Law/Rule/Phrase/Principle

August 9, 2010 4:19 PM

What's the name of the internet rule/law/principle that goes something like 'Whenever you pedantically correct someone on the internet that correction will have an error itself'?
posted by eurasian to Technology (9 answers total)

Muphry's law?
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 4:25 PM on August 9, 2010 [5 favorites]

Best answer: McKean's law, or various alternatives.
posted by matthewr at 4:28 PM on August 9, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'd file it under "what goes around comes around," or possibly that most ancient of biblical chestnuts, 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone' (or however that goes).
posted by Ys at 4:28 PM on August 9, 2010

It's called a lot of things. Many forums that date back to the 90s have their own name for it, since it's a concept that kind of sprang up in a lot of places independently. Gaudere's Law on the Straight Dope and Naruki's Law on User Friendly are two more I'm familiar with, but the more you google the examples in this thread, the more you'll find.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:56 PM on August 9, 2010

I know it's not a direct answer, but this question reminded me of one of my favorite pieces of graffiti:

Pedants rule, OK. Or more precisely, exhibit certain of the conventional trappings of leadership.

posted by plinth at 7:22 PM on August 9, 2010 [1 favorite]

I've always called it Muphry's Law, as Mrs. Pterodactyl posted.
posted by 1000monkeys at 8:00 PM on August 9, 2010

I'm surprised that Language Log post doesn't mention Muphry's law, since I know it as Muphry's law and I thought I got that from Language Log.
posted by Dr. Send at 8:37 PM on August 9, 2010

I'm surprised that Language Log post doesn't mention Muphry's law, since I know it as Muphry's law and I thought I got that from Language Log.

See "Now presenting... Muphry's Law", 7/21/2008.
posted by myl at 11:04 AM on August 10, 2010

Aha.
posted by Dr. Send at 10:43 AM on August 11, 2010