History Main / ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime

* UsefulNotes/RichardNixon had one of the biggest LandslideElection victories in history, with a massive 96.7% of the electoral votes. He then got involved in one of the [[{{Scandalgate}} most infamous scandals in world history]], becoming the only President to resign, not to mention his administration bombed [[UsefulNotes/{{Cambodia}}]], in the worst air raid since UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. In history, he's remembered as one of the most despised Presidents, so much that when Noam Chomsky was mentioning war crimes committed by Presidents, he said that he could just ''skip Nixon''. Voters did '''not''' look well into his character.

* After ''UsefulNotes/WorldWarI'' the Allied Powers made sure to humiliate Germany as much as possible. They were even warned to treat them better with the possibility that they could rebuild their military. They countered by saying that they wouldn't even allow Germany to have a military anymore...so they made one in secret.

** Everyone knows about the [[NukeEm atomic bomb droppings]] on Hiroshima and Nagaski, but there were some other individual air raids almost as bad, like the bombing of Tokyo in March 1945, killing 100,000 people, which ''may have been worse than the atomic bomb droppings individually''. Japan '''really''' shouldn't have messed around.

* A humorous example: for the 2016 Olympics, to really get into the whole national spirit idea, the British Olympic committee decided to issue all their athletes matching luggage. Somehow, no one recognized the rather obvious potential problem that could arise from this concept until the problem [[https://time.com/4464699/rio-2016-olympics-britain-baggage-claim/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook actually manifested]] upon the athletes' return from the Games.

* A humorous example: for the 2016 Olympics, to really get into the whole national spirit idea, the British Olympic committee decided to issue all their athletes matching luggage. Somehow, no one recognized the rather large flaw in this concept until the obvious problem [[https://time.com/4464699/rio-2016-olympics-britain-baggage-claim/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook actually manifested]] upon the athletes' return from the Games.

* A humorous example: for the 2016 Olympics, to really get into the whole national spirit idea, the British Olympic committee decided to issue all their athletes matching luggage. Somehow, no one recognized the rather obvious problem with this idea until it [[https://time.com/4464699/rio-2016-olympics-britain-baggage-claim/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook actually manifested]] when the athletes landed back in Britain on their return from the Games.

* A humorous example: for the 2016 Olympics, the British Olympic committee decided to issue all their athletes matching luggage. The obvious, but somehow overlooked, problem with this idea [[https://time.com/4464699/rio-2016-olympics-britain-baggage-claim/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook became apparent]] upon the athletes' arrival back at Heathrow.

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* The scientists of the Open Sado Project in ''Manga/SevenSeeds''. One of them discovered a new type of Lizard Ant, who seem partial to the energy bars that the scientists eat themselves. One of their later hologram-recordings mentions that the ants escaped their original glass nest and are roaming around freely, with some of the scientists hallucinating. It's not exactly clear how many years passed between this event and when our protagonists finally encounter it, but by the time they do, the facility is a mess of huge holes, filled with these and other ''huge'' ants and even larger earthworms and they all suffer from hallucinations which makes them disorented. And this is all cause the scientists were doing their job, trying to continue regular life of scientists in a facility meant to replicate the world for the protagonists whenever they awaken after TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
* The corrupt World Government in ''Manga/OnePiece'' admitted privately that they made a major mistake with the Whitebeard War. They managed to capture the late pirate king Gol D. Roger's son Portgas D. Ace, and wanted to not only end Roger's bloodline but also use Ace as bait to draw in Whitebeard so they could defeat Whitebeard and his crew. Unfortunately, several outside factors made things go south very fast. While the World Government had no control over the outside factors that turned what should have been a great victory into a PyrrhicVictory, it should have been obvious to the World Government that things wouldn't go down so simply, to say nothing of the fact that [[DidntThinkThisThrough they really didn't consider the ramifications in the long term]]. They admitted they only wanted Ace dead because of his [[SinsOfTheFather parentage]], not because he was particularly threatening in and of himself. Whitebeard was on life support and would have died anyway in a few more years. In short, the World Government attempted to fix a problem that was already going to be solved anyways, and ended up bringing far greater problems as a result.
** Ace's brother [[TheHero Luffy]] tried to rescue him at the super prison Impel Down. When that didn't work, Luffy made a huge jail break that ended up releasing some of the most dangerous prisoners in the world. The Government's reaction to that was to cover it up so they wouldn't lose the people's faith, despite the fact that if such prisoners start something ([[CardCarryingVillain which they will]]), the escape will be exposed anyway and the government will lose face for both the escape and lying to the people.
** Taking down Whitebeard created a power vacuum and disrupted the delicate balance of power among the strongest and most influential groups of pirates in the world. After the war, so much of the government's forces were stretched thin that the government could barely keep a lid on the ensuing chaos.
** While they did succeed in beating Whitebeard, [[FamousLastWords with his final breath,]] [[DyingMomentOfAwesome Whitebeard confirmed that the world famous treasure that belonged to Roger and that everyone was looking for did in fact exist.]] Fleet Admiral Sengoku reacted with a look of both fear and rage when Whitebeard did this, as he knew that with the word out, more pirates would now venture out to find One Piece, and an even bigger and more chaotic age of piracy would begin. With his final breath, Whitebeard basically [[AllForNothing invalidated every aim the World Government had by starting this war, making all of the Marine's spent resources and sacrifices a complete waste.]]
** The biggest blunder of all was the arrogant view of the World Government that Whitebeard was just another pirate, albeit a very powerful one. [[BigGood Whitebeard was far more than that to many people]], and it was the respect he commanded from others that caused [[PersonOfMassDestruction Red Haired Shanks]] to make sure that [[DueToTheDead Whitebeard and Ace would get the burials they deserved.]] The World Government couldn't even put the heads of both Whitebeard and Ace on display as a warning to other pirates like they wanted to.

-->"Mr. President, are we to understand that she just walked right into your office and started... well, you know."\\

* The main plot (and title) of the fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8544839/1/It-Seemed-Like-A-Good-Idea-At-The-Time "It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time"]]'' by [=Livin4Jesus=]. It features Clint and Tony getting drunk and doing dumb things.

* Said word for word by Story!Loki in issue #16 of ''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'' when their best (and only) friend began to question ''why'' they turned her soul into a piece of magical jewellery. Come to think of it if you apply this reasoning to most of young Loki's plans they begin to make a strange amount of sense... [[RefugeInAudacity sometimes they even work]].

* The main plotline of the fic, [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8544839/1/It-Seemed-Like-A-Good-Idea-At-The-Time "It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time"]] by [=Livin4Jesus=]. It features Clint and Tony getting drunk and doing dumb things.

** By technicality that would also make this moment an UnintentionalBackupPlan.

* On Aeroflot Flight 593, the plane's captain took his two children into the cockpit to let them sit at the controls of the brand-new and impressive Airbus A310. The captain's teenaged son, who had no idea how the plane really worked, inadvertently disabled the autopilot. The flight crew, unfamiliar with the state-of-the-art autopilot, were unable to regain control of the aircraft. Flight 593 crashed, killing all 75 people on board.

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** The StockPhrase is also used in "The Way Of The Warrior Part I", when Sisko is rather surprised to find Dukat on the side of the Cardassian Civilian Government instead of Cardassian Military. Facing a revolution, Dukat had to consider what was best for... well, Dukat.

** In another, as a fire ravages Dublin, he grabs an ax when the fire reaches his distillery. The narration says "John Jameson devised a brilliant plan. But there was simply no time, so, he devised [[TimeForPlanB another, less-brilliant plan]]." Said not-so-brilliant-plan is chopping open a sluice gate of a giant, stone dam to flood the city. Full version [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6orZrn-WrY here]].

* The song "[[TitleDrop A Good Idea At the Time]]" by Music/OKGo both expresses SympathyForTheDevil and is an [[ShoutOut explicit homage]] to Music/TheRollingStones song of the same, portraying Lucifer as simply a guy after a good time who keeps winding up causing horrific situations throughout history, usually because of [[ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime this trope]] and the consumption of [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy ludicrous amounts of booze]].

* A humorous example: for the 2016 Olympics, the British Olympic committee decided to issue all their athletes matching luggage. This wasn't a big deal on the outbound trip, since everyone was headed to the same place (the Athletes' Village), but it sure as heck [[https://time.com/4464699/rio-2016-olympics-britain-baggage-claim/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook became one]] upon the athletes' return to Heathrow.

->''[[Music/KatyPerry You]] joined [the army] because you broke up with your boyfriend... you'll wake up one day, totally over your boyfriend, thinking 'Oh My God, I joined the army.'''
-->-- WebVideo/TheMusicVideoShow, [[https://youtu.be/1XKp6s1Xs44 Episode 53]]

* In ''Toys/TheTrashPack'' webseries episode "Snot My Problem", Trash-A-Pillar and Scummy Screen feel this way when it comes to a link.

This is also used sometimes as an explanation for ChaoticNeutral or ChaoticStupid actions. Contrast IDidWhatIHadToDo, which does the same as in this case, but for LawfulNeutral or LawfulStupid actions and their moral, rather than strategical, consequences. Often goes hand in hand with AlcoholInducedIdiocy for obvious reasons. If the plan somehow still ''works''--and is stated or implied to work not despite but ''because of'' how ridiculous it seems--that's RefugeInAudacity and/or CrazyEnoughToWork.

* In one commercial for Jameson's Irish Whiskey, Advertising/JohnJameson leaps overboard when one of his barrels of whiskey is lost in a storm to retrieve it, and while he's down there narrator says "In hindsight, that probably wasn't a good idea" when he sees a [[SeaMonster giant octopus]] start reaching towards him. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOydQFJdx1k Viewable here.]]

--> '''Hobbes:''' I'll pass, thank you. I'm not interested in that stuff. I didn't [[DealWithTheDevil sell my soul to the devil.]]\\

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-->'''Jesse James''': A war against the railroad... what the hell was I thinking?\\
'''Frank''': Well, I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time.

-->'''Mason Verger''': The good doctor approached me with a piece of broken mirror and said...[Flashback: Lecter is holding a shard of broken glass]\\
'''Hannibal Lecter''': Try peeling off your face...\\
'''Mason Verger''': ...and feeding it to the dogs. ''[Flashback: Verger peels his face off.]'' Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

-->'''Dr. Dix''': I hate fishin'.\\
'''Chief Jesse Stone''': So do I.\\
'''Dix''': So why'd you suggest it?\\
'''Stone'''': Seemed like a good idea at the time, doesn't cost me anything.

-->'''Lucy [=McClane=]''': Daddy, you're out of your mind.\\
'''John [=McClane=]''': What're you talkin' about?\\
'''Lucy [=McClane=]''': You shot yourself!\\
'''John [=McClane=]''': [groaning] It seemed like a good idea at the time.

-->'''Evelyn''': By the way, why did you kiss me?\\
'''Rick''': I don't know. I was about to be hanged. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

* ''Film/{{Solaris 2002}}''
-->'''Chris Kelvin''': Why did you kill yourself?\\
'''Gibarian''': It seemed like a good idea at the time, now I think I made a mistake.

-->'''Jerry Conlaine''': But you could've left! Why'd you stay up here all these years?\\
'''Del Knox''': Seemed like a good idea at the time. Know what I mean, kid?

* Lampshaeded in an episode of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' after another screw-up by [[ThoseTwoGuys Lewis and Oswald]]:

-->'''Lily van der Woodsen''': Really, Rufus, what were you thinking? You threw her a surprise birthday party and had her face painted on a cake with a tiara?\\
'''Rufus Humphrey''': It seemed like a good idea at the time.\\
'''Lily van der Woodsen''': So did flannel and acid wash-jeans, but they weren't flattering either.

-->'''Unnamed child''': You already pre-paid us. For the whole month. (holds a wad of cash up to Carly and Freddie)\\
'''Carly''': (to Freddie, who looks at her weirded out) ...It seemed like a good idea at the time.
* ''[[Series/LoisAndClark Lois & Clark]]: The New Adventures of Superman'' episode "Tempus Fugitive":
-->'''Clark Kent''': Glasses, secret identity... seemed like a good idea at the time.

--> '''Malcolm:''' (''[[BreakingTheFourthWall turns to the viewers]]'') I swear to god! On paper, this was a great idea!

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "The Emperor's New Cloak".
-->'''Quark''': I still don't understand why you'd want to come here in the first place.\\
'''Zek''': Simple, really. I came to find new financial opportunities for the Ferengi people.\\
'''Rom''': In the [[MirrorUniverse alternate universe]]?\\
'''Zek''': Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

--->'''Sisko''': In other words, you saw which way the wind was blowing and switched sides.\\
'''Dukat''': It seemed like a good idea at the time.

-->'''Terry Lee''': Good timing, Major.\\
'''Major Ellis''': Oh, it was quite simple. All I had to do was follow the baskets you chaps so thoughtfully pushed off the truck.\\
'''Terry Lee''': It seemed like a good idea at the time.

-->'''Bubbles''': You're not really marrying Lahey's ex-wife are ya? [snip]\\
'''Ricky''': Look Julian, I was baked out of my mind, it seemed like a good idea at the time alright?
* ''Series/YoungIndianaJones'' episode "Demons of Deception" ("Verdun" and "Paris")
-->'''Remy Baudouin''': I can't believe you actually did that. You could have ended up in front of a firing squad!\\
'''Indiana Jones''': They'll never figure it out.\\
'''Remy Baudouin''': But still, you lost your courier's job, and you put yourself back in the mud. You're crazy!\\
'''Indiana Jones''': It seemed like a good idea at the time. Some men got to live another day.

* In ''Videogame/{{Portal 2}}'' you're given the opportunity to remove BigBad [=GLaDOS=]' control over the facility and replace her with Wheatley, a cheery, kindhearted robot that's done nothing but help you. Seems like a great idea, right? Well, keep in mind that you should have noticed by this point that the "cheery, kindhearted robot that's done nothing but help you" is in fact an ''idiot.'' But the immediate effect is that [[spoiler:''anyone'' who gets put in charge of the facility is driven insane (good job turning your only friend into a [[FaceHeelTurn homicidal maniac]]) and said friend is actually a ''literal'' IdiotBall; "He's the product of the greatest minds of a generation working together with the express purpose of building the dumbest moron who ever lived." And you just put him in charge of the facility that was taking great effort to kill you ''before'' you put a vicious idiot in the driver's seat]].

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* In the Literature/ChakonaSpace 'verse, chakats are mentioned to be highly susceptible to this.
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'', in episode 52 ''Have We Met?'':
-->'''[[spoiler:One of the many Churches:]]''' So, what ''did'' you do?\\
'''[[spoiler:Yellow Armor Church:]]''' Aw, man, it seemed like such a good idea at the time!
* This is a running gag in ''Webcomic/{{Prequel}}'', where it's referred to as a "BEST IDEA." Highlights include dismantling a swinging pendulum to use it as a weapon.
* WebVideo/WhatTheFuckIsWrongWithYou is full of these moments.
* In ''Toys/TheTrashPack'' webseries episode "Snot My Problem", Trash-A-Pillar and Scummy Screen feel this way when it comes to a link.
-->'''Blow Fly:''' What did you do?!\\
'''Trash-A-Pillar:''' Uh, nothing! I just clicked on this little link that said [[TooDumbToLive “Download this virus to win one million dollars”!]]\\
'''Scummy Screen:''' ''(Congested and obviously ill-looking)'' It seemed like a good deal at the time…

* In ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''

-->'''Uncle''': ''([[MisplacedRetribution To Jackie]])'' You destroyed the demon! Yin and Yang! Now the world is out of balance! Nobody told you to destroy the demon!

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' - Tina is backed into a corner when classmate Tammy blackmails her with the threat of reading Tina's 'erotic friend fiction' to her crush Jimmy Junior - her mom reassures her, and tells her to take control of the situation and read her fiction herself to the whole class. [[ExplainExplainOhCrap It's only after she repeats her advice to Bob that she sees what a bad idea it is]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'', Mike sums this up in a [[SarcasmMode sarcastic]] rant after [[spoiler:he and Sully get banished to the human world]].
-->'''Mike''': Oh, what a great idea [[spoiler:going to your ol' pal, Waternoose, [[SuddenlyShouting TOO BAD HE WAS IN ON THE WHOLE THING!]]]]

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** Of course, it being Jane, [[spoiler:none of this was true. Jane and Hightower [[BatmanGambit staged the whole thing]] so that Hightower, who had been framed for murder, could escape. She was never even in the car; Jane drove it off and crashed it to create a plausible scenario for her to have gotten away in order to throw investigators off her trail.]]