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Not Baffling

“Increasingly, people seem to misinterpret complexity as sophistication, which is baffling—the incomprehensible should cause suspicion rather than admiration. Possibly this trend results from a mistaken belief that using a somewhat mysterious device confers an aura of power on the user.” – Niklaus Wirth

Niklaus, it’s not baffling. People do it because, in a society that adores academic intelligence over all else, they don’t want to look and feel stupid in front of others. By acting as though they admire an incomprehensible monstrosity that they don’t understand, the people around them (especially the creators of the untenable complexity) will think they are smart and sophisticated too.

Regardless of whether the “misinterpretation” happens consciously or unconsciously, it’s ego driven. I know this because I’ve done it many times…….. both consciously and unconsciously.

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” – Albert Einstein

  1. Ray's avatar
    Ray
    April 20, 2010 at 7:19 am

    Yes there are several instances of this everywhere. The “financial instruments” that were too complex to understand but suckers I mean investors bought them. In my world complex software is bowed down to because it most be good because its complex. The KISS design technique should be followed like religion in software. The KICK technique will eventual result in a Mudball and kill the project.

  2. April 20, 2010 at 9:05 am

    Only “several” instances? Isn’t it ubiquitous and getting worse?

    For the curious,
    KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid
    KICK = Keep It Complex Kamikazi

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