Why are we surprised by “unintended consequences?”
What are we surprised by? What "consequences" are "unintended" for us?
Are we surprised that there are possible outcomes that we do not (or cannot) anticipate?
Do we set unrealistic expectations to begin with?
Do we not allow for other possibilities beyond the ones we "see" in our own minds?
Do we plan only for the happy path, discounting or ignoring potential risks we might encounter along the way?
Do we not account for bad luck?
Do we even know what we're doing?
Are we allowing our wants and strongly-held beliefs to distort reality?
Do we limit our thinking because of deeply held cognitive biases?
Do we believe the world works the way we want it to?
Do we believe that we can bend the world to our will?
De we think that what we believe is superior to what others believe?
Do we think that we are in a position to determine what is "right" and "wrong" for others?
Do we think that we are in a position to impose our determination of “right” and “wrong” on others?
Do we think that we are entitled to do so?
Do we think that it is our obligation to do so?
Do we think we can punish others for not doing what we expect of them?
Do we think we can punish others for saying things that we do not like?
Do we believe that we have been chosen to tell others what to think and say and do?
I'm of the mind that the further you can answer "yes" down this list, the most likely you are to experience consequences that you definitely did not intend.
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