Although I consider myself a strict rationalist, there is one universal quasi-religious belief which life has taught me to take seriously: Sod's Law, aka Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will.
The standard experiment to prove it is as follows - Drop a large number of slices of buttered toast onto an expensive carpet and an equal number onto a wipe-clean surface. Many more slices will land buttered-side down on the carpet, proving Sod's Law. If they don't, the experiment has failed, thus equally proving Sod's Law.
There are dozens of other formulations of this law; e.g. for electronics hobbyists: 'All component leads are 3mm too short.'
Do you believe in Sod's law, and what's your favourite version?

(November 30, 2009 at 6:59 am)Pope Alfred Wrote: Although I consider myself a strict rationalist, there is one universal quasi-religious belief which life has taught me to take seriously: Sod's Law, aka Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will.
The standard experiment to prove it is as follows - Drop a large number of slices of buttered toast onto an expensive carpet and an equal number onto a wipe-clean surface. Many more slices will land buttered-side down on the carpet, proving Sod's Law. If they don't, the experiment has failed, thus equally proving Sod's Law.
There are dozens of other formulations of this law; e.g. for electronics hobbyists: 'All component leads are 3mm too short.'
Do you believe in Sod's law, and what's your favourite version?

No, because it's not a law... It is far more correct to say "If anything can go wrong then there is a chance it will" but we can never guarantee anything, not even eventual failure.

It's, occasionally, humorous. But it's basically just nonsense and I got bored of its humour years ago, sorry, lol.

EvF

(November 30, 2009 at 9:13 am)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: It's, occasionally, humorous. But it's basically just nonsense and I got bored of its humour years ago, sorry, lol.

EvF

Quite hypocritical ending that statement with a 'lol'

(November 30, 2009 at 9:40 am)theVOID Wrote: Quite hypocritical ending that statement with a 'lol'

Oh, well - that's Sod's Law.

I don't get it.

Lol.

EvF

(November 30, 2009 at 9:51 am)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: I don't get it.

Lol.

EvF

Meaning me or Alfred? Because i don't get how that was exemplary of Sods law either...

I don't get either!!

EvF

(November 30, 2009 at 9:51 am)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: I don't get it. Lol. EvF

Just me being silly, as usual.

Bless the FSM, ramen.

EvF