Sturgeon's Law

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Sturgeon's Law

"Ninety percent of everything is crap". 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." Oddly, when Sturgeon's Law is cited, the final word is almost invariably changed to "crap". Compare Ninety-Ninety Rule. Though this maxim originated in SF fandom, most hackers recognise it and are all too aware of its truth.

References in periodicals archive ?

Brooker then paraphrased Sturgeon's Law ("Ninety per cent of everything is c**p").

WE MAY never hear a better [...]

Since Sturgeon's Law ("90% of everything is garbage") applies to independent video games as solidly as any other entertainment media, 250 Indie Games You Must Play is an enthusiastically welcome guide to finding inexpensive and creative games that are well worth one's time.

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Unfortunately, Davidson fails to mention that Sturgeon's law may well also apply to the recruitment agencies themselves.

Sturgeon's law may well apply to recruitment agencies

Apply Sturgeon's Law in the original and more charitable reading: 90% of everything is crud.

The renascence of the writer

Sturgeon's Law, which holds that 90 percent of everything is crap, is especially true in Hollywood.

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

But Rosenzweig's answer might be called the Sturgeon's Law defense, in honor of the maxim--credited to the late writer Theodore Sturgeon-that "90 percent of anything is crap.

Trivia pursuit; too much of America's research money goes to studies nobody wants to read