The third story, most respectful interpretation, and Hanlon's razor are all attempts to overcome what psychologists call the fundamental attribution error, where you frequently make errors by attributing others' behaviors to their internal, or fundamental, motivations rather than external factors. You are guilty of the fundamental attribution error whenever you think someone was mean because she is mean rather than thinking she was just having a bad day.
Chapter:
Being Wrong Less
Section:
Walk A Mile In Their Shoes