Talk:Fool's errand
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reference updates
editThe domain in reference #13 is up for sale. and needs changing, I'm not sure how to change it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.67.216.85 (talk) 01:45, 4 March 2019 (UTC)
March 28 revert
editI added a first sentence to the lead that, I thought, stood alone and was clear, to wit: "A fool's errand is a task almost certain to fail." It was reverted with the comment "Article should have a clear standalone WP:FIRSTSENTENCE." Now I'm wondering about my grasp of reality. How was my sentence not standalone and clear? Butwhatdoiknow (talk) 16:50, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
- The subject of the article as written is the pranks which are played on novice members of a professional group. That should be summarised clearly in the first sentence, and "a task almost certain to fail" does not do that. --Lord Belbury (talk) 17:05, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
- Thanks. I had trouble divining that from the edit summary text. Butwhatdoiknow (talk) 17:12, 28 March 2021 (UTC)
Carl Bernstein
editDoes anyone have a copy of All the President's Men handy? I don't, so I can't properly cite it, but I recall the story of young Carl Bernstein on his first day at the newspaper being told to "wash the carbon copy paper" in the lavatory. He got the ink all over his new suit. Tfdavisatsnetnet (talk) 02:04, 7 July 2023 (UTC)
An article which explains the success and cultural transmission of fool's errand pranks
editA recent article proposes an explanatory model for fool's errands based on evolved psychology for communication and coalitional management. https://brill.com/view/journals/jocc/22/1-2/article-p1_1.xml full text here https://psyarxiv.com/vkc42/download?format=pdf
Basically, the prank speculates our epistemic vigilance and is a tool for social dominance in professional context with asymmetry of knowledge and apprenticeship-like inclusion of new members.
Does anyone consider it relevant for inclusion here? I do not feel I should do it since I am the author of the article, hence I am biased :)) Radugabrielradu (talk) 13:22, 9 February 2024 (UTC)
golden rivet has link to here
editshould we set the (already pretty long list of obscure entries so might as well) to auto expand with this type of reference. I don't know how 100.8.45.206 (talk) 10:43, 30 June 2024 (UTC)
The "piston return spring" actually exists...
edit...at least in form of the heavy rubber bands of the Hildebrandt & Wolfmüller. I can recall an article which was printed in the 1980s about the use of piston return springs in 50cc racing engines but can't say whether text and pictures were real or also a part of this special hoax.
Other pranks being played on (German) car mechanic apprentices were replacing the "cylinder inner lighting", fetching "file grease" or (very evil!) greasing the pads/shoes and discs/drums of brakes to suppress brake squealing. 2A02:560:586B:D500:80C8:269B:9EC7:29AE (talk) 11:18, 4 November 2024 (UTC)