Successfully Denying Reality

Denying reality is an all too common human failing. Why do people continue to do it? Because it often works.

When I see various forms of I.T. madness occurring in a big company I often wonder: "How can this continue? It's costing them so much." The examples seem endless. Using a product beset with issues and offering dubious value just because a big name vendor sells it. The inability to set up an email account in less than two weeks. The manager who won't accept a realistic estimate and pushes for a quick finish so that everybody cuts corners, and the resulting mess takes four times longer to clean up.

So why does it continue? Sadly, because it's successful. Often the people most at fault are those who are able to shift blame to others, escape oversight and make endless promises of imminent future improvements. The company shareholders are paying the price, not the individuals concerned.

Again this is an aspect of human nature not restricted to I.T.; we see it frequently in politics. And it crops up in personal life. We put off that trip to the dentist or eat that extra helping of dessert. Nitpick the evidence for Global Warming. Claim that some disastrous policy is actually working. With no consequences for a long time.

Perhaps the clearest example of all is religion. Believing in a god doesn't seem to be that much of a practical handicap. Billions do it and lead what seems like a fulfilling life despite their break from reality. Their reward in the next life will be denied, but that cannot be discovered until it is too late. Don't expect religion to go away anytime soon, no matter how devoid of facts it is.

So we should expect that denying reality will be a big part of human nature forever. The costs will mount, but they will so often be disconnected from the time or people involved that the causes can be plausibly denied.

In I.T. we will just have to concentrate on minimizing the damage and doing the best we can. Maybe in real life, too.