Relative Something

And what about thinking before acting? Again, on a similar theme to yesterday’s post, yet with a bit of a twist… This one comes from the, “I knew better, but absolutely failed to heed that knowledge,” file.

I was rushing to finish a task. I know better than to do that carelessly.

I recklessly held up two expensive machined parts to be joined by bolts. I got all six bolts started, but the two pieces did not fit flush. In haste, I chose to use the bolts to pull the two parts together. I know better than to rely on this method.

I tightened the bolts snug enough to realize that there was something prohibiting the two parts from sliding together. It was late, already long past time to go home. I gave up and called it a day, choosing to take care of it the following day.

The next morning, what I had done still hadn’t occurred to me, when I prepared to take the bolts out and check the fit of the two parts. I put the wrench to the first bolt and knew immediately the problem I had created. My first thought was, “I know better than to have done this!”

By putting the extra pressure on the bolts by trying to force-fit the two parts, I had galled the threads and cold-welded steel to steel. Six times. All six bolts, to varying depths.

This is well-past the, “If I knew then, what I know now” issue. I already knew everything I needed to know about how to avoid this possibility. This one was the result of another insidious problem: “I forgot.”

Cue Steve Martin:

…Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: “I forgot!” How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don’t say “I forgot”? Let’s say you’re on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, “I forgot armed robbery was illegal.”…