Thinking about Completeness

We usually encounter bits and pieces of information and are left on our own to assemble "the big picture." If we do not consult a variety persons or sources of information, we will be limited to whatever we've heard, seen, personally concluded or imagined. Unless we are informed outright, we often don't know if we're not being told the complete story. Using the obvious case of fiction, a novel said to be "abridged" contains only a fraction of the complete story. While parts you missed might not be "important" to the plot, you're literally not getting the whole story. Omissions prevent us from considering all the facts: our understanding will be based on incomplete information. Outside of the world of fiction, such omissions can be dangerous. You must actively seek out the whole truth to the best of your ability.