Hacker News Reader

I'm sure lots of safety margins built into bridges are also respected due to liability concerns, but I don't mind the insincerity as long as the margin is actually there to protect me when needed.

You are free to feel different of course, both in the case of bridges and in the case of people.

View on HN

This is a silly analogy. A piece of paper does not provide safety. Only when the codes are exercised (And well at that) they might be any good.

This is the same fallacy politicians always commit when they pass laws rather than regulations. Or when the regulations are then not observed and penalty is ineffective.

A technical margin of safety is different as it is built into the system and works all the time. A safeguard is different as it requires no action to work at all.

Rules require observance and agreement.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com