According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (2015), the secondary definition of ‘blinders’ is, “Something that serves to obscure clear perception and discernment.” From youth through to maturity, our perception blinders are defined by environment and experiences - they focus our vision—just like their primary function on a horse. It is through these lenses that we see, process, discriminate with, and, in turn, form the basis of our decisions. They are filters we use to process information and which become, to a certain extent, set with age.
In this article, we look at the extent in which ignoring certain blinders had a significant cause and effect on a handful of people who were the victims of the 2012 Tunnel Creek avalanche.
Part of the …show more content…
And also, secondly, how they do not necessarily use the information that they do have appropriately due to a lack of awareness of its relevance.
Evidence can be found that the same points are true of the group of skiers in the Tunnel Creek Avalanche.
Our first point considers how our focus can limit our awareness. We fail to see all the information in front of us. If we do not see or experience factors regularly, we stop looking out for them. Avalanches are a regular occurrence in Tunnel Creek, and because it is outside the ski area, it is not patrolled or risk assessed for safety. But as the location wasn’t new terrain for the lead skiers in the group, they weren’t focusing their awareness on the danger around but on the activity in front of them.
Our second point looks at how they failed to seek out the most relevant data for the situation. Our second blinder in this situation. While it is true that the lead skiers looked at the Northwest Avalanche Center report and read the avalanche danger as ‘considerable to high’ that day, they still decided for the group to go ahead with the
In this article, we look at the extent in which ignoring certain blinders had a significant cause and effect on a handful of people who were the victims of the 2012 Tunnel Creek avalanche.
Part of the …show more content…
And also, secondly, how they do not necessarily use the information that they do have appropriately due to a lack of awareness of its relevance.
Evidence can be found that the same points are true of the group of skiers in the Tunnel Creek Avalanche.
Our first point considers how our focus can limit our awareness. We fail to see all the information in front of us. If we do not see or experience factors regularly, we stop looking out for them. Avalanches are a regular occurrence in Tunnel Creek, and because it is outside the ski area, it is not patrolled or risk assessed for safety. But as the location wasn’t new terrain for the lead skiers in the group, they weren’t focusing their awareness on the danger around but on the activity in front of them.
Our second point looks at how they failed to seek out the most relevant data for the situation. Our second blinder in this situation. While it is true that the lead skiers looked at the Northwest Avalanche Center report and read the avalanche danger as ‘considerable to high’ that day, they still decided for the group to go ahead with the