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<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><title>SNAFU principle</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="../../jargon.css" type="text/css"/><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.61.0"/><link rel="home" href="../index.html" title="The Jargon File"/><link rel="up" href="../S.html" title="S"/><link rel="previous" href="smurf.html" title="smurf"/><link rel="next" href="snail.html" title="snail"/></head><body><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">SNAFU principle</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="smurf.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">S</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="snail.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr/></div><dt><a id="SNAFU-principle"/><dt xmlns="" id="SNAFU-principle"><b>SNAFU principle</b>: <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="pronunciation">/sna´foo prin´si·pl/</span>, <span xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="grammar">n.</span></dt></dt><dd><p> [from a WWII Army ac­ro­nym for &#8216;Situation Normal, All
Fucked Up&#8217;] &#8220;<span class="quote">True communication is possible only between
equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their
superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth.:</span>&#8221; &#8212; a
central tenet of <a href="../D/Discordianism.html"><i class="glossterm">Discordianism</i></a>, 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:</p><div class="literallayout"><p><br/>
In the beginning was the plan,<br/>
       and then the specification;<br/>
And the plan was without form,<br/>
       and the specification was void.<br/>
<br/>
And darkness<br/>
       was on the faces of the implementors thereof;<br/>
And they spake unto their leader,<br/>
       saying:<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">It is a crock of shit,<br/>
       and smells as of a sewer.</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
And the leader took pity on them,<br/>
       and spoke to the project leader:<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">It is a crock of excrement,<br/>
       and none may abide the odor thereof.</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
And the project leader<br/>
       spake unto his section head, saying:<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">It is a container of excrement,<br/>
       and it is very strong, such that none may abide it.</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
The section head then hurried to his department manager,<br/>
       and informed him thus:<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">It is a vessel of fertilizer,<br/>
       and none may abide its strength.</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
The department manager carried these words<br/>
      to his general manager,<br/>
and spoke unto him<br/>
      saying:<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants,<br/>
      and it is very strong.</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
And so it was that the general manager rejoiced<br/>
      and delivered the good news unto the Vice President.<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">It promoteth growth,<br/>
      and it is very powerful.</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
The Vice President rushed to the President's side,<br/>
      and joyously exclaimed:<br/>
&#8220;<span class="quote">This powerful new software product<br/>
      will promote the growth of the company!</span>&#8221;<br/>
<br/>
And the President looked upon the product,<br/>
      and saw that it was very good.<br/>
</p></div><p>After the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the
<a href="suit.html"><i class="glossterm">suit</i></a>s protect themselves by saying &#8220;<span class="quote">I was
misinformed!</span>&#8221;, and the implementors are demoted or fired. Compare
<a href="../C/Conways-Law.html"><i class="glossterm">Conway's Law</i></a>.</p></dd><div class="navfooter"><hr/><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="smurf.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="../S.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="snail.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">smurf </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="../index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> snail</td></tr></table></div></body></html>