What is hindsight? - Learn English with Misterduncan

2,858 views ・ 2024-09-17

English Addict with Mr Duncan


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Here is an interesting word that we often use when we are looking back at a certain situation
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or event that happened in the past.
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It is often used when we are trying to work out the details of what occurred.
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The word is hindsight.
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The word hindsight refers to the action 
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of viewing a past event from  an analytic point of view.
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To look back at an event or situation that occurred in the past is hindsight.
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Quite often this word is used when we are studying a moment of time when something happened
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that created a problem or a negative situation that could have been avoided.
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Hindsight often occurs after an accident or an event that could have been prevented.
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All of the details of the accident are analysed with the aim of finding out what actually happened
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and whether or not it could have been avoided.
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An investigation will normally be carried out as each detail is carefully analysed.
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Quite often the event will be reconstructed, 
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so as to give a clear idea  of what actually occurred
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and how the accident happened…
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and more importantly, how it could have been prevented.
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This type of analysis is often  described as hindsight because we are 
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literally looking at something  that happened in the past.
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To look back at a certain  event in the past is hindsight.
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The word itself literally means rear view.
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The analysing of a past event.
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Questions are normally asked when using hindsight.
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What actually happened?
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What went wrong?
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Who is to blame?
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How do we prevent it from happening again?
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We often describe hindsight as a luxury.
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This means that it is always easy to look back after the event has occurred.
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You might say that it is a  comfortable position to be in.
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It is easy to say that certain things should have been done.
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Of course, the reality is they weren’t.
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This is the reason why we often describe hindsight as a luxury.
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It is something that is easy to do.
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Anyone can look back and say how the thing should have been done differently.
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We often use the word hindsight when investigating a terrible event.
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Of course, the positive side of hindsight is that hopefully the bad event will never occur again.
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we often say that there are lessons to be learnt from what happened.
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So it would be fair to say that hindsight is not necessarily a bad thing.
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In fact it can quite often be beneficial by helping others
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and preventing future disasters from occurring.
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