Why is Murphy's law true?
-
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Some days, it just sucks to be you. You might try being someone else. The voices in my head like it when I say things like that.
El Corazon wrote:
"... I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole
:cool:
El Corazon wrote:
Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
Did it help?
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Tomorrow will be better.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Andy Brummer wrote:
Watson's law: As an online discussion of cars grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving the Bugatti Veyron approaches one.
-
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Given randomly distributed events happening at random times, it is much more likely that events (of any kind) get bunched together rather than occur at evenly spaced intervals. (It makes sense if you think about it, and it can be mathematically proven.) As humans we tend to apply patterns to randomness, thus "Murphy's Law" and endless superstitions. There is an astounding amount about life and existence that can be explained by understanding statistics. Alas, very few seem to grasp it. (I know, I'm no fun at all.)
Faith is a fine invention For gentlemen who see; But microscopes are prudent In an emergency! -Emily Dickinson
-
Given randomly distributed events happening at random times, it is much more likely that events (of any kind) get bunched together rather than occur at evenly spaced intervals. (It makes sense if you think about it, and it can be mathematically proven.) As humans we tend to apply patterns to randomness, thus "Murphy's Law" and endless superstitions. There is an astounding amount about life and existence that can be explained by understanding statistics. Alas, very few seem to grasp it. (I know, I'm no fun at all.)
Faith is a fine invention For gentlemen who see; But microscopes are prudent In an emergency! -Emily Dickinson
47.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot merely to prove a point.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Consider this. What if we could break the 'laws' of physics as easily as we break the laws of the land. Consider the utter and literal chaos that would result from 6 billion competing sets of physical rules trying to coexist in more or less the same space at more or less the same time... Sometimes the limitations of our humanity are a blessing and all the stuff like causality and linear time that we get for free is a blessing all the time, though we take it for granted every day. When that fire alarm went off you knew what it was and how to fix it. You're one of the only type of beings in the universe capable of such a feat. You could choose to feel good about that. :) P.S. Murphy was wrong, he just had no idea how bad things really could be.
Nothing is exactly what it seems but everything with seems can be unpicked.
-
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
...enjoy this while you can... :rolleyes:
every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?
-
47.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot merely to prove a point.
Software Zen:
delete this;... but only 83.5% of those are actually wrong, the rest are just lucky guesses.:laugh:
Nothing is exactly what it seems but everything with seems can be unpicked.
-
Given randomly distributed events happening at random times, it is much more likely that events (of any kind) get bunched together rather than occur at evenly spaced intervals. (It makes sense if you think about it, and it can be mathematically proven.) As humans we tend to apply patterns to randomness, thus "Murphy's Law" and endless superstitions. There is an astounding amount about life and existence that can be explained by understanding statistics. Alas, very few seem to grasp it. (I know, I'm no fun at all.)
Faith is a fine invention For gentlemen who see; But microscopes are prudent In an emergency! -Emily Dickinson
David Kentley wrote:
Given randomly distributed events happening at random times
Naw, I think it has to do with Thermodynamics. Just think of the three laws: 1) You can't win. 2) You must loose lose. 3) You have to play the game. Physics! it's what's for breakfast today... mmmm speaking of thermodynamics.... mmmmm roasted coffee beans ground and water filtered through.... -- modified at 11:27 Tuesday 23rd October, 2007
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Consider this. What if we could break the 'laws' of physics as easily as we break the laws of the land. Consider the utter and literal chaos that would result from 6 billion competing sets of physical rules trying to coexist in more or less the same space at more or less the same time... Sometimes the limitations of our humanity are a blessing and all the stuff like causality and linear time that we get for free is a blessing all the time, though we take it for granted every day. When that fire alarm went off you knew what it was and how to fix it. You're one of the only type of beings in the universe capable of such a feat. You could choose to feel good about that. :) P.S. Murphy was wrong, he just had no idea how bad things really could be.
Nothing is exactly what it seems but everything with seems can be unpicked.
Matthew Faithfull wrote:
You could choose to feel good about that.
mmmm coffee!
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
...enjoy this while you can... :rolleyes:
every night, i kneel at the foot of my bed and thank the Great Overseeing Politicians for protecting my freedoms by reducing their number, as if they were deer in a state park. -- Chris Losinger, Online Poker Players?
extra coffee for you sir! ;P
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Have you ever stopped to ponder the laws of chaos? I thought about it today. Sure I was tired, and that explains why I made too much noise getting up this morning, and woke my wife (many times). But also on the same day that one of the fire-alarms, INSIDE my step-son's room (why THAT one of all the ones in the house????) decided to start beeping every minute asking for a battery as I scramble to find one before it wakes him up, as it already had my wife (and then my noise kept her awake). On the same day they increase road construction and slow down traffic, on the same day a cold front moved in and HEL froze over. On the same day we have an increased number of tours, on the same day we found out our dead hard-drive (on an important machine) has to be re-ordered because purchasing "lost" the purchase request, on the same day that we need to use that machine, on the same day a florescent light over my desk is feeling a little "disco", and on the same day a fan went out on one of my computers... and the list just goes on. Do deadlines, problems and VIPs congregate to each other? Do they seek each other out deliberately like some perverse sadistic story? Is every day really bad, but we gloss over the bad parts because we are in a good mood already? If the latter, then are good days really bad, and what does that say about the universe? Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
"You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them. So now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
Because it is. It's like the start of the universe, if it wasn't true, then it would shortly become true because of itself. This may be how the universe started - things were probably better when it wasn't here...
-
Some days, it just sucks to be you. You might try being someone else. The voices in my head like it when I say things like that.
El Corazon wrote:
"... I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe." - Marcus Cole
:cool:
El Corazon wrote:
Maybe the laws of chaos are all just a sign of a lack of coffee... At least that is solvable.... I think I will try that....
Did it help?
Software Zen:
delete this;Gary Wheeler wrote:
Did it help?
one cup better... outlook is improving, there may be a correlation.... I decided to add a pop tart with the coffee to improve my mood also. Since Christina Aguilera wouldn't answer her phone, I had the Kelloggs variety instead. ;P
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
Given randomly distributed events happening at random times, it is much more likely that events (of any kind) get bunched together rather than occur at evenly spaced intervals. (It makes sense if you think about it, and it can be mathematically proven.) As humans we tend to apply patterns to randomness, thus "Murphy's Law" and endless superstitions. There is an astounding amount about life and existence that can be explained by understanding statistics. Alas, very few seem to grasp it. (I know, I'm no fun at all.)
Faith is a fine invention For gentlemen who see; But microscopes are prudent In an emergency! -Emily Dickinson
David Kentley wrote:
There is an astounding amount about life and existence that can be explained by understanding statistics
If your staistical analysis is about something reflecting "life and existence" (such as the distribution of random events) is that really so astounding? I'm tempted to say "Well I should hope so..." Still.. perhaps the reason "very few seem to grasp it" is because statistics are only as valid as the questions asked (measurements taken.) As Deep Thought pointed out (inter alia), the answer kind of depends on the question, and all too often an invalid or badly put question leads to less than useless answers (but repeated as gospel by fools) which pretty quickly turns people off the whole subject. Fred
-
Gary Wheeler wrote:
Did it help?
one cup better... outlook is improving, there may be a correlation.... I decided to add a pop tart with the coffee to improve my mood also. Since Christina Aguilera wouldn't answer her phone, I had the Kelloggs variety instead. ;P
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
El Corazon wrote:
a pop tart ... Since Christina Aguilera wouldn't answer her phone
:rolleyes: Caffeine, sugar, saturated fats. Great way to start the day :-D... Like I should talk. I had a glazed blueberry cake donut after I got to work this morning (this was in addition to my normal bowl of cereal at home) :sigh:.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Because it is. It's like the start of the universe, if it wasn't true, then it would shortly become true because of itself. This may be how the universe started - things were probably better when it wasn't here...
Damn :omg:. Who peed in your oatmeal this morning?
Software Zen:
delete this; -
David Kentley wrote:
Given randomly distributed events happening at random times
Naw, I think it has to do with Thermodynamics. Just think of the three laws: 1) You can't win. 2) You must loose lose. 3) You have to play the game. Physics! it's what's for breakfast today... mmmm speaking of thermodynamics.... mmmmm roasted coffee beans ground and water filtered through.... -- modified at 11:27 Tuesday 23rd October, 2007
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
El Corazon wrote:
- You must loose.
- You must always misspell "lose" on a public board. 4a) You must always mix up "they're" and "their" as well.
Please don't bother me... I'm hacking right now. Don't look at me like that - doesn't anybody remember what "hacking" really means? :sigh:
-
El Corazon wrote:
a pop tart ... Since Christina Aguilera wouldn't answer her phone
:rolleyes: Caffeine, sugar, saturated fats. Great way to start the day :-D... Like I should talk. I had a glazed blueberry cake donut after I got to work this morning (this was in addition to my normal bowl of cereal at home) :sigh:.
Software Zen:
delete this;Gary Wheeler wrote:
Great way to start the day
well, I had dried appricots and a yogurt too. The pop tart was a last minute thing. I thought about a bear claw, but the pun wasn't nearly as entertaining.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
El Corazon wrote:
- You must loose.
- You must always misspell "lose" on a public board. 4a) You must always mix up "they're" and "their" as well.
Please don't bother me... I'm hacking right now. Don't look at me like that - doesn't anybody remember what "hacking" really means? :sigh:
Robert Royall wrote:
You must always misspell "lose" on a public board.
As I always say... that is why they pay someone a fraction of my wage to edit my whitepapers. ;) I fully admit my spelling disadvantage, I graduated from the NM public school system, graduated 12th in a class of approx 265, and graduated with a 6th grade national equivalent spelling ability. I improve daily, but I am far from perfect. :)
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
-
David Kentley wrote:
There is an astounding amount about life and existence that can be explained by understanding statistics
If your staistical analysis is about something reflecting "life and existence" (such as the distribution of random events) is that really so astounding? I'm tempted to say "Well I should hope so..." Still.. perhaps the reason "very few seem to grasp it" is because statistics are only as valid as the questions asked (measurements taken.) As Deep Thought pointed out (inter alia), the answer kind of depends on the question, and all too often an invalid or badly put question leads to less than useless answers (but repeated as gospel by fools) which pretty quickly turns people off the whole subject. Fred
What amazes me is how few people realize the Wowbanger The Infinitely Prolonged had the question all along, "What to do with the long dark tea time of the soul?". His answer, to insult every living organism in the space time continuum in alphabetical order, didn't work. IMO Deep Thought's answer of For Tea Two was entirely correct and as independent of the question, while being aposite, as you could hope for, even with several million years of thought. Which only goes to show that if you couldn't beat the odds occasionally then they would be very odd indeed.
Nothing is exactly what it seems but everything with seems can be unpicked.