Ignoring How the World Works
I attended college in Worcester, Massachusetts. Like all (old) large towns, it began with a big industry. For some cities, it was cotton; for others, it was oil; and still others, it was cars. For Worcester, it was steel. Unfortunately, the American steel industry experienced a significant downturn in the early 70s, and Worcester was no exception. Out of the ashes, a new industry emerged for the plucky town. They became a powerful university town with many prestigious colleges and businesses to support the thousands of students who invaded their city during the school year migration. How did the students get there?
Worcester’s entry into the world of aviation began in 1925, and today, they have around 55 commercial flights per day. And this is no tiny regional airport. They fly A320 and Embraer 175 planes with big airlines. American, JetBlue, and Delta.
The geography of Worcester played an essential part in this revitalization. Like all cities, there are good parts and less ideal ones. The areas around the universities have apartments, supermarkets that cater to a younger crowd, and hip clothing stores. Yet, the areas around the closed steel mills suffered from decapitated buildings and crime.
Worcester lies within a massive valley, and the center has a mountain where the city planners placed their airport. This choice was perfect for three reasons. The high location saved fuel, reduced noise, and if there were a crash, it would be far away from the citizens.
The city zoned the sides of the mountain (it is not rocky) to be a forest. This choice was great because the mountain has beautiful trees. Great job, planners!
Well… Living on prime land with a great view was too tempting. So, a big developer petitioned the city (bribed with backroom deals, there was no public debate), and they allowed a housing development.
Despite underhanded behavior, the city leaders did one thing right. They insisted that all residents of these new houses sign a document stating there would be aircraft noise. Apparently, the threat of an aircraft crashing into them was not a concern. Did I mention Worcester gets ultra cold (wing icing), the mountain is super windy, and it has fog thicker than pea soup?
The houses got built, disclosures were signed, and people moved in. “Hey, planes are loud.” So, the residents filed a lawsuit, and the city responded by limiting the airport to a few daily flights. There, done!
Of course, the airlines had broken contracts and sued the city. (Side note: The universities were also not pleased with the limited flights. They have lots of power but use it quietly.) The lawsuits went on for years. The last time I checked, the flight times were restricted from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and new residents must sign a heavy-handed disclosure.
What the heck was going on? It does not take a rocket scientist to know that planes are loud. And what was the city thinking? Anybody could see a lawsuit coming from a mile away. Are you canceling contracts with a company with lawyers more powerful than the Pratt and Whitney engines that lift their planes into the sky? It’s a no-brainer.
Did these people lack common sense? My answer is that many people ignore how the world works. We see this with the Darwin awards, drivers without auto insurance, parents who take no interest in raising their children, and companies that do not read their product reviews.
Is this really what is going on, or were they pulling a fast one? “Hey, let’s sign the paper and then sue. Yay!” Umm, no. Why? “So, I must slog through a lawsuit? Does this mean testifying, legal fees, paperwork, and court time? Pass!”
I do not think a lawsuit entered the homebuyer’s mind. Instead, they thought, “The noise will be no big deal.” They did no research and did not think ahead. And what research would be necessary? Drive to the house and sit in your car until a plane takes off. Then ask yourself: Can I live with this?” Call it an hour’s worth of easy work to understand the situation. Nope, they skipped that step. “But look at that view.”
Every day, more and more people ignore how the world works. I now regularly see kids on electric bikes/scooters flying down the middle of my street. Just this morning, I had to slam on my truck’s brakes, and the kid did not even flinch. Then he glared at me like I was a criminal. He was on the wrong side of the road, heading directly toward me without a helmet! Did he not understand that a truck always beats a kid on an electric scooter?
The word “always” sums up my point. This is not law, common sense, or an IQ issue. It is basic physics. A Toyota truck traveling at 25 MPH has a giant moving mass. It is dumb iron that will always squish a kid. No logic, law, well-meaning parent, self-driving technology, or AI smartphone application will help that kid.
Yet… I guarantee I will see that same kid riding on the wrong side of the road next week. Is he corner-cutting or being lazy? Nope. Buying a house underneath a flight path or riding on the wrong side of the street without a helmet is an intentional choice. A choice means that thought and logic were applied at the beginning.
And let’s not forget me as a kid on a bike. Sure, I rode without a helmet. We all did in the 70s. Wrong side of the road? Sure! But when a car came, we pulled over and let it pass. The ‘70s kids knew how well a car could smush them.
So… Why am I writing about this? Story characters cannot ignore how the world works. Let’s take the airport example. “Wow, this house is wonderful.” “But Fred, it’s under a flight path.” “Who cares?”
Readers care because they identify the issue and must understand the motivation behind a character’s decision. Perhaps Fred likes airplanes, or he is deaf.
What about riding an electric bike without a helmet? Let’s add some details. “Paul was the type of kid who never thought about consequences.” “He forgot to wear his helmet and texted his friend.” “Paul had no idea he was riding on the wrong side of the road.” “This was his first day riding a bike.” Readers can grab onto that logic.
What if Fred or Paul were arrogant, stupid, or delusional? It is certainly possible to have such characters, but I do not recommend this trait when creating a main character. Readers like clear motives, good decisions, and something they can relate to.
I find it fascinating to explore the disconnect between books and real life. Yet, they both must follow the rules, or there will be consequences. In real life, the consequences are lawsuits, being fired, or ending up in the hospital. The only problems with a bad character are bad reviews and low sales.
It would be nice if fewer people ignored how the world works. Then, there would be fewer accidents, more civilized conversations, and happier days. Alas, no. The best we can do is read books and watch movies in our less-than-ideal world.
You’re the best -Bill
July 24, 2024
Worcester’s entry into the world of aviation began in 1925, and today, they have around 55 commercial flights per day. And this is no tiny regional airport. They fly A320 and Embraer 175 planes with big airlines. American, JetBlue, and Delta.
The geography of Worcester played an essential part in this revitalization. Like all cities, there are good parts and less ideal ones. The areas around the universities have apartments, supermarkets that cater to a younger crowd, and hip clothing stores. Yet, the areas around the closed steel mills suffered from decapitated buildings and crime.
Worcester lies within a massive valley, and the center has a mountain where the city planners placed their airport. This choice was perfect for three reasons. The high location saved fuel, reduced noise, and if there were a crash, it would be far away from the citizens.
The city zoned the sides of the mountain (it is not rocky) to be a forest. This choice was great because the mountain has beautiful trees. Great job, planners!
Well… Living on prime land with a great view was too tempting. So, a big developer petitioned the city (bribed with backroom deals, there was no public debate), and they allowed a housing development.
Despite underhanded behavior, the city leaders did one thing right. They insisted that all residents of these new houses sign a document stating there would be aircraft noise. Apparently, the threat of an aircraft crashing into them was not a concern. Did I mention Worcester gets ultra cold (wing icing), the mountain is super windy, and it has fog thicker than pea soup?
The houses got built, disclosures were signed, and people moved in. “Hey, planes are loud.” So, the residents filed a lawsuit, and the city responded by limiting the airport to a few daily flights. There, done!
Of course, the airlines had broken contracts and sued the city. (Side note: The universities were also not pleased with the limited flights. They have lots of power but use it quietly.) The lawsuits went on for years. The last time I checked, the flight times were restricted from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and new residents must sign a heavy-handed disclosure.
What the heck was going on? It does not take a rocket scientist to know that planes are loud. And what was the city thinking? Anybody could see a lawsuit coming from a mile away. Are you canceling contracts with a company with lawyers more powerful than the Pratt and Whitney engines that lift their planes into the sky? It’s a no-brainer.
Did these people lack common sense? My answer is that many people ignore how the world works. We see this with the Darwin awards, drivers without auto insurance, parents who take no interest in raising their children, and companies that do not read their product reviews.
Is this really what is going on, or were they pulling a fast one? “Hey, let’s sign the paper and then sue. Yay!” Umm, no. Why? “So, I must slog through a lawsuit? Does this mean testifying, legal fees, paperwork, and court time? Pass!”
I do not think a lawsuit entered the homebuyer’s mind. Instead, they thought, “The noise will be no big deal.” They did no research and did not think ahead. And what research would be necessary? Drive to the house and sit in your car until a plane takes off. Then ask yourself: Can I live with this?” Call it an hour’s worth of easy work to understand the situation. Nope, they skipped that step. “But look at that view.”
Every day, more and more people ignore how the world works. I now regularly see kids on electric bikes/scooters flying down the middle of my street. Just this morning, I had to slam on my truck’s brakes, and the kid did not even flinch. Then he glared at me like I was a criminal. He was on the wrong side of the road, heading directly toward me without a helmet! Did he not understand that a truck always beats a kid on an electric scooter?
The word “always” sums up my point. This is not law, common sense, or an IQ issue. It is basic physics. A Toyota truck traveling at 25 MPH has a giant moving mass. It is dumb iron that will always squish a kid. No logic, law, well-meaning parent, self-driving technology, or AI smartphone application will help that kid.
Yet… I guarantee I will see that same kid riding on the wrong side of the road next week. Is he corner-cutting or being lazy? Nope. Buying a house underneath a flight path or riding on the wrong side of the street without a helmet is an intentional choice. A choice means that thought and logic were applied at the beginning.
And let’s not forget me as a kid on a bike. Sure, I rode without a helmet. We all did in the 70s. Wrong side of the road? Sure! But when a car came, we pulled over and let it pass. The ‘70s kids knew how well a car could smush them.
So… Why am I writing about this? Story characters cannot ignore how the world works. Let’s take the airport example. “Wow, this house is wonderful.” “But Fred, it’s under a flight path.” “Who cares?”
Readers care because they identify the issue and must understand the motivation behind a character’s decision. Perhaps Fred likes airplanes, or he is deaf.
What about riding an electric bike without a helmet? Let’s add some details. “Paul was the type of kid who never thought about consequences.” “He forgot to wear his helmet and texted his friend.” “Paul had no idea he was riding on the wrong side of the road.” “This was his first day riding a bike.” Readers can grab onto that logic.
What if Fred or Paul were arrogant, stupid, or delusional? It is certainly possible to have such characters, but I do not recommend this trait when creating a main character. Readers like clear motives, good decisions, and something they can relate to.
I find it fascinating to explore the disconnect between books and real life. Yet, they both must follow the rules, or there will be consequences. In real life, the consequences are lawsuits, being fired, or ending up in the hospital. The only problems with a bad character are bad reviews and low sales.
It would be nice if fewer people ignored how the world works. Then, there would be fewer accidents, more civilized conversations, and happier days. Alas, no. The best we can do is read books and watch movies in our less-than-ideal world.
You’re the best -Bill
July 24, 2024
