The dumbest explanation is the correct one
idiom / informal maxim
Definition:
A principle suggesting that when faced with a confusing outcome, the dumbest most moronic explanation, often one that seems almost too stupid to have been thought of, is usually the right one.
Explanation in Context:
Rather than assuming complex behavioral shifts, market dynamics, or hidden technical issues, the most idiotical cause (users weren’t notified, so they didn’t engage) is likely the true explanation.
idiom / informal maxim
Definition:
A principle suggesting that when faced with a confusing outcome, the dumbest most moronic explanation, often one that seems almost too stupid to have been thought of, is usually the right one.
Explanation in Context:
Rather than assuming complex behavioral shifts, market dynamics, or hidden technical issues, the most idiotical cause (users weren’t notified, so they didn’t engage) is likely the true explanation.
“A classic example of Doccam's Razor - When they removed all in-app notifications and then wondered why no one interacted with their product”
by Tom_Bombad1l February 24, 2026
Get the Doccam's Razor mug.by Hym Iam February 18, 2025
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A modification of Hanlon's razor; to attribute both malice and stupidity when explaining one's behavior.
Hanlon's razor advises not to attribute malice to a behavior when it could be reasonably explained by stupidity - Trump's razor advises attributing both.
Hanlon's razor advises not to attribute malice to a behavior when it could be reasonably explained by stupidity - Trump's razor advises attributing both.
"Supporters of 47th President Trump cheered on as he promised tariffs, thinking it would harm the target nations and boost the US's economy. Both assumptions are incorrect and based in a lack of understanding of tariffs and harmful intent - hence another example of Trump's razor." - MSNBC, probably.
by ma02rc February 27, 2025
Get the Trump's razor mug.The opposite of Occam’s Razor - the most complicated, delusional and convuluted approach to solving any problem or understanding anything at all
by Beanol April 28, 2025
Get the Sean’s Razor mug.The idea that one's admission to a greater offense is not conclusive evidence of the commission of a lesser offense.
Proposed by Kmele Foster and derived from Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff," in which the narrator admits to shooting the sheriff, but not the deputy.
Proposed by Kmele Foster and derived from Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff," in which the narrator admits to shooting the sheriff, but not the deputy.
"I'm looking at the Trump administration's response to the criticism that they're overstating things or that the Iranian strike actually went badly, when it does in fact seem like one of those cases where Marley's Razor applies, and while they may lie with some great regularity, it might be the case that this time, they are more right than wrong, and that the strike was potentially a lot more effective than they thought." Kmele Foster on Tangle podcast, 6/29/25.
by Infinitecypher July 1, 2025
Get the Marley's Razor mug.Commonly worded as:
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory is inversely proportional to the level of government hyper‑competence needed to maintain it"
Other wording:
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory decreases as the level of government hyper-competence required to sustain it increases."
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory is inversely proportional to the level of government hyper‑competence required to maintain it."
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory is inversely proportional to the amount of government hyper‑competence it would require to plan, execute, and keep it secret."
In other words:
If a plot needs dozens of agencies to be flawless, leak‑proof, and perfectly coordinated for years… it probably didn’t happen.
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory is inversely proportional to the level of government hyper‑competence needed to maintain it"
Other wording:
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory decreases as the level of government hyper-competence required to sustain it increases."
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory is inversely proportional to the level of government hyper‑competence required to maintain it."
"The plausibility of any conspiracy theory is inversely proportional to the amount of government hyper‑competence it would require to plan, execute, and keep it secret."
In other words:
If a plot needs dozens of agencies to be flawless, leak‑proof, and perfectly coordinated for years… it probably didn’t happen.
Neighbor: “The mayor unleashed a raccoon crisis to distract from the budget meeting.”
You: “I'm invoking Wilford's Razor: City Hall can’t herd three councilmembers—let alone a raccoon militia.”
You: “I'm invoking Wilford's Razor: City Hall can’t herd three councilmembers—let alone a raccoon militia.”
by Koffea August 12, 2025
Get the Wilford's Razor mug.A philosophical device that suggests that if a deliberately public and spectacular crime can be ascribed to an antisocial personality disorder, in particular one of a magnitude great enough to warrant involuntary commitment to a mental institution, then this can be assumed to be the appropriate explanation.
after a deliberately dramatic act of mass violence "I read the guy's manifesto, and he seems like a sociopath. I think we can use Arkham's Razor for this one."
by jpa1708 September 15, 2025
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