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> Are we really talking about a "flawed algorithm", for example, or simply the encoding of a badly designed government process? Isn't that the same thing? If y
by ForHackernews 7y ago
> Are we really talking about a "flawed algorithm", for example, or simply the encoding of a badly designed government process?
Isn't that the same thing? If you take a flawed algorithm haphazardly implemented through government process and reify it in code, that doesn't fix any of the problems with it, and it may well make the situation worse by removing flexibility or the possibility for human intervention.
- benjaminjosephw 7y agoThis is true, and I can see how technology may make these kinds of problems worse, but the underlying problem isn't the algorithm itself. The real problem is the process. These are two distinct things. Understanding how technology exacerbates the problem is one thing. Attacking technology as the source of the problem is another.
- zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 7y ago> but the underlying problem isn't the algorithm itself. The real problem is the process. So, the underlying problem is the algorithm, not the algorithm? That totally makes sense! Also, if there are two contributing factors to a problem, and removing either would solve the problem, it is completely useless to arbitrarily declare that one of them is "the real problem".