Most players understand the concept of "short siding", but they simply don't take it to the next level of understanding - ie, knowing how the green contours dictate preferred chipping positions AS MUCH OR MORE THAN mere proximity to the pin (the proverbial "not much room to work with"). They fail to understand tthat sometimes, due to contours, the "short side" is actually the PREFERRED miss. They fail to understand that sometimes, "safely on the dance floor" is far worse than a missed green to a good spot.
Another terrific post in its entirety. I chose this particular part because it reminded me of something I once read Pete Dye say. He said that sometimes he puts a greenside bunker on the lower side of a green, which would actually allow a relatively easy up and down, while missing on an unguarded side might result in a green running away from the golfer, and in some cases into that very bunker.
Good stuff. I think it's lost on most, particularly in cases like Adam notes, where limited play might leave a golfer with a mistaken, or at least not completely informed, notion.