[ Built ]

Mostly, things “just work” in our built environment.  It’s easy to focus on the niggly things that aren’t functioning well, but mostly, built things just do their job.

When things really do go wrong in this built environment — a bridge collapses, the internet connection fails, a manufacturing facility leaks poison — a legitimate question is whether those involved with that part of our built environment were competent at their job.

It’s difficult (nearly impossible) to admit incompetence; no one wants that.  But the expectation is nothing less than the opposite.  There’s a large gap, though, with many landing points in between.