Or a school of told?

Hi, I'd like to introduce myself. You can call me Mav.

It's a pleasure.

Sorry to cut the chit-chat so short, but I have a serious question.

I guess I can preface it a little bit... since we hardly know eachother and I want to make sure you really understand what I'm asking.

I come from a school of thought where thinking is a requirement.

Preferably, this thinking is independent.

Now, let me clarify that a tiny bit. Obviously, it takes some thought to assimilate an idea and apply it to unique situations. But, the idea itself was not independently arrived at and therefore the thinking is not independent.

I'll use an analogy that hopefully is painful enough a memory as to stick for most people.

I assume most people took geometry at some point in life.

And most people who took geometry hopefully remember doing proofs.

And, hopefully, if I mention "Side-Angle-Side" in reference to geometry proofs some people would say "aha!"

In geometry, SAS is a useful tool for proving two triangles congruent. You can hardly avoid it and manage a passing grade.

But, SAS is just a short cut. It has its own proof.

And it is the proof of SAS that requires original thought, not the use of the short-cut, however valid (and in this case there's even proof!)

So, do you come from the school of thought whose members understand why SAS works?

Or, do you just accept it because the teacher told your class that you could use it?

What if your teacher was confused and told you "Angle-Side-Side" instead?

Sorry, did I just call you an ASS?