4 ms·
Kottke says that this story gets "trotted out every time some large organization introduces some complex, bloated, over-engineered product or process". And the
by aresant 13y ago
Kottke says that this story gets "trotted out every time some large organization introduces some complex, bloated, over-engineered product or process".
And then he gloriously "debunks" the myth, framing NASA as the unfairly labeled neerdowell.
The inference is that today's news on gov't waste is also potentially a "myth".
The reality is that Kottke's post is a red-herring.
What's the 2nd result on Google for "Space Pen"? It is, of course, the snopes page describing the "hoax".
And have you seen any major (or minor for that matter) news organizations today using the example of the "space pen" as an indicator of government waste?
No.
So in fact what we have here is a little allegory delivered in a neatly wrapped package to instantly defuse further investigation, and let us all go back to our armchairs.
- DigitalJack 13y agoThat's your inference. I hear this story once or twice a year. Not from news agencies but from engineers in meetings in response to our company or some other company creating a perceived boondoggle.
- jlgreco 13y agoExactly. "It's like a fucking spacepen" is a phrase I've heard more than once in my career.
- interstitial 13y agoIt's an inference, but that's how priming and propaganda work.
- aasarava 13y ago> The inference is that today's news on gov't waste is also potentially a "myth". Really? That's quite a leap. I read it as an interesting debunking of a common myth that I have heard before. That's all. Not sure where you got the "today's news" part.
- nsxwolf 13y agoBlog entry is dated today. Seems like a strange coincidence. I'm with parent on this.
- ChikkaChiChi 13y agoCats like milk. Milk comes from cows. Cows moo. Therefore all cat owners are racist. (Since we're clearly on the subject of specious reasoning)
- asveikau 13y ago> The inference is that today's news on gov't waste is also potentially a "myth". Kottke didn't say it, but I will: it sure sounds like a myth to me the way you are phrasing it. I haven't seen any news today on government waste. Is that the news articles you have going on in your own mind? Sorry, this type of comment is not very popular on HN, but I felt I had to bite here. Despite the effort of some politicians these days you can't just use unqualified "government waste" as a throwaway line, assume everybody knows what you're talking about despite citing nothing specific. And when folks do try to come to you with something specific, it's quite challenging to come up with things that are universally considered waste.
- zobzu 13y agoits like the myth that the F35 is too expensive compared to equivalent planes and that it's already outdated. and a zillion other stories. in fact, the more the US citizen think of this that way, the more obtuse the downwards spiral. This is a classic, actually. If you can't verify the facts, don't believe bullshit just because "its trendy".
- anigbrowl 13y agoI have heard the pencil yarn more than once. In fact, I lerned about it from seeing repeated on HN. The inference is that today's news on gov't waste is also potentially a "myth". Any specific news, or just the news in these times? I had a conversation with some people a week ago who were saying that it was good the CDC was shut down, and claims that it might interfere with its public health mission were just nonsense. A week later I'm hearing news that 30 or 40 of them have been recalled from furlough to deal with the salmonella outbreak that has hospitalized people in 18 states.
- sixothree 13y agoIt's been years, but I've been in one of those meetings where someone uses this as an example.
- bcoates 13y agoI have heard this myth repeated this week, in a business setting, in complete seriousness.