The Causation of Perception


Halcolm has one of those days where he’s convinced the whole world stinks. Everywhere he goes, the smell follows him. The people, the places, the conversations—nothing seems right. It’s a classic story, almost fable-like: a man who believes the world has gone sour, only to discover the problem is quite literally right under his nose.

In Halcolm’s case, it’s his mustache.

We laugh because it’s simple… and because it’s true. We’ve all had moments where we blame the world for what we’re carrying ourselves. In research and evaluation, this becomes a powerful illustration of bias. Our experiences, assumptions, and past frustrations can cling to us like invisible odors. They shape what we notice, how we interpret it, and what we conclude—often without us realizing it.

Halcolm reminds us that perception can feel like reality, even when it’s filtered through something we’ve forgotten is there. The mustache is the metaphor: our own history, expectations, and blind spots coloring everything in front of us.

It’s a gentle nudge to slow down, check our assumptions, and make sure we’re not misreading the world because of something we brought into the room. In evaluation—and in life—sometimes we need to step back and ask:

Is the problem out there, or is it closer than I think?

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