Hey there ๐,
I ended up down quite the proverbial rabbit hole on Instagram and then Wikipedia this week learning about the Stoics (stay with me!).
๐ค Stoicism kicked off in 300 B.C. and is a school of philosophyโit shows how long humans have been wrestling with lifeโs fundamental challenges!
One key principle of Stoicism resonated: while we cannot control the events that occur around us, we can control how we react to them.
I had a moment of needing this kind of wisdom this week with an experience right in my own neighbourhood.
I go for the same walk almost every day, and thereโs a crossing where cars are supposed to give way to pedestrians and cyclists, yet they often donโt. ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ดโโ๏ธ
The reason? A “give way” sign is awkwardly placed across the street, making it nearly invisible. Spotting it is akin to playing a real-life game of “Where’s Wally?” (check out the photo and see if you can find it). ๐
That morning, when a driver didnโt stop for me, I felt a flash of anger. However, seeing the driverโs stressed and harried expression made me pause.
They werenโt ignoring the road rules on purpose; they simply hadnโt seen me. Itโs a classic case of Hanlon’s Razor: “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect, ignorance, or incompetence.” Or in this case, tiredness and stress. ๐
This encounter is a stark reminder of the importance of clear safety measures. How often do our safety designs fail to consider human limitations like fatigue, haste, stress, or disinterest?
What can we do to make safety signs and protocols stand out, ensuring they grab attention and are followed? ๐
If thereโs still a Covid-19 distance poster hanging around, it might be time for a refresh!
Libby & the SafetySocial team.ย
This Week’s Best of Instagram
Beating the Diva Allegations
๐ I might be spending too much time looking at safety content when I get sent an Instagram reel and all I see is a safety insight!
Check out this story from OK Go (they’re the ones with the amazing music videos) about Van Halen and the infamous M&M rider.
It’s such a neat example of thinking differently about safety and shows such a deep understanding of human nature!
[Apparently, some of the details of the story aren’t entirely accurate; namely, the M&M’s were brown…]
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