Why Do We Ignore Warnings?

The need for critical thinking in times of crisis.

Börneplatz Memorial Site, Frankfurt, Germany (Author photo)

“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” George Santayana

I have always been a student of history. The enjoyment I get from reading about the events of the past gives me a greater appreciation of how far humankind has come.

For me history is one great treasure hunt. Looking through the flotsam and jetsam for a golden nugget of knowledge that can better help me understand our world and potentially solve modern day problems is very gratifying. This may seem idealistic or pollyannaish to some but, I truly believe that Santayana was on to something and we should examine more closely.

As I read through the list of events of the past, I’ve noticed a pattern. I’ve noticed that many of these tragedies could have been potentially avoided if only people had listened to the warnings of others.

Here are some examples of what I’m talking about:

1. The Sinking of the Titanic — The ship’s captain ignored numerous warnings from other ships regarding heavy sea ice and icebergs in the North Atlantic. He decided not to reduce his speed and ultimately hit a massive iceberg. The combination of the captain’s hubris and the belief that the ship was unsinkable lead to one of the world’s greatest losses of life at sea.
2. World War II — In the early 1930s Sir Winston Churchill began writing about the increasing strength and threat of the German military and that Great Britain should expand its military accordingly. Churchill’s warnings were essentially ignored resulting in the destruction of vast parts of Europe and the deaths of millions of people.
3. Challenger Space Shuttle — An engineer by the name of Roger Boisjoly warned Morton-Thiokol and NASA management on a number of occasions that cold temperatures could potentially have a catastrophic effect on the O-ring seals, a vital component of the solid rocket booster. His warnings were ignored and on the morning of January 28th, 1986 the shuttle exploded in a giant fireball killing all astronauts on board.
4. Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme — A Certified Financial Analyst by the name of Harry Markopolous warned the US Securities and Exchange…