social engineering, n.Definitions

Social engineering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠like fixing a broken computer with a crowbar, except that human societies are far more complex than computers.

Social engineering (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠dangerous whether its claim to knowledge is real or fraudulent: where the techniques work they entrench the managers, and where they fail, coercion fills the gap.