Many – if not most – of us are interested in the past and the present and the causes of events, including their (moral) accountability and/or responsibility. Even the people who are interested in future consequences, often cannot refrain from blaming others. Blaming others, however, seldom contributes to finding solutions. Why are few people interested in tomorrow’s solutions?
Thinking about future consequences takes time, which is usually a constraining factor for many. Often it’s also necessary to apply assumptions (my blogs) during our thinking. Assumptions are dangerous as they are “the mother of all mistakes” (my 2015 blog). Using the past as an assumption for extrapolating into the future makes sense as often “history repeats itself“.
Our vocabulary makes a difference between (historical) facts, opinions, and (future) predictions. In general, we do not believe in predictions. More and more, people do no longer believe in facts (eg, history, science). More and more, people only believe in their own opinions.
Hence, opinions are often stronger than facts (my 2016 blog). Essentially, predictions are opinions on future events. Nevertheless, predictions rank lowest in this hierarchy. The only predictions that we like, are horoscopes and weather predictions. We believe that the former is innocent gossip and we can always blame the weatherman.
The belief that our own opinion ranks higher, might be the best explanation for our (ferocious) use of the rearview mirror, like on social media. Internet trolls leverage on this belief by using social media “to provoke, inflame or defame others they rarely know offline or online” (source).
Another explanation for using our rearview mirror rather than looking forward, is our fear of the future. The future is uncertain and open to Change, and we generally dislike both. In this view, people who formulate opinions on the future (ie, predictions) should not be trusted.
Generally, people like to blame others (my 2015 blog) and also like to hold them accountable and responsible. It’s hard discussing the accountability and responsibility (my blogs) of future consequences if the future is still open to Change. It’s much easier blaming people for events that can no longer be changed as these events are part of history.
The odd thing, however, is that many of us try to control the present. We know that we cannot change – or control – the past. The present is however nothing more than today. Moreover, control is a consequence (output) rather than input. It takes a lot of effort to achieve some control.
Looking in the rearview mirror is a waste of time to me. Being right or wrong may seem important but it doesn’t change anything to the future consequences. Blaming someone for being wrong in the past, is a guarantee for blocking a future. Solutions are all that matter.
Perhaps, a rearview mirror is important to those who are not interested in solutions.
Rearviewmirror (1993) by Pearl Jam – artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
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