Hacker News Reader

You're right. When I talk about complex systems I generally mean "this behavior emerged because of pressure to optimize for property X", but it's awkward to keep repeating that so I anthropomorphize them for simplicity. Should clarify that at some point.

View on HN

This is a great clarification. I'd even argue that systems and organizations can have an independent intent, though we don't often use the word in that context.

> I'd even argue that systems and organizations can have an independent intent

You're not the only one: http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ (If section I seems a bit slow - it's busy establishing that there is a problem in the first place - skip to section II.)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com