We can rarely say what the outcomes of our actions will be, especially in the long term.
One might plan, for instance, to cover a lot of people in glop and aim a camera on them as they rush headlong into a swamp. The outcome you want is to come away with wonderful and hilarious video entertainment for a television show.
Somehow, though, you forget that the effect of a lot of people running into an area not usually traveled by large numbers at once has more to do with the people than it has with the amount of Costco brand canned dog food they’re wearing.
And your plan goes phut. (a word I credit to P.G. Wodehouse, and well done sir!)
On the other hand, that’s the short term. That swamp race goes on til night, y’know. And ‘long term’ might just take it’s own sweet time…