# 118: Unintended consequences
One of my favorite laws is the Law of Unintended Consequences. It’s not really a law, but a warning that almost all human actions have unexpected results. Each cause can have more than one effect, and will include unforeseen outcomes.
Here is my favorite example of the law in action: In 1994 a disc jockey at a Dallas radio station tried to encourage reading. He told listeners that he had hidden up to ten thousand dollars in the books of a local library.
The unintended outcome? The library ended up with a heap of trash. More than 800 people tore through the public library, ripping the covers off books, then throwing them on the floor when they failed to find money.
Can you prevent unintended consequences? Probably not, but you can minimize the number and their impact. One way of doing so is to discuss your ideas with colleagues, and heeding their feedback, before you implement anything.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com
Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
Here is my favorite example of the law in action: In 1994 a disc jockey at a Dallas radio station tried to encourage reading. He told listeners that he had hidden up to ten thousand dollars in the books of a local library.
The unintended outcome? The library ended up with a heap of trash. More than 800 people tore through the public library, ripping the covers off books, then throwing them on the floor when they failed to find money.
Can you prevent unintended consequences? Probably not, but you can minimize the number and their impact. One way of doing so is to discuss your ideas with colleagues, and heeding their feedback, before you implement anything.
I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com
Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh
James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am
posted by James Henry McIntosh at
8:20 AM
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