Oscar Wilde once said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
And so accident reports eventually settle at giving people a meaning that appeals to them and maintaining social and political order.
In walking the delicate balance between truth and fantasy, some tend to do a better job than others.
Here’s a framework to capture the different stages of a traditional accident report. As I sketched it, so many more thoughts came to mind.
But the most important one that I would like to share is that once we commit to a version of truth it is very hard to turn back. It then becomes our reality.
In much better words, Mary Douglas, the social anthropologist says, ‘Once words have been framed, the thought is changed and limited by the very words selected.’
Be aware and critical as you review accident news, social media posts, initial reports and final recommendations. Watch your reactions, take stock of your emotions and ask yourself, why does a certain narrative appeal to me more than others? Do not fall for conspiracies and fantasies.
It’s so easy to judge, but it takes a lot to understand.
