Most people who write for newspapers quickly learn a basic lesson.

It's this: Not everyone read what you wrote.

Comes as a blow to some. But those capable of processing information quickly pick themselves up and move on.

A few reporters and columnists never quite grasp that reality, though. They repeatedly allude to their work in a way that clearly assumes the listener has read every golden word. This leads to a lot of blank expressions, disingenuous nodding and people saying "What?"

So here's my question.

What's the equivalent of that particular cluelessness in your field?

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