How to break or lose something only by looking at it
The computer industry has a very popular saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". This is so true. How many times have you broken something or indeed misplaced something simply by looking at it?
This happens too often with technology products where any type of access to a live system can cause it to become unstable, stop, break, or simply get lost. The rule is to not even go look, never mind tinker with it.
I thought of an analogy in the non-tech world and will bring forth my own short "tale of the unexpected"...
Paul the protagonist, was poor, but in a stroke of luck, was left some gold by a wealthy deceased relative and was advised by his financial adviser to put these gold bars into a safe deposit box in a bank vault. Having secured the gold, Paul arrived home proud of his clever decision to lock his gold away somewhere safe.
After a few weeks however, Paul became increasingly anxious that the gold was indeed safe. He rang the bank and they assured him that there was only one key and Paul had it, and that no-one else could possibly break into his safe deposit box.
A few more weeks passed and the thought of losing his gold was starting to increase his anxiety, so he decided that he would travel to the bank to take a look for himself that the gold was still there. He duly signed into the bank, was given access to the vault, and nervously opened his safe deposit box. Paul breathed a sigh of relief to discover for himself that his gold was still there in exactly the same place as he had left it. Contented, Paul returned home and slept well, free from anxiety.
Early the next day, the bank rang Paul. His safe deposit box had been opened, and it was completely empty. Paul was sick to his stomach. How could this happen? He was furious with the bank and insisted that he would visit the bank immediately and get to the bottom of the theft.
How could he lose his gold just by looking at it, he thought to himself as he dressed for his trip back to the bank.
Upon arrival at the bank, he was quickly ushered into the vault where to his horror, he discovered that his gold was indeed missing because he chose to look at it.
He had left the only key to his safe deposit box in the lock.
Another customer had taken advantage of the opportunity to steal Paul's beloved gold.
