downward indicators and don't buy until a downward turn starts to move back up.
**It may result in lower returns but it mitigates the risk of potentially fatal losses