I beg to differ. I'm frequently presented by half-assed work hacked out by talentless clowns convinced that the world owes them something for their vulgar anal secretions.

We can all agree that FAIL is an unhelpful response but sometimes it is the best one.

What about in those circumstances? What do you think then?

Or is FAIL over in your estimation, no matter the context?

mary

I liked your piece here and agree.

And what I'm saying is -- *somebody* at that company probably gets it and wants to do the right thing. But changing the culture at a big company takes time, and all shouting "FAIL!" accomplishes is to make that clueful person (who actually follows their presence in social media) feel bad, while all their coworkers continue on, blissfully unaware of your criticism.

Essentially what you're saying here is FAILers FAIL. Which isn't particularly different from what you're condemning. You're just using more words. If you'd done your anti-fail argument in a more forgiving, compassionate way, I'd give it way more credit. Make people change their ways by being funny, or showing them something better to do!

Inspire us, dude! Don't lambast us! Do you want people to feel shit about something they thought was funny, or do you want people to feel positive about changing for the better!?

Come on Anil, drag people into the light of the EPIC WIN through positive means!

sorry I had to do it.

Well, that's that, then.

I wonder how the people at failblog.org will react to the news. (Didn't they win a Webby award?)

In the meantime, I look forward to news of the eventual demise of the phrase "Don't judge me!" (Which seems reminiscent of the "No tagbacks!" outburst as a kid, or "Dibs/Shotgun" later in life.)

But there has always been a version of FAIL, and there always will be, especially as the Internet makes people more insular. You're expounding on your own brand of fail in this very article.

Sorry mate, reality check fail.

I see where you're trying to go, but I think there are situations where "fail" is really the best possible expression out there.

Baio made all these points in greater detail, what, a year ago? What was the stinky FAIL belch that made you feel so compelled to wave your arm to waft away the stink now?

I'd agree that thoughtless responses to someone's attempt at creativity are just so, well, meh....but I'd also agree with some of the comments -- without a better alternative, ranting against things that plenty have already been ranting against feels like futile whinedom.

Take a look at the Wikipedia page about me, which lists a series of gags I've done over the years. Now granted, you may have a better sense of humor than me on some areas, judging by the design of markdamonhughes.com, but while I think there are many fair criticisms that could be leveled at me, "lacks a sense of humor" is just an absurd assertion.

I guess want I am saying is that I agree, Anil.

For all other instances, I think "floor(success)" is a much better and more positive invective.

Because the #amazonfail meme on Twitter was about ascribing malice to an institution that has shown no history of such malice, based on a simple error, it is almost the definitive example of why "FAIL" sucks. Instead of checking facts, a community (including even some smart people I respect) tarnished that company's reputation in order to participate in a mob. They demonstrated the Law of Fail by amping up the rhetoric continously, and I'll even risk evoking the Tone Argument to say that they made their own advocacy of a cause look like the work of unreasonable extremists. Fortunately, Amazon's team has a pretty thick skin and handled it well, but it wouldn't be surprising at all for other institutions to say "Why should we ever listen to those people again? They're not interested in advocating a cause, they're interested in getting attention for themselves."

I mean, I am absolutely in favor of By Any Means Necessary communications when a community is in crisis. And I am explicitly not in favor of holding one's tongue just because you might offend the object of your criticisms.

But "FAIL" isn't advocacy, it's the tool of those who don't know how to be advocates, who don't know how to persuade. Take a look at the "results", such as they are, of #racefail or of #amazonfail and you'll see exactly why I criticize that technique. It puts the ego of the complainers ahead of the cause they're trying to advocate.

Is yelling "WIN" over too? Because that's my response. You're spot-on: "FAIL" is the resonant frequency of a negative feedback echo chamber. I'm so bored with seeing it used by people thinking they're being clever.

A lot of us just want to use the Internet to find out a couple things, or connect w/ a few people, or for the lulz.

When these douchebags full of their sense of entitlement and smug attitude that they have something we need to have rammed down our throats like we're some foie gras ducks fall flat on their fucking faces, that's when it's right and fun and even necessary to say it loud:

FAIL!

FAIL!

FAIL!

With embarrassing self-awareness, I must admit to being a frequent user of the word 'Fail' in daily life - particularly my work life.

I must say your piece has caused me to re-evaluate this seemingly innocuous and playful jab and consider the impacts of its use on my colleagues.

Thank you for presenting your thoughts in such a way as to elicit sincere consideration among your audience. I think I'll find myself modifying my vernacular a bit.

Cheers to you, sir.

You obviously never understood the origins and purpose of the very hilarious and amusing "FAIL!". Be it in spoken or photoshopped form.

Sorry but whenever a buddy drops a recently opened bottle of soda, or I see a picture of a car lodged half way up a house or a horse with it's head stuck in a tree trunk, FAIL will be heard and seen for t3h lulz of all.

“SARCASM is over. Sarcasm is dead. Because it marks a lack of human empathy, and signifies an absence of intellectual curiosity, it is an unacceptable response to creative efforts in our culture. Sarcasm is the cry of someone who doesn't create, doesn't ship, doesn't launch, who doesn't make things.”

Oh, well, of course. So now all critics have to be fair, creative, empathic. And i want a pony too.

(That last sentence was sarcasm. I deem the rest to be constructive criticism, though deprived of strong empathy and unicorn tears. Ok, those last three words were sarcastic too. Damn it.)

I am a person with intellectual curiosity, and maybe a bit of empathy. I do create and ship stuff, including stuff that sucks because i either screwed up or had fucked up constraints or both. But i still think that if something sucks (entirely or in part), it's somehow fitting that some people would label it “FAIL”. That's feedback. And depending on the person who says or write it, it can be mean-spirited, or a honest interjection that means “i think this is bad”. Actually, i think “FAIL” may be more neutral than most sarcasm.

Having never been FAILed or FAILing anyone myself, I can righteously say that this article hit the nail on the head. FAIL is as pointless a response as referring to someone (else) as a n00b.