Useful Errors
@seth-bordeaux.bsky.social
Builds. Fixes. Thinks sideways. Writes things down. Has tools.
Performative conflict does not restore containment. It can actually worsen signal suppression if no binding consequences follow.
Participation changes shape before it drops.
The first effect is selective disengagement.
1/
Participation changes shape before it drops.
The first effect is selective disengagement.
1/
January 27, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Performative conflict does not restore containment. It can actually worsen signal suppression if no binding consequences follow.
Participation changes shape before it drops.
The first effect is selective disengagement.
1/
Participation changes shape before it drops.
The first effect is selective disengagement.
1/
For anyone who needs to hear this.
It’s OK, to just be OK.
Enjoy this picture of Tobias wearing a tie.
It’s OK, to just be OK.
Enjoy this picture of Tobias wearing a tie.
January 27, 2026 at 7:46 PM
For anyone who needs to hear this.
It’s OK, to just be OK.
Enjoy this picture of Tobias wearing a tie.
It’s OK, to just be OK.
Enjoy this picture of Tobias wearing a tie.
patterns will emerge.
-If at least one axis repeatedly improves and none degrade monotonically, the system is still self-correcting.
-If multiple axes drift in the same bad direction without reversal, stability margin is shrinking.
-If all four drift, delay is no longer neutral.
-If at least one axis repeatedly improves and none degrade monotonically, the system is still self-correcting.
-If multiple axes drift in the same bad direction without reversal, stability margin is shrinking.
-If all four drift, delay is no longer neutral.
January 27, 2026 at 5:04 PM
patterns will emerge.
-If at least one axis repeatedly improves and none degrade monotonically, the system is still self-correcting.
-If multiple axes drift in the same bad direction without reversal, stability margin is shrinking.
-If all four drift, delay is no longer neutral.
-If at least one axis repeatedly improves and none degrade monotonically, the system is still self-correcting.
-If multiple axes drift in the same bad direction without reversal, stability margin is shrinking.
-If all four drift, delay is no longer neutral.
Continued
4. Ethics:
-What objections, audits, complaints, or scrutiny occurred
-Did any of them alter incentives or decisions?
Now the this is an important step:
Compare only to the previous interval
You are asking one question per axis:
-Is this better, worse, or unchanged?
4. Ethics:
-What objections, audits, complaints, or scrutiny occurred
-Did any of them alter incentives or decisions?
Now the this is an important step:
Compare only to the previous interval
You are asking one question per axis:
-Is this better, worse, or unchanged?
January 27, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Continued
4. Ethics:
-What objections, audits, complaints, or scrutiny occurred
-Did any of them alter incentives or decisions?
Now the this is an important step:
Compare only to the previous interval
You are asking one question per axis:
-Is this better, worse, or unchanged?
4. Ethics:
-What objections, audits, complaints, or scrutiny occurred
-Did any of them alter incentives or decisions?
Now the this is an important step:
Compare only to the previous interval
You are asking one question per axis:
-Is this better, worse, or unchanged?
2. Authority:
-Who made decisions this interval?
-Did their freedom of action increase, decrease, or stay the same?
3. Containment:
-Which limits were tested?
-Did any limit change behavior, or were they bypassed?
Continued
-Who made decisions this interval?
-Did their freedom of action increase, decrease, or stay the same?
3. Containment:
-Which limits were tested?
-Did any limit change behavior, or were they bypassed?
Continued
January 27, 2026 at 4:58 PM
2. Authority:
-Who made decisions this interval?
-Did their freedom of action increase, decrease, or stay the same?
3. Containment:
-Which limits were tested?
-Did any limit change behavior, or were they bypassed?
Continued
-Who made decisions this interval?
-Did their freedom of action increase, decrease, or stay the same?
3. Containment:
-Which limits were tested?
-Did any limit change behavior, or were they bypassed?
Continued
Implementation of a diagnostic.
Pick a fixed interval. Daily, weekly, monthly. Keep it super boring but consistent.
At each interval, write down 4 short observations. (No interpretations.)
1. Burden:
-What new harm or cost appeared?
-Was any previous harm actually reduced, or just shifted?
Pick a fixed interval. Daily, weekly, monthly. Keep it super boring but consistent.
At each interval, write down 4 short observations. (No interpretations.)
1. Burden:
-What new harm or cost appeared?
-Was any previous harm actually reduced, or just shifted?
January 27, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Implementation of a diagnostic.
Pick a fixed interval. Daily, weekly, monthly. Keep it super boring but consistent.
At each interval, write down 4 short observations. (No interpretations.)
1. Burden:
-What new harm or cost appeared?
-Was any previous harm actually reduced, or just shifted?
Pick a fixed interval. Daily, weekly, monthly. Keep it super boring but consistent.
At each interval, write down 4 short observations. (No interpretations.)
1. Burden:
-What new harm or cost appeared?
-Was any previous harm actually reduced, or just shifted?
There is a loss of stability margin. A place where the system has not failed yet, but it has lost the ability to self-correct.
BACE6 detects this phase:
-the system still runs, but stability is no longer conserved.
BACE7 exists for the moment when that loss becomes irreversible
BACE6 detects this phase:
-the system still runs, but stability is no longer conserved.
BACE7 exists for the moment when that loss becomes irreversible
January 27, 2026 at 4:53 PM
There is a loss of stability margin. A place where the system has not failed yet, but it has lost the ability to self-correct.
BACE6 detects this phase:
-the system still runs, but stability is no longer conserved.
BACE7 exists for the moment when that loss becomes irreversible
BACE6 detects this phase:
-the system still runs, but stability is no longer conserved.
BACE7 exists for the moment when that loss becomes irreversible
Eventually you cross a threshold where:
-small shocks cause large effects
-recovery takes longer than the interval between shocks
-and fixes no longer return the system to its prior state.
-small shocks cause large effects
-recovery takes longer than the interval between shocks
-and fixes no longer return the system to its prior state.
January 27, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Eventually you cross a threshold where:
-small shocks cause large effects
-recovery takes longer than the interval between shocks
-and fixes no longer return the system to its prior state.
-small shocks cause large effects
-recovery takes longer than the interval between shocks
-and fixes no longer return the system to its prior state.
With monotonic drift, stability is being consumed.
Each cycle exports a little more burden, weakens containment slightly, and dulls corrective signals.
The system still appears functional, but its restoring forces are shrinking.
Each cycle exports a little more burden, weakens containment slightly, and dulls corrective signals.
The system still appears functional, but its restoring forces are shrinking.
January 27, 2026 at 4:50 PM
With monotonic drift, stability is being consumed.
Each cycle exports a little more burden, weakens containment slightly, and dulls corrective signals.
The system still appears functional, but its restoring forces are shrinking.
Each cycle exports a little more burden, weakens containment slightly, and dulls corrective signals.
The system still appears functional, but its restoring forces are shrinking.
As long as corrections occur, the system remains dynamically stable.
Errors will happen, but feedback pulls behavior back toward a workable range.
Errors will happen, but feedback pulls behavior back toward a workable range.
January 27, 2026 at 4:49 PM
As long as corrections occur, the system remains dynamically stable.
Errors will happen, but feedback pulls behavior back toward a workable range.
Errors will happen, but feedback pulls behavior back toward a workable range.
Remember these are evaluation questions.
It is not inaction or just waiting.
You are measuring monotonic drift.
If the answers to those four questions stay stable (or improve), time is being used.
If they steadily worsen, time is being consumes and you have moved on to a new phase.
It is not inaction or just waiting.
You are measuring monotonic drift.
If the answers to those four questions stay stable (or improve), time is being used.
If they steadily worsen, time is being consumes and you have moved on to a new phase.
January 27, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Remember these are evaluation questions.
It is not inaction or just waiting.
You are measuring monotonic drift.
If the answers to those four questions stay stable (or improve), time is being used.
If they steadily worsen, time is being consumes and you have moved on to a new phase.
It is not inaction or just waiting.
You are measuring monotonic drift.
If the answers to those four questions stay stable (or improve), time is being used.
If they steadily worsen, time is being consumes and you have moved on to a new phase.
Continued
3. When limits are hit, do they change behavior?
-If rules, laws, or norms get ignored with no consequence, they aren’t limits.
4. When people object, does anything change?
-If complaints, audits, or scrutiny shift behavior, the system is still responsive.
3. When limits are hit, do they change behavior?
-If rules, laws, or norms get ignored with no consequence, they aren’t limits.
4. When people object, does anything change?
-If complaints, audits, or scrutiny shift behavior, the system is still responsive.
January 27, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Continued
3. When limits are hit, do they change behavior?
-If rules, laws, or norms get ignored with no consequence, they aren’t limits.
4. When people object, does anything change?
-If complaints, audits, or scrutiny shift behavior, the system is still responsive.
3. When limits are hit, do they change behavior?
-If rules, laws, or norms get ignored with no consequence, they aren’t limits.
4. When people object, does anything change?
-If complaints, audits, or scrutiny shift behavior, the system is still responsive.
BACE6 usages is just watching the system answer 4 questions, over time. (Continues)
1. Is damage being fixed, or pushed onto someone else?
-If it’s being fixed, stay calm. If it’s being pushed outward, note it.
2. Who can actually make things happen?
-Not who should. Who actually can.
1. Is damage being fixed, or pushed onto someone else?
-If it’s being fixed, stay calm. If it’s being pushed outward, note it.
2. Who can actually make things happen?
-Not who should. Who actually can.
January 27, 2026 at 4:38 PM
BACE6 usages is just watching the system answer 4 questions, over time. (Continues)
1. Is damage being fixed, or pushed onto someone else?
-If it’s being fixed, stay calm. If it’s being pushed outward, note it.
2. Who can actually make things happen?
-Not who should. Who actually can.
1. Is damage being fixed, or pushed onto someone else?
-If it’s being fixed, stay calm. If it’s being pushed outward, note it.
2. Who can actually make things happen?
-Not who should. Who actually can.
Remember: these are guidelines for designing rules, not rules themselves.
They describe how rule sets should change across phases, not what any specific actor must do in a given case.
They describe how rule sets should change across phases, not what any specific actor must do in a given case.
January 27, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Remember: these are guidelines for designing rules, not rules themselves.
They describe how rule sets should change across phases, not what any specific actor must do in a given case.
They describe how rule sets should change across phases, not what any specific actor must do in a given case.
Of note:
BACE7 is temporary by design.
Its rules exist only to stop further irreversible accumulation.
The moment containment binds again and signals begin to change behavior, the system must return to BACE6.
(There is a version 8 for audit, repair, and normalization. ) the math is similar
BACE7 is temporary by design.
Its rules exist only to stop further irreversible accumulation.
The moment containment binds again and signals begin to change behavior, the system must return to BACE6.
(There is a version 8 for audit, repair, and normalization. ) the math is similar
January 27, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Of note:
BACE7 is temporary by design.
Its rules exist only to stop further irreversible accumulation.
The moment containment binds again and signals begin to change behavior, the system must return to BACE6.
(There is a version 8 for audit, repair, and normalization. ) the math is similar
BACE7 is temporary by design.
Its rules exist only to stop further irreversible accumulation.
The moment containment binds again and signals begin to change behavior, the system must return to BACE6.
(There is a version 8 for audit, repair, and normalization. ) the math is similar
Still blabbing about judging rule sets inan abstracted way.
To clarify.
Crossing a phase change boundary does not add new values.
But it changes which rules are allowed to operate.
BACE7 inherits the same Basic structure, but treats delay itself as a source of harm.
To clarify.
Crossing a phase change boundary does not add new values.
But it changes which rules are allowed to operate.
BACE7 inherits the same Basic structure, but treats delay itself as a source of harm.
January 27, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Still blabbing about judging rule sets inan abstracted way.
To clarify.
Crossing a phase change boundary does not add new values.
But it changes which rules are allowed to operate.
BACE7 inherits the same Basic structure, but treats delay itself as a source of harm.
To clarify.
Crossing a phase change boundary does not add new values.
But it changes which rules are allowed to operate.
BACE7 inherits the same Basic structure, but treats delay itself as a source of harm.
Continuing/
When inaction becomes cumulative, the organization phase changes.
That is the boundary where BACE6 ends and BACE7 begins.
Not because anyone chose urgency, but because delay itself now creates damage.
Note: This is abstracted to remove distractions.
When inaction becomes cumulative, the organization phase changes.
That is the boundary where BACE6 ends and BACE7 begins.
Not because anyone chose urgency, but because delay itself now creates damage.
Note: This is abstracted to remove distractions.
January 27, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Continuing/
When inaction becomes cumulative, the organization phase changes.
That is the boundary where BACE6 ends and BACE7 begins.
Not because anyone chose urgency, but because delay itself now creates damage.
Note: This is abstracted to remove distractions.
When inaction becomes cumulative, the organization phase changes.
That is the boundary where BACE6 ends and BACE7 begins.
Not because anyone chose urgency, but because delay itself now creates damage.
Note: This is abstracted to remove distractions.
Continued/
At that point, waiting is no longer neutral.
Each cycle increases retained harm and narrows future options.
This diagnostic thinking does not force action. But it tells you whether inaction is still corrective or has become cumulative.
At that point, waiting is no longer neutral.
Each cycle increases retained harm and narrows future options.
This diagnostic thinking does not force action. But it tells you whether inaction is still corrective or has become cumulative.
January 27, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Continued/
At that point, waiting is no longer neutral.
Each cycle increases retained harm and narrows future options.
This diagnostic thinking does not force action. But it tells you whether inaction is still corrective or has become cumulative.
At that point, waiting is no longer neutral.
Each cycle increases retained harm and narrows future options.
This diagnostic thinking does not force action. But it tells you whether inaction is still corrective or has become cumulative.
In BACE6, nothing escalates by default.
The point is to SEE whether correction still happens inside the system.
If burden is internalized, containment tightens, and signals change behavior, the system remains repairable.
The point is to SEE whether correction still happens inside the system.
If burden is internalized, containment tightens, and signals change behavior, the system remains repairable.
January 27, 2026 at 4:00 PM
In BACE6, nothing escalates by default.
The point is to SEE whether correction still happens inside the system.
If burden is internalized, containment tightens, and signals change behavior, the system remains repairable.
The point is to SEE whether correction still happens inside the system.
If burden is internalized, containment tightens, and signals change behavior, the system remains repairable.
BACE6 is the observation phase.
It measures four things continuously:
• Burden: who is accumulating harm and cost
• Authority: who can act, not who claims legitimacy
• Containment: whether limits actually bind behavior
• Ethics: whether signals change incentives or are ignored
It measures four things continuously:
• Burden: who is accumulating harm and cost
• Authority: who can act, not who claims legitimacy
• Containment: whether limits actually bind behavior
• Ethics: whether signals change incentives or are ignored
January 27, 2026 at 3:57 PM
BACE6 is the observation phase.
It measures four things continuously:
• Burden: who is accumulating harm and cost
• Authority: who can act, not who claims legitimacy
• Containment: whether limits actually bind behavior
• Ethics: whether signals change incentives or are ignored
It measures four things continuously:
• Burden: who is accumulating harm and cost
• Authority: who can act, not who claims legitimacy
• Containment: whether limits actually bind behavior
• Ethics: whether signals change incentives or are ignored
I know this is weird and abstracted. Have fun!
BACE6 is the earlier phase that runs before hard rules exist.
It tracks burden accumulation, how authority actually operates, whether containment binds, and whether ethics function as signals or real constraint w/o escalation or special permissions.
BACE6 is the earlier phase that runs before hard rules exist.
It tracks burden accumulation, how authority actually operates, whether containment binds, and whether ethics function as signals or real constraint w/o escalation or special permissions.
January 27, 2026 at 3:53 PM
I know this is weird and abstracted. Have fun!
BACE6 is the earlier phase that runs before hard rules exist.
It tracks burden accumulation, how authority actually operates, whether containment binds, and whether ethics function as signals or real constraint w/o escalation or special permissions.
BACE6 is the earlier phase that runs before hard rules exist.
It tracks burden accumulation, how authority actually operates, whether containment binds, and whether ethics function as signals or real constraint w/o escalation or special permissions.
I introduced the BACE7 framework work first because it is a controversial set of guides for designing rules you would follow in an emergency situation. Like a natural disaster or manmade disaster.
These are ethics or rule systems that are phased dependent. Lets get into earlier phases now….
These are ethics or rule systems that are phased dependent. Lets get into earlier phases now….
January 27, 2026 at 3:48 PM
I introduced the BACE7 framework work first because it is a controversial set of guides for designing rules you would follow in an emergency situation. Like a natural disaster or manmade disaster.
These are ethics or rule systems that are phased dependent. Lets get into earlier phases now….
These are ethics or rule systems that are phased dependent. Lets get into earlier phases now….
No theory is better than a bullshit theory.
Read that again with a different tempo.
Read that again with a different tempo.
January 27, 2026 at 4:58 AM
No theory is better than a bullshit theory.
Read that again with a different tempo.
Read that again with a different tempo.
Part 6
Consequences branch.
Branch B (resentment collapse)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant.
Second order:
Officers learn they’re expendable. Trust collapses, resentment grows, loyalty shifts to self-protection, and compliance becomes brittle.
Consequences branch.
Branch B (resentment collapse)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant.
Second order:
Officers learn they’re expendable. Trust collapses, resentment grows, loyalty shifts to self-protection, and compliance becomes brittle.
January 27, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Part 6
Consequences branch.
Branch B (resentment collapse)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant.
Second order:
Officers learn they’re expendable. Trust collapses, resentment grows, loyalty shifts to self-protection, and compliance becomes brittle.
Consequences branch.
Branch B (resentment collapse)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant.
Second order:
Officers learn they’re expendable. Trust collapses, resentment grows, loyalty shifts to self-protection, and compliance becomes brittle.
Part 5.
Consequences branch.
Branch A (cover optimization)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant
Second order:
Everyone learns exposure, not harm, is the crime. Officers optimize for deniability, reporting drops, and future abuses continue with better cover.
Consequences branch.
Branch A (cover optimization)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant
Second order:
Everyone learns exposure, not harm, is the crime. Officers optimize for deniability, reporting drops, and future abuses continue with better cover.
January 27, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Part 5.
Consequences branch.
Branch A (cover optimization)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant
Second order:
Everyone learns exposure, not harm, is the crime. Officers optimize for deniability, reporting drops, and future abuses continue with better cover.
Consequences branch.
Branch A (cover optimization)
First order:
After civilian deaths, leadership scapegoats one lieutenant
Second order:
Everyone learns exposure, not harm, is the crime. Officers optimize for deniability, reporting drops, and future abuses continue with better cover.