2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
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SNAFU principle
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2014-07-26 05:31:50 -04:00
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/snafoo prinsipl/ , n. [from a WWII Army acronym for Situation Normal,
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All Fucked Up ] True communication is possible only between equals,
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because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their
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superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth.: a central tenet
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of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why
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authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The
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effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of
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decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable
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dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly:
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In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the
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plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness
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was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto
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their leader, saying verily: It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a
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2014-07-26 05:32:58 -04:00
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sewer. And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project
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2014-07-26 05:31:50 -04:00
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leader: It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor
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thereof. And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying:
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It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none
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may abide it. The section head then hurried to his department manager,
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and informed him thus: It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may
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abide its strength. The department manager carried these words to his
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general manager, and spoke unto him saying: It containeth that which
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aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong. And so it was that
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the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice
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President. It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful. The Vice
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President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: This
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powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!
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And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very
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good. After the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the suits protect
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themselves by saying I was misinformed!, and the implementors are
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demoted or fired. Compare Conway's Law.
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