Voices
Every so often, my father will tell this story from high school: He broke his arm pole-vaulting without a mat. After he had the cast removed, he decided to pole-vault again?without a mat. He broke his other arm. Each time I hear this story, I ask myself several questions: Why did he want to pole-vault? Why did he do it without a mat? Wasn’t there anyone else around who thought pole-vaulting without a mat was unsafe? Why does Dad tell this story when it makes him look dumb? The question that I find most perplexing is this: Why do people repeat actions that have failed in the past? Almost everyone does it.
By
the Voice Staff
February 28, 2002