Assumptions

"Over the years I have found that it is difficult if not impossible to bring to consciousness of another person the nature of his tacit assumptions when, by some special experiences, I have been made aware of them. This became painfully evident to me in my attempts during the 1950s to convince geneticists that the action of genes had to be and was controlled. It is now equally painful to recognize the fixity of assumptions that many persons hold on the nature of controlling elements in maize and the manners of their operation. One must await the right time for conceptual change." - Barbara McClintock

I run into this problem frequently in discussing issues. As I was telling my husband, it is difficult to discuss black holes if your discussion partner's assumption is that the earth is flat. In that case, there is so much ground to cover before you can get to black holes that it seems better to keep quiet and walk away.