As I work some of the administrative aspects of this site, along with working up a queue of past items I want to post about, I kept trying to figure out what to do about one category in particular. How do I express it the way I really want?
The dreaded Operator Error!
My dilemma is simple: Operator Error is a myth. It’s an excuse used by others when the real problem can’t be found, in which case it is easiest just to point at the operator and blame it on them. Operators certainly make mistakes and sure, no matter how well designed the system is, they’re going to make errors sometimes too. Brain farts happen. But it is all too common for the excuse to be used as a means to place blame where it is generally not due, which really was the part I was shooting for.
After much thought I’m left with simply “Operator Error”, the anti-category. It’s a good bet that a post labeled with the category is more an example of system failure then operator error, but the powers that be just ended up blaming the little guy anyway.