SNAFU principle

entries/SNAFU principle.txt

@@ -1,30 +1,33 @@
 SNAFU principle
 
-/snafoo prinsipl/ , n. [from a WWII Army acronym for Situation Normal, All
-Fucked Up ] True communication is possible only between equals, because
-inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors
-pleasant lies than for telling the truth.: a central tenet of Discordianism
-, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up
-so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a
-progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly
-adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the
-phenomenon perfectly: Inthebeginningwastheplan, andthenthespecification;
-Andtheplanwaswithoutform, andthespecificationwasvoid. Anddarkness
-wasonthefacesoftheimplementorsthereof; Andtheyspakeuntotheirleader, saying:
-Itisacrockofshit, andsmellsasofasewer. Andtheleadertookpityonthem,
-andspoketotheprojectleader: Itisacrockofexcrement,
-andnonemayabidetheodorthereof. Andtheprojectleader
-spakeuntohissectionhead,saying: Itisacontainerofexcrement,
-anditisverystrong,suchthatnonemayabideit.
-Thesectionheadthenhurriedtohisdepartmentmanager, andinformedhimthus:
-Itisavesseloffertilizer, andnonemayabideitsstrength.
-Thedepartmentmanagercarriedthesewords tohisgeneralmanager, andspokeuntohim
-saying: Itcontaineththatwhichaideththegrowthofplants, anditisverystrong.
-Andsoitwasthatthegeneralmanagerrejoiced
-anddeliveredthegoodnewsuntotheVicePresident. Itpromotethgrowth,
-anditisverypowerful. TheVicePresidentrushedtothePresident'sside,
-andjoyouslyexclaimed: Thispowerfulnewsoftwareproduct
-willpromotethegrowthofthecompany! AndthePresidentlookedupontheproduct,
-andsawthatitwasverygood. After the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the
-suits protect themselves by saying I was misinformed! , and the
-implementors are demoted or fired. Compare Conway's Law.
+/snafoo prinsipl/ , n. [from a WWII Army acronym for Situation Normal,
+All Fucked Up ] True communication is possible only between equals,
+because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their
+superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth.: a central tenet
+of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why
+authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The
+effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of
+decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable
+dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly:
+
+In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the
+plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness
+was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto
+their leader, saying verily: It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a
+sewer. And the leader too kpity on them, and spoke to the project
+leader: It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor
+thereof. And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying:
+It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none
+may abide it. The section head then hurried to his department manager,
+and informed him thus: It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may
+abide its strength. The department manager carried these words to his
+general manager, and spoke unto him saying: It containeth that which
+aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong. And so it was that
+the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice
+President. It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful. The Vice
+President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: This
+powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!
+And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very
+good. After the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the suits protect
+themselves by saying I was misinformed!, and the implementors are
+demoted or fired. Compare Conway's Law.