Dark Pattern (The Naturalist, #4)

by Andrew Mayne

Generally, I find it a good idea to wait a day or so before forming an opinion about a crisis, because the first twenty-four hours are usually filled with bullshit speculation by reporters paid by news channels to fill the air with baseless observations while the internet is taken over by people who prefer to speak first and think last.

When the news feels too normal, we stop paying attention. But bad news grabs us by the throat—which we willingly bare—especially when it’s the kind of news that feels proximal but somehow doesn’t quite touch us.

“Protocols are ideals. They’re things we aspire to.” I throw in an analogy that Jillian gave me when I explained the situation. “They’re not enchanted proclamations from the Ministry of Magic that can’t be broken. We break them all the time. I’m sure there’s some protocol here that says I shouldn’t interrupt you, but here I am, interrupting you.”

“Pay attention. If something sounds suspicious, ask questions. Don’t ignore it just because everyone else does. Our tools give us capabilities the rest of the public can’t even imagine. If we’re not vigilant, something bad could happen, and we might find those capabilities taken from us. I make mistakes. You make mistakes. Don’t run from them. Seek them out. Correct them. Listen when someone is telling you something is suspicious. Don’t ignore it.”

there’s a fine line between suspicion and irrationality. A juror should never make decisions with their gut, but an investigator should never ignore it.

If I taught physicians, I think my first test would be the one I use in my own lab: “Is it clean enough that you’d lick it?” Ask yourself that about your hands the next time you leave the bathroom.

Any system can be corrupted as long as people will pretend it’s not their problem.”

The more noble appearing the institution, the more prone it is to corruption, because everyone is looking the other way.

“Every wrong idea is ahead of its time, Teddy. It’s not really a compliment. The key is to have a brilliant idea that’s of its time. That’s how the world changes.”

We’re all twisted messes inside. What matters is how we manifest our actions on the surface.