What do perfect paint jobs, sunsets, and other people's boat accidents have in common?

They are all impossible to pass by without a second glance.

A recent post on boats.com, Seamanship Disasters: 3 Stupid Ways to Sink Your Boat, received a boatload of views this past week. Which makes me wonder: Why are we all so interested in other people's bad behavior?

Boat sinking Bahamas

Maybe the owners of this boat forgot to put in the drain plug?



I like to think it's because we are learning from the mistakes of others, which is definitely the point of the post. As Lenny Rudow put it, "We need to look for cases that show us of what not to do, and then not do it. "

But there's more to it than that.

Just as we slow down on the highway as we pass a car accident, we click on stories that promise photos (or better yet, video) of boat disasters. And while we might be learning safer behavior along the way, the real thrill is the voyeuristic relief: "So glad that wasn't me."

Here are a few Manic Monday videos that prove this:

Crash-gawking is a natural human instinct, impossible to resist... and not fattening or otherwise harmful, especially if we learn from the experience. So while you're here, check out some of our other "don't do it" feature stories:

And we'll keep showing you what not to do on boats, as long as you keep clicking on our stories. Deal? 

PS, let us know if there's a particular disaster you want to hear more about.

Written by: Carol Cronin
Carol Cronin has published several novels about the Olympics, sailing, hurricanes, time travel, and old schooners. She spends as much time on the water as possible, in a variety of boats, though most have sails.