[yzydserd]

> The definition of orthogonal is that one axis doesn’t influence the other.

Ok that’s interesting, a new definition on me. I see orthogonal as attributes at right angles, a measure of perpendicularity. I don’t see it as an indicator of attribute independence.

So if kind and right are orthogonal, this means you can (mostly) be one or the other but not (usually) both.

But a quick google shows your usage is common/normal. Hmm, lovely English. TIL something. Thanks for explaining.

[dllthomas]

Imagine X and Y axes, perpendicular as usual. If you become 3 units more X, that doesn't change how Y you are. Contrariwise, if we nudge our axes out of orthogonality, now moving along the X axes changes where I am on the Y. Obviously the use here is metaphorical, but that's the sense meant.

Edited to add: consider "independence" and orthogonality in vector spaces, if you want to get mathematically precise about it.