by Dan Gookin August 16, 2023
Get the The Complexity mug.The purposeful complication of a process, policy, or offer in order to substantially reduce clarity, usually in hope that consumers of such will overlook a portion to their detriment.
The lawyers who drafted my latest auto insurance policy found a way to fill it with 127 pages of legalese. This is definitely artificial complexity, as it could've easily been conveyed in 10 pages.
by megaelk December 11, 2023
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Malicious compliance (also known as malicious obedience) is the behavior of strictly following the orders of a superior despite knowing that compliance with the orders will have an unintended or negative result. It usually implies following an order in such a way that ignores or otherwise undermines the order's intent but follows it to the letter.
Malicious compliance example
PE teacher: You will do laps until your feet are bleading
PE teacher: Why didn't you stop when your shoes tore apart? your feet are bleeding
PE teacher: You will do laps until your feet are bleading
PE teacher: Why didn't you stop when your shoes tore apart? your feet are bleeding
by R409 December 18, 2024
Get the Malicious compliance mug.“Navigating the complexities of..” is a phrase loved by uncle ChatGPT which allows humans if they have above 70 IQ to spot an AI-written article from a mile away.
by legoduplo82 August 1, 2024
Get the Navigating the complexities mug.The argument that many systems we call "complex" (global finance, climate models, bureaucratic states) are not inherently complex like a rainforest. Their complexity is designed and accrued through layers of rules, exceptions, intermediaries, and jargon. This constructed complexity often serves as a barrier to entry, a shield for those inside the system, and a source of power for the "experts" who can navigate it. It's complicated by design.
Example: "Filing taxes isn't complex like quantum physics; it's complex like a board game where someone keeps adding new rules to benefit themselves. The Theory of Constructed Complexities shows the tax code's difficulty isn't natural; it's the result of decades of lobbying for loopholes and exemptions. The complexity constructs a moat around wealth, requiring expensive accountants (the wizards of the moat) to cross."
by Abzu Land January 31, 2026
Get the Theory of Constructed Complexities mug.The foundational principle that for any field of inquiry to qualify as scientific, it must study either dynamic systems (systems that change over time), complex systems (systems with interacting components that produce emergent behavior), or both. Static, simple systems may be mathematically describable, but they're not truly scientific—they're just puzzles. The law of dynamics-complexity explains why physics is science (dynamic, often complex), why biology is science (definitely both), and why some fields struggle for scientific status—they're studying phenomena that are either too static, too simple, or both. This law also explains why your love life feels like an unscientific mess: it's dynamic, complex, and completely resistant to prediction, which actually makes it more scientific than a simple, predictable system. Small comfort.
Law of Dynamics-Complexity of Sciences Example: "He tried to argue that astrology was scientific because it made predictions. She invoked the law of dynamics-complexity: 'Science studies dynamic, complex systems. Astrology treats human lives as simple, static outputs of planetary positions. That's not science; that's just wrong.' He said the planets were dynamic. She said not dynamic enough. The argument was dynamic and complex, which at least made it scientific."
by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026
Get the Law of Dynamics-Complexity of Sciences mug.The principle that for a truth claim to adequately capture reality, it must account for both the dynamic nature (constant change) and complex nature (emergent interactions) of the phenomena it describes. Static, simple truths may be comfortable, but they're false for any reality that is dynamic and complex—which is most of reality. This law explains why simple answers to complex questions are always wrong, why yesterday's truths may not apply today, and why wisdom means updating your understanding continuously. It's the law that keeps scientists humble, philosophers employed, and everyone else slightly uncomfortable.
Example: "He wanted a simple truth about why his life felt stuck. The law of dynamics-complexity of truth said: your life is dynamic (constantly changing) and complex (multiple interacting factors). Any simple truth—'you're lazy,' 'the economy's bad,' 'it's fate'—would be false because it ignores the dynamics and complexity. The truth was in the interactions, the patterns, the emergence. He wanted a label; the law gave him a system. He left frustrated but slightly wiser."
by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026
Get the Law of Dynamics-Complexity of Truth mug.