Discussion:
Skitt's Law = Muphry's law ?
(too old to reply)
occam
2022-02-01 15:34:19 UTC
Permalink
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)

"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."

I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.

Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
charles
2022-02-01 15:53:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.

O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle
Peter T. Daniels
2022-02-01 16:47:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
S K
2022-02-01 17:21:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
These are all terms used by linguists to sound learned - but mean nothing and linguists themselves don't know what they mean.
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
lar3ryca
2022-02-01 20:34:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Didn't read the Wikipedia article, eh?
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
Peter T. Daniels
2022-02-01 20:57:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Didn't read the Wikipedia article, eh?
Don't know what "nonce word" means? It suggests it was popular
throughout an entire small corner of Australia.

It seems not to have escaped until after Skitt's Law had been named.
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
lar3ryca
2022-02-01 22:26:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter T. Daniels
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Didn't read the Wikipedia article, eh?
Don't know what "nonce word" means? It suggests it was popular
throughout an entire small corner of Australia.
It seems not to have escaped until after Skitt's Law had been named.
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
John Bangsund's was first. Call it what you will.

That is not to take anything away from Skitt. His formulation was not
the same as any of the other, similar ones.
Sam Plusnet
2022-02-02 18:21:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter T. Daniels
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Didn't read the Wikipedia article, eh?
Don't know what "nonce word" means? It suggests it was popular
throughout an entire small corner of Australia.
It seems not to have escaped until after Skitt's Law had been named.
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
You dismiss one, because _you_ claim "it was popular throughout an
entire small corner of Australia".
Then you extol the virtues of the other because it was well known
throughout the length and breadth of... aue.
--
Sam Plusnet
Athel Cornish-Bowden
2022-02-02 09:06:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by lar3ryca
Post by charles
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Properly Murphy's Law: What can go wrong, will go wrong.
"Muphry's Law" is clearly a nonce formation, an autonym, stating
the same thing as Skitt's Law, and if any QI folk were at AUE, they'd
have known of its priority.
Didn't read the Wikipedia article, eh?
Of course not. That would incur the risk of teaching him something he
didn't want to know.
Post by lar3ryca
Post by charles
O'Reilly'e Law is that Murphy was an optimist.
--
Athel -- French and British, living mainly in England until 1987.
lar3ryca
2022-02-01 15:55:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across Muphry's
(sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here not
too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
Peter Moylan
2022-02-01 20:41:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here
not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message "There
is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".

What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org
J. J. Lodder
2022-02-02 12:50:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here
not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message "There
is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
It is there, as a sub-entry under Muphry's law,

Jan

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law>
Quinn C
2022-02-02 18:53:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. J. Lodder
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here
not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message "There
is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
It is there, as a sub-entry under Muphry's law,
Jan
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law>
Not sure what you (or Wikipedia jargon?) means by sub-entry, but it is a
redirect. That is, if you go to "the Wikipedia page on Skitt's law" at
the obvious address, you land on a Wikipedia page, the one with the
title "Muphry's law".
--
Be afraid of the lame - They'll inherit your legs
Be afraid of the old - They'll inherit your souls
-- Regina Spektor, Après moi
charles
2022-02-02 19:21:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Quinn C
Post by J. J. Lodder
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here
not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message "There
is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
It is there, as a sub-entry under Muphry's law,
Jan
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law>
Not sure what you (or Wikipedia jargon?) means by sub-entry, but it is a
redirect. That is, if you go to "the Wikipedia page on Skitt's law" at
the obvious address, you land on a Wikipedia page, the one with the
title "Muphry's law".
There might be a pondial variation, I had never heard of Skitt's Law until
this thread - I've had over 80 years to hear about it.
--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle
Tony Cooper
2022-02-02 19:39:40 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 02 Feb 2022 19:21:07 +0000 (GMT), charles
Post by charles
Post by Quinn C
Post by J. J. Lodder
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here
not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message "There
is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
It is there, as a sub-entry under Muphry's law,
Jan
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law>
Not sure what you (or Wikipedia jargon?) means by sub-entry, but it is a
redirect. That is, if you go to "the Wikipedia page on Skitt's law" at
the obvious address, you land on a Wikipedia page, the one with the
title "Muphry's law".
There might be a pondial variation,
Not pondial, though. Skitt's Law is known on both sides of the pond
by anyone who has spent any time in a.u.e. or a.e.u.
Post by charles
I had never heard of Skitt's Law until
this thread - I've had over 80 years to hear about it.
--
Tony Cooper Orlando Florida
Lewis
2022-02-02 20:35:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Tony Cooper
On Wed, 02 Feb 2022 19:21:07 +0000 (GMT), charles
Post by charles
Post by Quinn C
Post by J. J. Lodder
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing or
proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked here
not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message "There
is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
It is there, as a sub-entry under Muphry's law,
Jan
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law>
Not sure what you (or Wikipedia jargon?) means by sub-entry, but it is a
redirect. That is, if you go to "the Wikipedia page on Skitt's law" at
the obvious address, you land on a Wikipedia page, the one with the
title "Muphry's law".
There might be a pondial variation,
Not pondial, though. Skitt's Law is known on both sides of the pond
by anyone who has spent any time in a.u.e. or a.e.u.
And many people who have never heard of AUE or AEU.
--
Mind if I kiss the monkey? <smooch> Ptttfft! Hairball!
HVS
2022-02-02 17:58:16 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing
or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you
have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked
here not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message
"There is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named
"Skitt's Law" on Wikipedia.
There are some notes on the underlying principle -- with examples of
similar laws dating from 1990 -- at
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/skitts-law.
--
Cheers, Harvey
Peter Moylan
2022-02-02 23:19:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing
or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you
have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked
here not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message
"There is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
Did nobody notice that this was an illustration of the law? I don't know
whether this was deliberate.
--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org
Peter Duncanson [BrE]
2022-02-03 14:25:32 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 3 Feb 2022 10:19:37 +1100, Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came across
Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing editing
or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind in what you
have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked
here not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message
"There is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named "Skitt's
Law" on Wikipedia.
Did nobody notice that this was an illustration of the law?
Yes.
Post by Peter Moylan
I don't know
whether this was deliberate.
It was deliberate. It was based on the pre-existing Murphy's law:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law

"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law

Muphry's law is an adage that states: "If you write anything
criticizing editing or proofreading, there will be a fault of some
kind in what you have written." The name is a deliberate misspelling
of "Murphy's law".
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
Peter Moylan
2022-02-03 22:44:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Peter Duncanson [BrE]
On Thu, 3 Feb 2022 10:19:37 +1100, Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by occam
Watching an episode of QI today (BBC panel show), I came
across Muphry's (sic) law . (Series S, Episode 12)
"Adage that states: "If you write anything criticizing
editing or proofreading, there will be a fault of some kind
in what you have written."
I always knew this as Skitt's law. It was recently re-invoked
here not too long ago.
Since when has Skitt's law been reassigned as Muphry's law?
Not reassigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message
"There is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named
"Skitt's Law" on Wikipedia.
Did nobody notice that this was an illustration of the law?
Yes.
Post by Peter Moylan
I don't know whether this was deliberate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_law
"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law
Muphry's law is an adage that states: "If you write anything
criticizing editing or proofreading, there will be a fault of some
kind in what you have written." The name is a deliberate misspelling
of "Murphy's law".
Post by Peter Moylan
Post by Peter Moylan
If you search for Skitt's Law on Wikipedia, you get the message
"There is a page named "Skitt's law" on Wikipedia".
What this means, apparently, is that there is no page named
"Skitt's Law" on Wikipedia.
--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org
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