Don’t assume malice. Assume ignorance. Life is easier, the world is kinder, and you can educate. Actual malice is pretty rare, I find.
Always remember Hanlon’s Razor–”Never assume malice when incompetence will suffice as an explanation.”
That’s said, never forget Fred Clark’s Law, either: “Sufficiently advanced incompetence is indistinguishable from malice.” There’s a certain point at which ignorance becomes malice–at which there is simply no way to become that ignorant except deliberately and maliciously.
Also, confusing ignorance with malice tends to create malice. If you refuse to explain and keep calling someone names for their ignorance, the other person will start trying to hurt you just to defend themselves. By assuming malice, you create more malice in the world.
i also have had good results by remembering intent is largely irrelevant. “a machine’s purpose is what it does,” etc. etc., and material incentives are a good predictor of actions.
