WildChild

I often think about the choices people make, the choices I've made, often poor choices. In retrospect, actually in some cases even at the time, better options are clear but not taken. People will chose what is less convienient, less safe, less attractive, more difficult but which provides no offsetting gain at all.

I have a clear example of this with snow. The buildings I live in have two sets of outside stairs. One set stays very protected from the weather, these stairs are always clear and dry. The other set is very exposed, they get wet, icy, piled with snow and they are almost impossible to keep clear, let alone make safe. There is no significant difference getting out the front or to the parking area by using either set of stairs. I will go out to shovel snow soon, I've already peeked, people have been up and down the snow packed stairs. In the past I've put up caution tape closing off the stairs. People go under the tape to sue these stairs. WHY?

I don't know. One explaination is that they are idiots who have gotten into the habit of using one set of stairs and the idea of going another way just does not compute. Another possibility is that they are hoping to slip to and fall so they can sue. Why someone would want to injure themselves and possibly live with pain and disability for years is hard to say. Maybe they want a challenge? That's a pretty lame one but perhaps they like lame challenges? I don't know. But I suspect if I could get some insight into this I just might understand myself and others better.