Shirky Principle

Shirky Principle, lately I find when I start to write out a long series of tweets, ... I blog them instead.

Shirky Principle, "Institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution." -- Clay Shirky

Shirky Principle, Techium post about, 2010 0402, http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2010/04/the_shirky_prin.php

Shirky Principle, .. seems a slight modification to the group level of both Shaw, and old Metternich Era saying about diplomacy.

Shirky Principle, like? "The purpose of diplomacy is to further the careers of diplomats" (Anon?) (Quoted in Laumer's Retief series.) (Seen various versions at various times in other places, but original seems to go back to Metternich Era minor diplomat reportedly having said it.)

Shirky Principle, like? "All Professions are conspiracies against the laity" (GB Shaw character line)

Shirky Principle, very-very similar to things Michael E. Lewis has been writing about financial crisis?

Shirky Principle, what I don't like about it are the suppositions of an entity and intentionality. ~Can~ lead to sloppy thinking.

Shirky Principle, I'd say most conspiracies are manifested through convergences of interests and ideologies, ~not~ so much closed-meetings with explicit deliberations. Usually couched in lots of diplomatese type talk.