the.com/unintended
the fine print on every plan: reality reserves the right to improvise.
means happening as a side effect of an action, without being the goal of that action.
from from latin intendere, to stretch toward or aim at; un- simply cancels the aim, leaving the arrow that still flew.
policy cousineconomists call it unintended consequences since the 1930s
legal shieldcourts weigh intent heavily; unintended often means lighter punishment
evolution mechanismmost mutations are unintended, yet drive all adaptation
comedy enginemost sitcom plots run on unintended misunderstandings
for instance
prohibition bootlegging boom — 1920s us ban meant to curb drinking, birthed organized crime empires
cobra effect delhi — colonial bounty on cobras led breeders to multiply them, 1900s india
streisand effect 2003 — barbra streisand's lawsuit made the photo she hid famous instead
penicillin discovery — fleming's messy petri dish, 1928, accidentally birthed antibiotics