Understanding takes effort too, effort that might be better spent creating value.

Also, understanding creates culpability. So that's a downside. It's like people who walk in front of you on the road and pretend to not notice you. If I don't see the badness then I am not responsible for the badness.

And thirdly, never underestimate people's power to ignore.

> never underestimate people's power to ignore.

One of the hardest things to do is to put yourself in the place of those you see as villains and recognize that they generally see themselves as heroes. The human capacity for self-justification is extremely powerful.