More rules

[Cain]

Don't stiff your boss unless you can absolutely get away with it.

Your boss likely has his job for one of three reasons: competence, political manoeuvring or nepotism of some kind.  Any of these reasons spell trouble: a competent boss knows how to do things better than you, a political boss is likely better at manipulating the bureaucracy than you and a boss who gained their position due to nepotism has friends higher up the command chain.  That means, if you're going to try and get rid of them, you do so in such a way they will be without question removed and, preferably, under circumstances where showing their face ever again isn't an option.  Otherwise they are going to come after you with everything they have.

Your own mind is unreliable – keep your memories somewhere safer

All kinds of emotions and feelings, beliefs, education and various other factors can impinge on how we recall things.  As such, while useful, your brain is not entirely trustworthy for storing such facts.  Instead, keep a journal, and try to record things as close as possible as to when they happened. 

Nothing is more cut-throat than a royal court.

A court is based around two things, the monarch (those with powers) and courtiers (those who attempt to flatter the monarch for favours).  Makes no difference whether this is Versailles under Louis XIV, the current White House or where you work.  Some people have power, some people manipulate those who have the power, and everyone else is a serf.  Courtiers like to operate in secret, are contemptuous of public debate (or just the public generally) and, despite a superficial appeal to knowledge and rationality, are almost always driven by base emotions and desires.  Unstable emotions near the focal point of power and an expertise at manipulation are always a bad mix.  However, take them away from the court and they are usually powerless.  Exile is always the most feared punishment.

Trust, but verify.

Wearing your suspicion on your sleeves will not win you any friends.  Furthermore, it will just warn people who may intend you actual harm just to be more careful when dealing with you.  The best posture you can have is one of welcoming openness, while still keeping an eye on those who may have interests contrary to your own.  An addition to this rule is to not trust technology, even if you have to use it.  Like everything else, machines can be tricked (and if they couldn't, all the hackers in the world would have to find another hobby).

Saying too little never hurt anyone.

Whereas talking endlessly about whatever pops into your head is likely to end up in something you didn't want to slip getting out.  Note: this rule can be ignored if you are Deadpool.

"That's funny."

Secrets with entertainment value rarely remain secrets for long.

Nothing costs too much, so long as what is gained is worth more.

Expending resources going after a prize is always worthwhile if the prize has higher value than the resources expended.

Truth and Fiction

It is worth giving away 99% real information to convince someone to swallow 1% disinformation.

Never trust a sociopath.

Sociopaths have their uses; in the right situation (don't ask how I know this).  However, they are by definition people with poor impulse control and a comfortable attitude towards violence.  Better people can usually be found.

Who's the real source?

When trying to track down information, endeavour to find out who gave the information to the person giving the information to you.  It is very easy to make something look real if you have seven or eight people all report something, in their own words, which came from the same individual. 

Revenge and Money are the best motivators.

Enough said.

Endeavour to be at every point on the compass.

Disappearing is impossible in the world we live in – that is, unless you want to be a hermit off in the mountains or desert somewhere.  For those of us who like hot water and 24-hour shopping, however, there is another option.  Instead of appearing to be nowhere, be everywhere at once.  If you cannot vanish, the next best option is to lay down as many false trails as possible. 

Your gut instinct is wrong and stupid.

Well, not always.  But against sufficiently clever people, it will be.  Your first reaction is likely what your opponents expect and have planned for.  Remain unpredictable, but always in a different way to how you were unpredictable the last time.

Don't take it personally.

Most of the time, people's anger is not directed against you.  You're a prop, for something else going on in their life.  And even if you're not, cultivating this attitude and belief will make it harder for people to get an emotional reaction from you, allowing you to think clearly and rationally even when under pressure.

You only get smarter by playing a smarter opponent.

Shamelessly stolen from the film Revolver, but still very true.  Sharp enemies keep you sharp.  It's what they are good for.  When you're forced to think and learn and plan ahead, you're no longer reacting, coasting and taking it easy.

Whining is undignified.

All of history is unfair, get a helmet.  Whining may feel good, but getting on with solving the problems and doing the right thing feels much better.

Underestimating the opposition is the leading cause of embarrassing defeats.

It never hurts to consider the possibility that your enemies are just as smart as or even smarter then you.  At the very worst, you overcompensate when dealing with someone.

All warfare is based on deception.

It therefore follows that the best war to fight is one your opponent isn't even aware of – at all.

Every rule can be broken.

Rules are guidelines, ideals, how things work best in theory.  In fact, the existence of rules presupposes that they will be broken or bent at some point.

[Kai]

[Doktor Howl]

Um, wait.   

[Cramulus]

Robert Greene, thou art hereby served! Cain does it better, and in tighter spaces.



The Discordian Art of War sounds like it'll be something I won't want to spread for fear of empowering my enemy. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

[Dr. Paes]

[Jenne]

Trust but verify.  Those 3 words stir something akin to chagrin in me, but it is mostly due to how they are used in this house.  More than aptly applied here, for sure.  Wasn't Reagan more/less famous for their usage?

, Cain...great read!

[Cain]

The Discordian Art of War sounds like it'll be something I won't want to spread for fear of empowering my enemy. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

I'm thinking I might have to write two versions of that.  The Art of War parody version, and the "how to actually fuck someone up badly" version.

Jenne, Reagan did use it, but I believe it was a saying from Tsarist Russia, which was of course a notoriously paranoid culture (as you would be too, if you'd been invaded and subjugated by the Mongols, while western powers took advantage of your weakness to pick off neighbouring pieces of real estate.  I've been reading on the history of the Golden Horde, and I'm starting to think Ivan the Terrible may have been too forgiving) .

[Doktor Howl]

However, they are by definition people with poor impulse control and a comfortable attitude towards violence.  Better people can usually be found.

[Cain]

Pwnd.

Of course, even sociopaths are useful, if you give them a shove in the right direction, and run away really fast.

[Rumckle]

Nothing costs too much, so long as what is gained is worth more.

Expending resources going after a prize is always worthwhile if the prize has higher value than the resources expended.

This one doesn't sit right with me. It kind of just makes me think of gambling.

[Doktor Howl]

Pwnd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC2ZElZEAa4

[Cain]

Nothing costs too much, so long as what is gained is worth more.

Expending resources going after a prize is always worthwhile if the prize has higher value than the resources expended.

This one doesn't sit right with me. It kind of just makes me think of gambling.

Well I am working off the assumption you actually succeed.

Pwnd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC2ZElZEAa4