Hanlon’s only works when there’s trust involved. Like if I’m asking if my friend just forgot my bday or intentionally ignored it to spite me, I’m going with the former.
In all other cases, incompetence is people’s first defense when caught doing something wrong:
“I wasn’t speeding. I thought this was a 70 zone”
“I wasn’t shoplifting. I thought I paid for these”
“I wasn’t parking illegally. I didn’t see the sign”
We should have as much trust for our government as a police officer has for a suspect. Maybe it was incompetence/ignorance, but you wouldn’t automatically take them at their word, because it’s literally what they all say.
Hanlon’s only works when there’s trust involved. Like if I’m asking if my friend just forgot my bday or intentionally ignored it to spite me, I’m going with the former.
In all other cases, incompetence is people’s first defense when caught doing something wrong:
“I wasn’t speeding. I thought this was a 70 zone”
“I wasn’t shoplifting. I thought I paid for these”
“I wasn’t parking illegally. I didn’t see the sign”
We should have as much trust for our government as a police officer has for a suspect. Maybe it was incompetence/ignorance, but you wouldn’t automatically take them at their word, because it’s literally what they all say.
Or at least not distrust. I might give a total stranger the benefit of the doubt. But, as you kinda hinted at, government is no stranger to us.