Bolt IV: Understand and Consent
Commentary
Teamwork requires communication.
Don't assume that someone else understands, get a clear assertion of understanding from them. If you do not understand, ask questions. Questions are ALWAYS appropriate. Even if you think the question is obvious or irrelevant, ask the question. Asking and answering questions well is a mark of expertise. Expertise requires practice. Ask questions, confirm understanding.
In a restaurant, it is convention to announce that you are moving with something dangerous around others (hot behind you, oven open, hot moving through). In live theater it is convention to respond to all notifications with the notified information (announcement: five minutes to places! response: thank you five minutes!), the response reinforces the understanding and the consent. Someone has the opportunity to question the assertion and multiple opportunities to clarify a misunderstanding (oh, FIVE minutes, I thought you said NINE). These practices are all for the purposes of clear communication of consent and understanding.
Understanding and consent are the backbone of community. Misunderstanding and ignoring consent are deeply corrosive to communities. We are all on the same team, playing the same game, and we all assume that unless someone says so: they understand and consent. There is a risk of condescension, pedantically requiring understanding and consent from everyone else.
Generally speaking, unless someone is new, assume that they understand if they don't ask clarifying questions, and assume that they consent if you get affirmation. Though it is always ok to confirm, have tact. On the other hand, if someone asks a clarifying question, you should assume some gaps in understanding and you should ensure that the questioner gets what they need. If the person you asked for help does not clearly assent, the default assumption is that they have not given consent (they aren't helping, they are doing something else).
New people may not feel confident enough to ask questions and/or decline to help, we must practice this for their benefit: you can always ask questions, and you can always decline (unless we are talking about Rules, those are mandatory). You don't have to help anyone if you don't want to, it doesn't matter how senior they are. Though be mindful that being ready to help is one of the Ten Bolts, we do expect it of each other generally.