Adding Fuel to Fire
Updated 2026-08-10
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
A systemic failure pattern in which an actor misreads an intervention's direction and applies a measure that amplifies rather than suppresses the problem, like fighting debt with more debt. The core proposition is that intent does not determine effect; what matters is whether the intervention pushes the system toward or away from its leverage point. The key qualification is that short-term relief can mask long-term amplification.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Direction check: ask plainly whether the proposed intervention amplifies or suppresses the core problem. - Small test: run it at limited scale to observe its actual effect. - Second-order watch: monitor delayed effects and cut the intervention if it backfires.
Anchor fast decisions
The intervention is mistaken for a remedy because it suppresses a symptom briefly, but it sits on the wrong side of the system's leverage point and feeds the reinforcing loop underneath. Each application adds fuel, the problem returns stronger, and the actor responds with more of the same, producing a spiral.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
account_treeGenealogyexpand_more
menu_bookReferencesexpand_more
Source support: Explicit
- zh.wikisource.orghttps://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%B2%9E%E8%A7%80%E6%94%BF%E8%A6%81/%E5%8D%B701verified
PRIVATE NOTES · Only visible to you
SAVED Q&A
ENTRY Q&A · Private saving available
Ask with a clear boundary
thinkingmodels answers from published entry context only.
Your question is sent to thinkingmodels. The answer uses public entry context only.
RELATED MODELS