diff --git a/entries/SNAFU principle.txt b/entries/SNAFU principle.txt index fe48c7b..5e996b9 100644 --- a/entries/SNAFU principle.txt +++ b/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.