Sturgeon's Law

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The Jargon File Parts of this article are based on the Jargon File, v. 4.4.7, a public domain document of hacker jargon.

Sturgeon's Law

Usage: prov. See Also: Hanlon's Razor, Ninety-Ninety Rule

Sturgeon's Law: prov.

"Ninety percent of everything is crud". Derived from a quote by science fiction author Theodore Sturgeon, who once said, "Sure, 90% of science fiction is crud. That's because 90% of everything is crud." Sturgeon himself called this "Sturgeon's Revelation", and it first appeared in the March 1958 issue of Venture Science Fiction; he gave Sturgeon's Law as "Nothing is always absolutely so." Oddly, when Sturgeon's Revelation is cited, the final word is almost invariably changed to `crap'. Compare Hanlon's Razor, Ninety-Ninety Rule. Though this maxim originated in SF fandom, most hackers recognize it and are all too aware of its truth.

Sources

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