Opinionated, Not Authoritarian

A useful system holds an opinion lightly. It can suggest, draft and arrange, but it should leave the final judgement to the person at the other end. Confidence without deference is just noise wearing a uniform.

The hardest part of building these tools is knowing when to stop helping. Taste is not a problem to be solved, it is a responsibility to be returned to its owner.

Deference as Design

The most respectful interface is one that makes its own retreat easy. It earns trust by being willing to be overruled.