Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Hanlon's razor is a great principle to apply to personal relationships, but it falls apart in these situations.

You can explain away any deliberate malice or negligence using it, even when there are clear incentives to enage is such behavior, unless there's absolute evidence of malice. By then it's too late because you've already been swindled, and the principle ignores the lengths organizations will go to cover that evidence up.




If you're dealing with bigger threats, you need a more powerful weapon. Sheathe the Hanlon's razor, and unholster the Hanlon's handgun: "Never attribute to stupidity that which can be adequately explained by systemic incentives promoting malice."

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21691282




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: