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"It is easier to tone down a wild idea than to think up a new one." -- Alex Osborne Alex F. Osborne is considered the "Father of the Brainstorm". Brainstorming is a process that encourages creative thinking and problem solving by allowing the brain to come up with all ideas, no matter how strange, weird, far fetched or impossible they may seem. All ideas are considered valid. Often times it is those very "far out" ideas that prove to have the most potential. " Brainstorm means using the brain to storm a creative problem and to do so "in commando fashion", each stormer audaciously attacking the same objective." -- Alex Osborne While brainstorming a solution to a problem any and all ideas are written down but not discussed until no one has any more ideas for solving the problem. RULES FOR BRAINSTORMING No criticizing any idea. Be positive The more ideas the better. You want a lot of ideas. The more ideas you have the more likely you will have one or two that will work. The wilder the ideas, the better. Offbeat, impractical suggestions may trigger in other members practical solutions which might not otherwise occur to them.* Encourage brainstormers to combine ideas, add onto or improve ideas already on the table. Analyze, discuss and evaluate ideas only after the brainstorming period is over. Do not devalue anyone or their ideas. Brainstorming works very well when combined with "Steps to Creative Problem Solving.