This phrase is always a red flag. Sometimes it comes in the flavor of "I'm sure [so-and-so] won't have a problem with this", but however it is presented you, be careful of how you proceed.
Whenever I hear someone say, "I'm sure it will be fine", I hear:
"I'm sure it will be fine" is by far one of the more dangerous phrases to use in conversation, because it either means someone doesn't know what they're doing, or they know what they're doing well-enough to know that what they're doing is wrong but not well-enough to care that it's wrong.
In the last few days, a director has used this line on me to assure me that the facility manager (my boss -- with myself being the next highest tech guy on the food chain) won't mind us stripping the cyc from it's line set (something I know for a fact the facility manager does mind anyone doing), and it's also been used by a costume designer assuring me that they do not need to consult AHJ regarding a fire curtain obstruction because they're sure the fire marshal won't mind. Yes. the costume designer is giving me "her professional opinion" on fire protection and life safety.
That is -- they're certain enough it won't be a problem, but clearly uncertain enough that they fear if the fire marshal inspects they will be told to clear the obstruction.
They're also certain enough that it won't be a problem to strip the cyc and fold it up and throw it into a corner for a few weeks, but clearly uncertain enough that they didn't want to wait to consult the facility manager before proceeding for fear they'd be told "No."
When someone comes to me with the phrase, "I'm sure [so-and-so] won't have a problem with this," what I understand them to mean is:
This phrase is used often again and again by the same people to rationalize a violation of policies and procedures by undermining people with the proper authority and expertise on a matter.
Watch out very carefully for it and call it out by name when you see it because allowing people to toy with your authority by using that phrase sets a precedence that they'll always be able to do what they want in your territory so long as they're good at apologizing afterwards and claiming that they didn't think it would be a problem.
Sometimes, it won't actually be a problem, but every policy in the rulebook can be thrown to the wind if someone thinks they can use the phrase, "...but in my case, I can't imagine it would be a problem."
The reason they cannot imagine why it would be a problem to use lots of glitter in a show despite the policy against is that they have never before witnessed the mess caused by glitter, nor have they had to pay the bill for cleaning it up afterwards.
The reason they cannot imagine why it would be a problem to use duct tape on your cables and masking tape on your mixers even though they use it all of the time for their band is because they care about their equipment less than you do.
The reason they cannot imagine why it would be a problem to block that fire exit is because they think a fire could never possibly happen to them, as if fire discriminates based on how good of a person you are.
The only thing fire bases its discrimination on is how flammable you are, and last time I checked, I'm as flammable as the next guy.
The great thing about science is that it's always true whether you agree with it or not.
Someone walking up to you and saying "I don't think _____ will be a problem" is someone who's effectively saying to you that they do not agree with or care about the science, they just know what they want and don't believe there will be measurable consequences to their actions-- someone like that is dangerous to you, dangerous to your facility, and dangerous to your audience.
You will always be as flammable as the next guy unless you don flame-retardant clothing. Crossing your fingers because someone says they don't think something will a problem does not change that fact.
Whenever I hear someone say, "I'm sure it will be fine", I hear:
I refuse to consult people who know better than myself because in doing so, I can do what I want and maintain plausible deniability that I never suspected there would be a problem in the first place.
If/when I get caught red-handed, I can then always fall back on, "I didn't know this was going to be a problem. Sorry."
"I'm sure it will be fine" is by far one of the more dangerous phrases to use in conversation, because it either means someone doesn't know what they're doing, or they know what they're doing well-enough to know that what they're doing is wrong but not well-enough to care that it's wrong.
In the last few days, a director has used this line on me to assure me that the facility manager (my boss -- with myself being the next highest tech guy on the food chain) won't mind us stripping the cyc from it's line set (something I know for a fact the facility manager does mind anyone doing), and it's also been used by a costume designer assuring me that they do not need to consult AHJ regarding a fire curtain obstruction because they're sure the fire marshal won't mind. Yes. the costume designer is giving me "her professional opinion" on fire protection and life safety.
That is -- they're certain enough it won't be a problem, but clearly uncertain enough that they fear if the fire marshal inspects they will be told to clear the obstruction.
They're also certain enough that it won't be a problem to strip the cyc and fold it up and throw it into a corner for a few weeks, but clearly uncertain enough that they didn't want to wait to consult the facility manager before proceeding for fear they'd be told "No."
When someone comes to me with the phrase, "I'm sure [so-and-so] won't have a problem with this," what I understand them to mean is:
I consider my judgement superior to theirs and I want what I want and am going to get it regardless of whatever silly consequences anyone else tells me there may be as a result of my actions.
This phrase is used often again and again by the same people to rationalize a violation of policies and procedures by undermining people with the proper authority and expertise on a matter.
Watch out very carefully for it and call it out by name when you see it because allowing people to toy with your authority by using that phrase sets a precedence that they'll always be able to do what they want in your territory so long as they're good at apologizing afterwards and claiming that they didn't think it would be a problem.
Sometimes, it won't actually be a problem, but every policy in the rulebook can be thrown to the wind if someone thinks they can use the phrase, "...but in my case, I can't imagine it would be a problem."
The reason they cannot imagine why it would be a problem to use lots of glitter in a show despite the policy against is that they have never before witnessed the mess caused by glitter, nor have they had to pay the bill for cleaning it up afterwards.
The reason they cannot imagine why it would be a problem to use duct tape on your cables and masking tape on your mixers even though they use it all of the time for their band is because they care about their equipment less than you do.
The reason they cannot imagine why it would be a problem to block that fire exit is because they think a fire could never possibly happen to them, as if fire discriminates based on how good of a person you are.
The only thing fire bases its discrimination on is how flammable you are, and last time I checked, I'm as flammable as the next guy.
The great thing about science is that it's always true whether you agree with it or not.
Someone walking up to you and saying "I don't think _____ will be a problem" is someone who's effectively saying to you that they do not agree with or care about the science, they just know what they want and don't believe there will be measurable consequences to their actions-- someone like that is dangerous to you, dangerous to your facility, and dangerous to your audience.
You will always be as flammable as the next guy unless you don flame-retardant clothing. Crossing your fingers because someone says they don't think something will a problem does not change that fact.