Similarly, in coordinating coalitions against someone—from petty intrigue, through daily politicking, to ethnic cleansing—clearly false and unfair accusations signal that the sender isn't driven by upholding the allegedly broken norms, but committed to hurting the target, even by breaking rules.
Juraj Medzihorsky
A favorite theory theory of mine. Stupidity isn't the only way of achieving this effect—many types of norm violation will do. Incivility and falsity included.
The attention that such violations attract is a bonus, boosting the signal and their sender's prestige.
Image from the latest SMBC Comics.
