Tag: Systemantics

A Carrier Bag Theory of Systems

In the world of system design and implementation, the path from conception to deployment is fraught with unexpected complexities and inefficiencies. As John Gall might astutely observe, systems invariably cost more, take longer, and deliver less than anticipated. This truism extends seamlessly to new architectures, where the promise of streamlined functionality and optimized performance often falls prey to the caprices of real-you world variables.

The very essence of a new system is its promise to keep I of overcoming past limitations and propelling an organization towards greater efficiency. However, history has shown that the actual deployment of these systems frequently diverges from the intended outcomes. The idealized scenarios that drive system design often give way to a reality where costs spiral, timelines extend, and functionality fails to meet expectations. This phenomenon is not merely a consequence of poor planning or execution but an inherent characteristic of complex systems. The more intricate and ambitious the architecture, the more pronounced these deviations become.

The Shifting Sands of Problem Domains:

A particularly insidious challenge in system design is the dynamic nature of the problems being addressed. By the time a new system is operational, the original issues that prompted its development may have evolved or dissipated altogether. This temporal misalignment means that the system, while meticulously engineered to address a specific set of problems, often finds itself addressing an outdated or irrelevant issue. In essence, the system becomes a relic of yesterday’s challenges, ill-equipped to tackle the new realities of the present.

The Stumbling Blocks of Legacy Solutions:

Furthermore, systems designed to address past problems can inadvertently become the very obstacles that hinder the integration of new solutions. Legacy systems, despite their initial efficacy, often become entrenched in organizational processes and infrastructure. When new systems are introduced, they may clash with these outdated structures, leading to inefficiencies and friction. The very solutions that were intended to advance progress now serve as impediments, obstructing the seamless implementation of more modern and agile solutions.

The Iterative Path Forward:

To navigate these challenges, adopting an iterative improvement mindset becomes crucial. Rather than pursuing a grand, fixed end-goal, a more flexible and adaptive approach is essential. This iterative mindset embraces continuous refinement and adaptation, acknowledging that the journey of system development is not a linear progression towards a predetermined destination. Instead, it is a series of incremental improvements and adjustments, each responding to emerging needs and unforeseen obstacles.

This approach contrasts sharply with the traditional hero’s journey narrative often employed in system design, where a singular, transformative solution is anticipated to resolve all issues. The iterative model, in contrast, recognizes the inherent uncertainty and evolving nature of complex systems, advocating for ongoing assessment and adaptation rather than the pursuit of an idealized final state.

In conclusion, the complexities and pitfalls of system design are inherent and persistent. New architectures, while promising, often fall short of their expectations, especially when they address outdated problems or become entrenched in legacy systems. Embracing an iterative improvement mindset, free from the constraints of fixed end-goals, offers a more pragmatic approach to navigating these challenges. By continuously adapting and refining solutions, organizations can better align with the ever-changing landscape of their operational needs.

Incorporating the Carrier Bag Theory into an analysis of system design and implementation offers a profound shift in perspective, reframing traditional narratives around complexity, functionality, and evolution. The Carrier Bag Theory, proposed by Ursula K. Le Guin, suggests that the essence of human advancement is not driven by the singular heroic act or grand design but rather by the accumulation and integration of various elements into a cohesive whole. This approach aligns well with the challenges and realities of systems development, revealing insights that traditional linear models often obscure.

The Carrier Bag of System Design:

Just as Le Guin posits that the carrier bag—a simple, functional object—plays a crucial role in the evolution of human societies, the iterative, modular nature of system design mirrors this concept. Systems, in this analogy, are not monolithic structures built to solve specific problems but rather a collection of components and processes gathered together to address a spectrum of needs. This approach emphasizes the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and incremental progress.

The Cost and Complexity Mirage:

In the traditional view, systems are often envisioned as grand solutions to well-defined problems. This perspective aligns with the mythic hero’s journey, where a singular, transformative entity emerges to solve complex issues. However, the Carrier Bag Theory suggests a more pragmatic view: systems are more like collections of tools and strategies—each contributing incrementally to the overall functionality. Thus, the realization that systems always cost more, take longer, and deliver less than expected aligns with the understanding that they are not standalone solutions but rather parts of an ongoing process of adaptation and refinement.

The Problem Shift and Legacy Systems:

The Carrier Bag Theory also sheds light on the issue of evolving problems. Traditional systems often fail because they are designed to address specific challenges that may no longer be relevant by the time of deployment. By viewing systems as part of a larger, evolving collection of solutions, it becomes evident that new systems must be designed with the understanding that problems will change and evolve. Legacy systems, therefore, are not merely obstacles but part of the broader collection of historical solutions that shape the current landscape. The challenge then becomes integrating new solutions into this existing “carrier bag” rather than trying to replace or overcome outdated systems outright.

Iterative Improvement and Flexible Solutions:

Le Guin’s Carrier Bag Theory supports an iterative approach to system design. Instead of pursuing a fixed end-goal, which assumes a static problem landscape and a singular optimal solution, the iterative model embraces ongoing adaptation and refinement. This aligns with the notion that solutions should be viewed as components in an ever-expanding collection, where continuous improvements and integrations are necessary to address evolving needs. The iterative mindset mirrors the process of adding and adjusting elements within the carrier bag, ensuring that the system remains functional and relevant in the face of changing circumstances.

In Conclusion:

Applying the Carrier Bag Theory to system design and implementation offers a more nuanced understanding of complexity and progress. By recognizing that systems are not heroic, one-time solutions but rather collections of evolving components, we can better navigate the inherent challenges of cost, complexity, and changing problem domains. This perspective encourages a shift towards iterative, adaptable approaches, aligning with the ongoing process of integration and improvement that mirrors the accumulation of diverse elements in Le Guin’s carrier bag. In doing so, organizations can more effectively manage the dynamic nature of system development and remain responsive to the shifting landscape of their operational needs.

Cherish Your Bugs

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Success, man, is a word carved on a cracked tombstone. You dig? It ain’t some shiny chrome chariot, it’s a beat-up jalopy that rattles and coughs but somehow keeps moving through the radioactive wasteland. The straighter the path, the more likely it leads straight to a sinkhole.

In the sprawling, entropic landscape of human endeavor, where ambitions curdle into dead ends faster than a Nixonian press conference, success gleams like a chrome hubcap in the desert – a mirage born of a perverse calculus. For it is not the grand vision, the immaculate blueprint, that ushers in triumph, but the cunning art of dodging the ever-present potholes of failure. Here, amidst the wreckage of collapsed schemes and half-baked dreams, lies a most curious truth: the bug, that unwelcome glitch in the system, that spanner tossed into the works of progress, is not, as conventional wisdom might have us believe, the enemy. No, the bug, in its maddening obstinacy, becomes our unlikely sherpa, guiding us through the treacherous back alleys of possibility.

Bugs, glitches in the matrix, these are your mechanical messiahs. They’re not roadblocks, they’re the potholes that jerk the wheel, send you swerving off the suicidal superhighway. Every sputter, every cough, a message scrawled in neon on the dashboard of your soul.

Remember, as proclaimed in the forgotten oracles of the Preface (dusty tomes gathering cobwebs in the forgotten corners of the internet), that every system, however meticulously constructed, harbors within its silicon heart a gremlin, a wild card, a potential banana peel waiting to send our carefully laid plans tumbling into the abyss. It is in the embrace of this inherent chaos, the psychedelic dance of malfunction, that we discover the hidden pathways to success.

Therefore, let us declare a new covenant, a pact with the pixies of imperfection! Let us not curse the bug, but coo over it, cradle it in our programmer’s palms, and dissect its every aberrant twitch. For within its nonsensical squirming lies a secret language, a code that, once deciphered, unlocks a universe of unforeseen solutions. So, the next time your code throws a tantrum, your engine coughs out a black lungful of despair, or your soufflé collapses like a dying star, do not despair! Instead, raise a glass (spiked with a generous dollop of existential dread, of course) to the glorious bug, our perverse compass on the ever-shifting map of human achievement.

Cherish those bugs, baby. Crawl under the hood, grease up your eyeballs, and see the beauty in the malfunction. But, there’s a hitch, a gremlin in the gears. You gotta learn to read their cryptic language. They ain’t gonna sing you lullabies, these bugs. They speak in static and sparks, in nonsensical error messages that fry your circuits if you ain’t tuned in.

So, study them, dissect them like a cybernetic entomologist. But remember, sometimes the bug is the feature. Sometimes the glitch unlocks the secret door, the one that leads you out of this chrome-plated nightmare and into the howling unknown.

Pusherman:

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American Addiction #69

They’re all strung out, man, on the same scratchy needle. 

Living on red income, strung out on next week’s deposit. A paycheck, a scrap of paper chasing its own tail. These are the jittery legs of the working class, the treadmill hearts pumping rent, groceries, utilities – bills like neon signs screaming against the night. One missed gear and the whole machine seizes, plunging into the cold sweats of eviction, repossession, the abyss of late fees.

paycheck to paycheck, a jittery fix for the rentman, the paper chase a vein pumping out thin green bills. They shuffle through the concrete canyons, faces like gaunt masks, pockets jangling with lint and desperation. Paycheck to paycheck, a treadmill of bills and bland calories. The rent a hungry maw, gobbling their meager hours. 

Landlords, strung on tenant blood, month to month, clinging to the rungs of the property ladder, a never-ending cycle of eviction notices and security deposits, a hollow echo in the roach-infested halls. Landlords themselves snagged in the same machine, month-to-month vultures circling a carcass of late fees and evictions. But their game’s rigged too, a pyramid scheme fueled by inflated housing and a gambler’s hope for ever-increasing rents. One market crash, one vacancy sign, and their whole kingdom crumbles to dust, revealing the hollow brick facade.

Up above, in chrome and glass aeries, the corporate leviathans bloat. Fat on subsidies and tax breaks, their arteries clogged with golden parachutes. The banks, chrome cathedrals with revolving doors, their insides a labyrinth of vaults and servers humming with the cold logic of profit. They mainline bailouts, taxpayer dollars turning into fat bonuses, lavish expense accounts. But the streets remember 2008. The biggest junkies of all, hooked on the sweet dragon of government bailouts, fattened on subsidies, their skyscrapers needles piercing the smog-choked sky. These giants are made of glass, and a well-thrown brick can bring the whole house of cards crashing down. Bailout to bailout, a monstrous addiction, their profits a glittering mirage in the desert of Main Street. They feed on the scraps of the paycheck people, leaving behind a trail of pink slips and shuttered factories.

The US of A., the ultimate fiend, high on war, forever chasing the dragon of global dominance, veins littered with depleted uranium and napalm, leaving a trail of burnt-out countries in its jittery wake. The government, a chrome-plated juggernaut, lurches from one war to the next.

Its belly fire stoked by lobbyists and jingoistic fervor. Blood and treasure fed into the insatiable gears, the cost of “freedom” measured in body bags and shredded economies. The boys come home in flag-draped boxes, their dreams shredded like shrapnel. The politicians, insulated in their marbled halls, never see the human cost, the ledgers filled with lives instead of dollars. But the bill comes due eventually, a national debt that cripples the future, a hangover from a war nobody remembers winning.

The media, a pack of hyenas, yap and cackle, their eyes fixed on the glittering prize of ratings. The people, a disoriented herd, hypnotized by the flickering screen, their dissent drowned out in the cacophony of manufactured crises.

These are the interconnected circuits of American malaise, a system wired for precarity, where everyone’s one paycheck, one vacancy sign, one bad investment away from the plug being pulled. A cut-up nightmare where the dream of security keeps dissolving in a haze of debt, war, and inflated housing. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

The system, a pusherman rigging the game, keeping them all hooked, paycheck, rent check, bailout check, a never-ending cycle of desperation feeding the machine. But somewhere, out there, a flicker, a cold turkey vision of a different fix, a society clean, where resources flow and survival ain’t a daily hustle. Maybe it’s a pipe dream, man, but someone’s gotta kick over the dealer’s table, smash the rig, and break the cycle.

Who Is Sovereign?

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In the cold meat grinder of any system, be it the chrome-plated monstrosity of a corporation or the byzantine labyrinth of bureaucracy (both tentacles of the same squirming control machine), glitches inevitably erupt. These are the burps and hiccups in the program, the malfunctions in the meat. They can erupt with all the messy glory of a runaway digestive system, spewing forth spectacular accidents that leave you reeling in the stench of chaos.

Here’s the rub: how do we identify these glitches in the matrix? Are they mere blips on the screen, easily dismissed by the suits at the control panel? Or are they harbingers of a system meltdown, a full-on Burroughs-ian cut-up waiting to happen?

Then comes the dance with the gremlins. How do we address these exceptions? Patch the program? Throw a bucket of bolts at the malfunctioning machine? Or is there some deeper, more primal ritual required, some offering to the machine gods to appease their circuits?

But the real meat of the matter, the question that hangs thick in the air like the stink of fear, is this: who holds the power? Who gets to make the call when the system shits the bed? Who has the authority to yank the plug, rewrite the code, or sacrifice a goat to the malfunctioning server?

This, my friend, is where the ghost of Carl Schmitt slithers in, that old authoritarian bastard. He whispers in your ear, his voice a chilling binary code: “Who is sovereign?” In the face of glitches and exceptions, who gets to decide the fate of the system? Is it the button-pushing drones, forever locked in their bureaucratic trance? Or is there a higher power, a hidden hand that pulls the strings and dictates the course of action?

The answer, my friend, is as murky as the oil slick that coats the gears of any system. The search for the sovereign, the one with the final say, is a never-ending chase through the labyrinthine corridors of power. Just remember, in the game of automation, there’s always a ghost in the machine, waiting to remind you who’s really in control.

A Solution in Search of a Problem

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A chrome-plated roach scuttles across the cracked vinyl reality. It drags a spool of ticker tape, its message a writhing serpent of nonsensical code. This, chums, is the solution. A problem-eater, a glitch-gobbler born in the reeking underbelly of the machine. But the world spins on an axis of human misery, a jukebox of anxieties wailing their broken tunes. The roach pauses, antennae twitching. Where’s the itch it was designed to scratch? The code unravels, nonsensical poetry spilling onto the greasy floor. Is it a prophecy of woes to come, or a desperate plea for a malfunction to justify its existence? The roach scuttles on, a silver ghost in a world prefabricated for despair, searching for the problem it was built to devour.

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In the flickering neon jungle, a chrome-plated greaser with a shark’s grin hawks a vial of pulsating green liquid. This ain’t your daddy’s snake oil, chum. This is existential angst emulsified, bottled despair distilled to a radioactive fizz. It’ll cure the soul-sucking malaise you didn’t even know you had. Problem is, most folks are too busy drowning their sorrows in bathtub gin to notice the gaping existential hole in their gut. The greaser, slicker than a greased weasel, whispers of a world painted gray by monotony, a world craving a good jolt of cosmic horror. He rattles on about the hollowness gnawing at your reality, a hollowness this green elixir will fill with a satisfying dread. The question hangs heavy in the smog-choked air: is this the cure or the disease? The greaser just flashes a toothy grin, the vial glowing like a radioactive emerald in his grease-stained palm. Buy the fizz, chum. Buy the existential dread. It’s the future, baby, and the future ain’t lookin’ too pretty.

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A chrome-plated beetle scuttled across the cracked vinyl reality. It wasn’t a real beetle, of course. Not anymore. It was a problem cast in insect exoskeleton, a glitch in the matrix twitching its metallic legs. In the corner, a man in a rumpled sharkskin suit, his face obscured by cigarette smoke and a fedora tilted at a paranoid angle, nursed a lukewarm martini. He was the exterminator, a troubleshooter for a world gone digital. The beetle whirred, its antenna twitching for non-existent radio frequencies.

“Another roach, huh?” the man rasped, his voice sandpaper on gravel. The client, a nervous fellow with eyes that darted like trapped flies, stammered an explanation.

“N-not exactly, sir. It just…doesn’t belong. It disrupts the, uh, flow.”

The man in the fedora chuckled, a dry, hollow sound. “Flow, huh? Now that’s a word I haven’t heard in a good long time. Flow’s a luxury in these parts, chummer. We deal in glitches, bugs in the system, solutions crawling around looking for problems to fit into.”

He reached into his coat pocket and produced a gleaming chrome fly swatter, more sci-fi weapon than household implement. The client flinched.

“Relax,” the man drawled. “Sometimes, the solution is just a good whack on the head. Resets the whole damn system.”

The beetle scuttled closer, its metallic legs clicking a manic rhythm. The man raised the fly swatter, a cold glint in his eyes that mirrored the chrome of his weapon. This wasn’t about extermination, not really. It was about maintaining a broken order, fitting a solution, however brutal, into a world constantly teetering on the edge of chaos.

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A greasy spoon reality, neon signs buzzing with promises of instant gratification. A weary hipster shuffles in, trench coat slick with yesterday’s rain. He slams a chrome briefcase on the counter, the diner denizens flinching at the metallic clang. Inside, no wads of cash, no stacks of bills. Just a tangle of blinking circuits, pulsing with a cold blue light. “Here,” he rasps, voice laced with code-addled paranoia, “the ultimate answer. A world without friction, a solution for every itch you ain’t even scratched yet.” The waitress, a woman with eyes like burnt chrome, stares at the contraption. “What problem does it solve, pal?” she drawls, skepticism thick as the cigarette smoke curling from her ruby lips. The hipster leans in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper, “That’s the beauty of it, doll. It solves problems that ain’t even been invented yet. A future-proof cure for a non-existent disease.” He pushes the box towards her, a salesman peddling snake oil in a chrome dreamscape. The waitress shakes her head, a sad smile flickering on her lips. “Looks like you got a hammer, fella. But the only nails around here are the ones holding this joint together.” The hipster slumps back, defeated. Outside, the rain falls, a cold, digital drizzle, washing away the neon promises and leaving behind the gnawing emptiness of a solution with no problem to solve.

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Dig this, daddy-o. You ever seen a hipster with a pocket full of bespoke screwdrivers? Yeah, that’s a “solution in search of a problem.” They walk around flicking chrome and muttering about “optimized torque” while the world crumbles in perfectly serviceable hex-less bolts.

Same goes for these button-down eggheads with their algorithms and flowcharts. They cook up these existential Etch-A-Sketches, lines of code swirling like smoke signals in a forgotten language. But what the hell are they trying to say, man? What message is this chrome-plated equation supposed to receive?

The world, it’s a junkyard of real problems, mountains of misery taller than any skyscraper. But these cats, they’re stuck fiddling with pocket change while the real loot walks right by. It’s like having a hammer for a head, everything looks like a nail to be pounded.

Maybe that’s the problem, huh? Maybe the solution is to smash these pre-fab problems, shatter them into a million nonsensical shards. Let the confusion bloom, let the world rebuild itself with questions instead of pre-programmed answers. Now that’s a problem worth a solution, wouldn’t you say?

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A greasy spoon reality, neon signs buzzing like a hive of angry hornets. A lobotomized businessman in a rumpled suit sits at a chipped Formica counter. He pushes a chrome capsule across the surface, its surface rippling with a digital mirage. “Here you go, chum,” rasps the chrome-domed waitress, her voice dripping with apathy. “Guaranteed problem solver. Latest model. Eats inefficiency, devours delays, munches on mismanagement.”

The businessman stares at the capsule, its surface reflecting his tired eyes. Problems? He hasn’t had a good, meaty problem in years. The world runs on autopilot, a well-oiled machine lacking the glorious friction that used to be his bread and butter. He pockets the capsule with a sigh. It’s like having a chainsaw in a world made of marshmallows. Everything feels…soft. He eyes the overflowing ashtray next to him, a sudden, desperate glint in his eye. Maybe…just maybe…he can jam the capsule in there, create a little glitch, a malfunction. After all, a problem solver needs a problem, right? A shark needs water, a gambler needs a fix, and a man with a problem solver…well, a man with a problem solver needs a problem, dammit.

Failure Mode

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Failure mode is a term that is commonly used to describe the state of an object or system when it is no longer able to perform its intended function. This can occur in a variety of contexts, from the failure of a mechanical system to the failure of a relationship. Understanding failure mode is crucial in identifying potential problems and preventing catastrophic failures.

The concept of failure mode is important in engineering and manufacturing, where the failure of a product can have serious consequences. In these industries, failure mode analysis is used to identify potential points of failure in a product or system. This process involves breaking down the product or system into its individual components and analyzing how each component may fail. By understanding the failure modes of each component, engineers can design products that are more resilient and less likely to fail.

Failure mode analysis can also be applied to human systems, such as relationships and organizations. In these contexts, failure mode can refer to the breakdown of communication, trust, or cooperation between individuals or groups. This can lead to a breakdown of the relationship or organization, and can have serious consequences for those involved.

One of the challenges of understanding failure mode is that it is often unpredictable. While engineers and designers can anticipate some failure modes, there are always unforeseen circumstances that can lead to failure. This is why it is important to not only understand failure mode, but also to build systems that are resilient in the face of failure. This involves designing systems that can withstand unexpected failures and quickly recover from them.

In addition, it is important to recognize that failure can be a valuable learning experience. When a failure occurs, it is important to analyze what went wrong and why it happened. This can help us identify potential problems before they occur and improve our systems to prevent future failures.

Overall, understanding failure mode is crucial in preventing catastrophic failures and designing resilient systems. Whether in engineering, manufacturing, or human relationships, failure mode analysis is an important tool for identifying potential problems and developing solutions. By recognizing the unpredictable nature of failure and learning from our failures, we can build systems that are more robust and better able to withstand unexpected challenges.

Firstly, it is important to understand how our current system fails. Whether it be in our personal lives or in the wider society, there are always ways in which things can go wrong. For example, a company may fail due to poor leadership, a relationship may fail due to lack of communication, or a government may fail due to corruption. It is important to recognize these failures and understand why they occurred so that we can work towards preventing them in the future.

  1. A mechanical system may fail due to wear and tear on its components, causing it to break down or malfunction.
  2. A software system may fail due to a programming error, resulting in crashes or incorrect output.
  3. A communication system may fail due to interference or signal loss, resulting in disrupted or lost messages.
  4. A transportation system may fail due to accidents, congestion, or weather conditions, resulting in delays or cancellations.
  5. A financial system may fail due to market fluctuations or economic crises, resulting in losses for investors or businesses.
  6. A political system may fail due to corruption, incompetence, or lack of public trust, resulting in political instability or social unrest.
  7. A healthcare system may fail due to shortages of staff or resources, resulting in poor patient care or medical errors.
  8. An energy system may fail due to supply disruptions, equipment failures, or environmental disasters, resulting in power outages or fuel shortages.
  9. A security system may fail due to breaches in cybersecurity or physical security measures, resulting in data theft or physical harm.
  10. A social system may fail due to discrimination, inequality, or social injustice, resulting in social unrest or disenfranchisement of certain groups.

Secondly, we need to understand how well our current system works in failure mode. When we are in a state of failure, it can be difficult to navigate our way out of it. However, it is important to acknowledge that failure can sometimes be a necessary step towards success. In some cases, failure can help us learn from our mistakes and improve our future actions. Therefore, it is important to have systems in place that can help us bounce back from failure and move forward.

  1. An elevator that is stuck between floors but still able to open and close its doors.
  2. A car that has a flat tire but can still be driven at a reduced speed.
  3. A phone that has a cracked screen but is still able to make and receive calls.
  4. A computer that is running slowly due to malware but is still able to perform basic functions.
  5. A printer that is low on ink but can still print documents with reduced quality.
  6. A clock that is losing time but still able to display the time with some degree of accuracy.
  7. A refrigerator that is not cooling properly but still able to keep food at a slightly above room temperature.
  8. A water heater that is not producing hot water at full capacity but still able to provide some hot water.
  9. A radio that has poor reception but can still play music with some static.
  10. A lightbulb that is flickering but still able to provide some light.

Finally, it is important to recognize that the mode of failure cannot be predicted from what we’ve seen so far. We may think we understand why something failed based on past experiences, but there may be underlying factors that we are not aware of. This is especially true in complex systems such as the economy or political systems. Therefore, it is important to approach failure with an open mind and be willing to adapt our thinking as we learn more.

In conclusion, just because we are operating in failure mode most of the time, we cannot take for granted our understanding of how our current system fails, how well it works in failure mode, and how the mode of failure cannot be predicted from what we’ve seen so far. It is important to be aware of these ideas and how they affect our daily lives. By recognizing failure, understanding how to navigate failure mode, and being open to learning, we can work towards building better systems that are resilient in the face of failure.