can people get away with doing malicious things under the guise of this trope mixed in with plausible deniability?
Reading tropes such as YouKnowWhatYouDid
Any reason why we want to keep offensive examples? Just wondering because I understand hate speech is not tolerated and slurs on the disabled is deemed hate speech.
Currently reading up My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours
the One Man Riot
"Hanlon's Razor is decidedly on the side of Enlightenment (if most bad things are the result of stupidity, incompetence, and ignorance, then one can make the future better through education and good design/idiot-proofing)."
I call bullshit on this. Someone who is merely malicious can be reasoned with and cured of their desire to harm you. However, no amount of education will make an idiot any less idiotic. Hanlon's Razor emphasizes the basic futility in trying to solve people troubles sensibly, and as such is totally dripping with cynicism. Romanticism 100%.
"Do what thou wilst shalt be the whole of the law." ~ Aleister Crowley Hide / Show Replies
I wouldn't say so: If someone is malicious, it is possible they already know all the implications of their actions, and desire to hurt another no matter how you put it, since they are already aware of the implications. If someone is merely Ignorant (not necessary an imbecile, they simply need to be filled in on what is actually happening or how things happen), it is possible they learn from being called out on the consequences of their actions, then cease their stupidity-induced actions.
Edited by imadmagician
I mean, yes, but I'd also say that this is still on the side of enlightenment because it still looks at things not as matters of human decision making and agency and instead on grounds of circumstance and chance.
It also emphasizes logically reaching conclusions over grand story telling.
'However, applying the Rule of Shades of Grey ("No rule is universally valid, including this one")'
Any source? I googled this and can't find anything regarding the rule or the name. Is it an inside (or outside) joke of 50 shades of grey? I find this rule interesting, but can't find anything to back it up like a quote, a discusion, something.
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The capitalization prolly is a joke, but Shades Of Grey is a normal term that means "nothing is absolutely so".
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Sorcerer in training
Finding Nemo: "Though you'd think a man who likes to keep fish as pets would eventually explain how to not kill them to his niece after she killed one after another of the pets he gave her."
You'd also think he'd research up on the insane number of parasites and diseases wild fish can carry, and realize he's probably introducing them not only to his tank, but whatever setup his niece has!
Edited by 69.172.221.4 Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. -Terry Pratchett
Love Saves
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by thoughtlessness.
I think this should be the correct phrasing. As in, the people doing evil usually aren't doing it to hurt you or because they hate you, they do it for their own gain and just don't care about you.
Edited by PacificState A case of true love has the same redeeming power as a case of genuine curiosity: they are the same. Hide / Show Replies
The two are far from being mutually exclusive. For most people, not being thoughtless isn't even an option. They just don't have the mental capacity for it.
"Do what thou wilst shalt be the whole of the law." ~ Aleister Crowley
My take on Hanlon's is thus:
Malice and stupidity often come to similar ends. Do not, in haste, assume one is the cause without duly considering and ruling out the possibility of the other.
page quote proposal:
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action." (Auric Goldfinger)
But does the razor account for stupidity-induced malice? One type of gullibility might lead one to believe a false prophet. Another type of gullibility might lead one to further lie for the false prophet, still believing that he's doing good. "Lying for the Truth." Sure, it's stupidity, but can we really rule out malice?
And then there's the converse: Never attribute to intelligence or beneficence that which can be explained by blind luck.
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I've seen this quote attributed to Napoleon before, though with 'incompetence' rather than 'stupidity'. No clue if that's accurate or just more historical re-appropration, though.
Linking to a past Trope Repair Shop thread that dealt with this page: Needs Help
, started by cthulhucalamari on Jul 13th 2012 at 9:54:07 PM
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman