**Three predictors of neglect** related to distractibility: **whimsy, love of novelty, and escapism.** **Whimsy and novelty-seeking**: Doing things differently at different times for no good reason. This is NOT the deliberate experimentation of a scientist or the constant re-examination of a good leader. It's patternless variation — changing approaches because of boredom, mood, or random impulse. **The domain boundary**: Looking for novelty in the arts or throwing a party is fine. Being whimsical in high-stakes domains that have established best practices is dangerous. The same trait that makes someone fun at a party makes them unreliable when lives or critical outcomes are on the line. **Escapism**: A mix of novelty-seeking and reactance — "Ah, let's forget about fortifying the camp tonight" or "Ah, let's try climbing without safety gear." The person escapes responsibility by giving in to the impulse to do something different, easier, or more exciting. **The ice climbing principle** (Mark Twight): "The hardest thing to do is one thing at a time." Distractibility is the enemy of this. "Whereas you might be excused for not knowing how to fortify a military camp, not being distractible is a core human life skill; anyone who allows themself to remain distractible in high-stakes situations has made serious errors."