Weather Forecasters
What if we were all weather forecasters? Talk about no accountability. We could speak incessantly, using lots of big words, pointing to charts and maps, employing all kinds of cool graphics and saying mostly nothing. We could take all types of useless information and come up with very vague conclusions, which would be accepted and not be questioned by anyone. What a life!
When weather forecasters don’t even come close to the actual predictions they make, they are right back there the next day, talking about the chances of rain, snow, hurricanes, tornadoes and the destruction of the earth’s ozone layer. No one holds their feet to the fire, reminding them that yesterday’s surprise six-foot blizzard was not even in the “partly cloudy” forecast.
Let’s apply that same acumen to our everyday lives. We could tell people that there is a 63 percent chance the world will end today. Or we could predict an 87 percent chance that they’ll get hit by a flying piano tomorrow. And here’s where the accountability issue factors in. We could speculate on virtually everything and seem to predict the future. Our jobs could even depend on it. And the beauty is that no one would actually care if we’re right, because being wrong is accepted behavior. Imagine, you’re never held to your word, and there are no consequences for completely missing the boat.
So all we have to do is qualify our comments by saying things like “chance of” or “possibility of,” and we’re home free. As long as we’re not very definitive about anything, all is well. Life would be grand, as we’d never have to be correct. You can be 100 percent wrong on everything, and you still get to keep your job, friends and family. What’s not to like?
Is this country great or what?
Tagged as: Predictions • Weather