Old, but damn funny.
A novice asked the master: ``In the east there is a great tree-structure that men call
Corporate Headquarters'. It is bloated out of shape with vice presidents and accountants. It issues a multitude of memos, each sayingGo, Hence!’ or `Go, Hither!’ and nobody knows what is meant. Every year new names are put onto the branches, but all to no avail. How can such an unnatural entity be?"
The master replied: ``You perceive this immense structure and are disturbed that it has no rational purpose. Can you not take amusement from its endless gyrations? Do you not enjoy the untroubled ease of programming beneath its sheltering branches? Why are you bothered by its uselessness?’’
A master programmer passed a novice programmer one day. The master noted the novice’s preoccupation with a hand-held computer game.
Excuse me,'' he said,may I examine it?’’
The novice bolted to attention and handed the device to the master.
I see that the device claims to have three levels of play: Easy, Medium, and Hard,'' said the master.Yet every such device has another level of play, where the device seeks not to conquer the human, nor to be conquered by the human.’’
Pray, great master,'' implored the novice,how does one find this mysterious setting?’’
The master dropped the device to the ground and crushed it underfoot. And suddenly the novice was enlightened.