Raison d’être

A notation used in lateral thinking, is Po. This stands for provocative operation and is used to propose an idea, which may not necessarily be a solution, or a ‘good’ idea in itself, but moves thinking forward to a new place where new ideas may be produced. People in conversation could use the word “PO” to notify others that they are intentionally making a provocative comment that should be best applied using lateral thinking techniques.

The problem is that Tom won’t come to the mountain.

• Po: The mountain must come to Tom (the classic answer).
• Po: Use a video conference (an IT idea).
• Po: Use pidgeon post (an ornithology idea).
• Po: Use an intermediary.
• Po: Ask him what he wants in exchange for coming to the mountain (a deal).
• Po: See if he’ll accept a free timeshare slot in a holiday home (that just happens to be on the mountain).
• Po: Wait until he changes his mind (a taoist idea).
• Po: Cut your losses and tackle a different problem.
• Po: Coerce him.
• Po: Force him.
• Po: Ask Tom to go near the mountain if not to the mountain.
• Po: Lure, deceive or blackmail him.
• Po: “Make him an offer he can’t refuse”. Leave him no alternative.
• Po: Then let him go to it.
• Po: Was he asked (by the mountain) to?
• Po: Ask Jerry what to do?
• Po: The mountain has Spikes.
• Po: The road to the mountain is infested with dingos.
• Po: Perhaps he’s already there.
• Po: Tom is Plain.
• Po: Redefine ‘mountain’. (e.g., Make his geographical location the mountain.)
• Po: Redefine ‘Tom’. (e.g., He is the mountain.)
• Po: Redefine ‘Problem’.
• Po: Redefine ‘Won’t Come’.
• Po: Wait, watch then arouse Tom’s curiosity.
• Po: It is (not yet) the 6th day.
• Po: ‘They’ won’t let him to.
• Po: Why is it always Tom?
• Po: Tom drives away mountains.
• Po: Does Tom consider it a problem? Does the mountain?
• Po: Why is Tom’s lack of mountain-going a problem in the first place?
• Po: Are you Tom?
• Po: There’ll always be a Tom who does (and does not).
• Po: The problem is actually an Axiom (Alternative World).
• Po: The length of successive steps that Tom takes are such that he is always coming but never does actually come. E.g., L/2,L/4,L/8…, where L> or = the distance b/w Tom and the mountain.
• Po: Tom has Bipolar-Disorder (supposedly!) and wishes to join SOT more than virtually.
• Po: Problem will still persist even if we make efforts in changing won’t to will not.
• Po: Ask Tom why he won’t come to the mountain

Source: Wikipedia