Work can be a stressful place. Some people seem to operate according to their own inane laws. Knowledge is the first step to being able to laugh off the idiocy.
The Airplane Rule:
“Complexity increases the possibility of failure; a twin-engine airplane has twice as many engine problems as a single-engine airplane.” Correspondingly, the right way to build reliable systems is to put all your eggs in one basket, after making sure that you've built a really good basket.
The Fuzzy-Wuzzy Fallacy:
"Superior firepower will not necessarily win over superior numbers or tactics; the Zulu overwhelmed the British in Africa." Friends and intelligence are your real weapons against your foes.
Parkinson's Law:
"Bureaucracies have a structural tendancy to make work for themselves." They have little time for you. The more you can do yourself, the more will be accomplished.
The Big Rock Law:
"There is a large rock in your path. If you cannot go through it, go around it. If you cannot go around it, go over it. If you cannot go over it, go under it..." A problem you cannot solve does have a solution. You may not be able to see it, but back up and open your mind, and it will eventually present itself.
Formosa's Law:
“The truly insane have enough on their plates without us adding to it.” If someone is mental, don't let them drag you down. Leave them to their own delusions of grandeur, moral indignation, fundamentalism, etc.
Hanlon's Razor:
“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.” They probably didn't mean it, and it'll save you stress.
Occam's Mirror:
"The simplest explanation is almost never the correct one" Named after the infamously incorrect "Occam's Razor", which states the opposite. Occam's Mirror shows Occam that he missed quite a few spots shaving.
Murphy's Law:
“If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it.” The original law of Edward A. Murphy, Jr. It is a true statement, so keep your ass covered at all times.
Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology:
“There is always one more bug.”
SNAFU Principle:
"True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth; from the Army acronym "Situation Normal, All F***** Up"." Management needs to keep its head at all times out of its ass if it wants to continue to receive useful and honest information. Power trips result in misinformation and failure.
Sturgeon's Law:
“Ninety percent of everything is crud.” And as long as you realize that, you'll be fine.
