New nephew effect
I call the “Nephew Effect” the situation where something is made by an under-qualified person for a client that doesn’t understand it. I coined it after the common occurrence: “Oh, my nephew is good with computers, he…
I call the “Nephew Effect” the situation where something is made by an under-qualified person for a client that doesn’t understand it. I coined it after the common occurrence: “Oh, my nephew is good with computers, he can probably make it”.
The “Moron Effect” is another coinage of mine that is getting equal traction in academic circles. It’s the situation where the moron, a qualified professional like yours truly, is called to fix what has been made by the nephew.
The reason why this is a moronic endeavor is that people who hire nephews don’t understand their projects. They hire based on trust and they trust two people more than their current moron: Their nephew, and the next moron. Therefore, they’re locked in a no man’s land from which the only way to go is down.
If you’re ever the nephew, go for it, there’s no downside. But don’t be the moron. There’s no upside.
#wednesdaywisdom