Date:         Mon, 21 May 2001 17:46:14 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Siegel <Jonathan.Siegel@PFIZER.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jonathan Siegel <Jonathan.Siegel@PFIZER.COM>
Subject:      Re: Was: disable program editors? Now: Tools Access

This thread reminds me of a story at the end of one of Jerry Weinberg's
books on systems analysis. A group of road engineers had to decide whether
to place a guard rail on a dangerous curve on a coastal highway. They
calculated that if they placed the guardrail, they would save several lives
a year. But they also calculated that once every several years, someone
would bounce off the guardrail and into the sea.

Thinking about it, they felt afraid. They feared that the lives saved by
the presence of the guardrail would go completely unnoticed. But once
someone died due to the guardrail, it would attract attention. And then
they would be blamed.

They decided not to place the guardrail.

It sounds like most of us would feel the same fears, and would reach the
same conclusion.

Jonathan Siegel