Which OS is most reliable/stable/bug-free and changes the least?

[Walter Mitty]

The other case of thinking machines comes from real life, in the stock market.  A few years ago, there was an anomaly lasting about a half an hour.  In about 12 minutes, for no apparent reason,  the stock market dropped about 600 points in 12 minutes.  After that, it began to correct itself, and had retutrned to near normal by the end of the event.  I never saw a detailed analysis of that event,  but I attribute it to thinking machines. 

The response of the thinking human beings was to implement tighter "circuit breaker" rules on the market.  The "circuit breaker" is another thinking machine.  We are awaiting the disaster that is caused when the market gets closed in a case where the right thing would have been to keep it open.

In short, if we were to mount a Butlerian Jihad now,  half of the muhajadeen would employ thinking machines to carry out the Jihad,  without even knowing it.  That carries the same risks as helping Bin Laden defeat the Soviets.

[Carrie Cobol]

I love the term "automated beaurocrat".  Lots of computer security policies are just that.  Security is important, but when idjits twist them around until they interfere with productive work, then it's just an automated beaurocrat.  Like 8+ item lists on password requirements, and more than one "security" question.  A company I used to work for actually forced us to pick 8 - yes, EIGHT - different security questions.  It was agonizing just to choose and answer them, took me a good half-hour, and I never had an occasion where they were needed after that.

[TRexx]

Unfortunately we see this behavior all too often. Someone with good intentions comes up with a plan. It is implemented, often without consulting those with the relevant expertise and/or who will be impacted, but with great fanfare and awards.   The plan has severe consequences.  But they can't reverse the decision. To do so would be to admit that the original decision makers made a mistake and clearly that is impossible. So we all suffer.

BTW I had to call our Help Desk today to get them to unfreeze my PC.  He commented that since they implemented this beast the number of calls they get has tripled, and nearly 60% concern this.  Since so many of these problems show up in the morning,  they have changed their schedule to have more people working the early shift.