psyton

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

psyton
 /si:'ton/, n.

   [TMRC] The elementary particle carrying the sinister force. The
   probability of a process losing is proportional to the number of
   psytons falling on it. Psytons are generated by observers, which is
   why demos are more likely to fail when lots of people are watching.
   [This term appears to have been largely superseded by {bogon}; see
   also {quantum bogodynamics}. --ESR]

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

psyton

   <humour> /si:'ton/ (From {TMRC}) The elementary particle
   carrying the sinister force.  The probability of a process
   losing is proportional to the number of psytons falling on it.
   Psytons are generated by observers, which is why demos are
   more likely to fail when lots of people are watching.  This
   term appears to have been largely superseded by {bogon}; see
   also {quantum bogodynamics}.

   (1997-04-26)

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