Why I made Engineering Enigmas
Randomness as a tool for stuck engineers – a new approach to break bias.
kqr introduces Engineering Enigmas, a web-based tool that uses Tarot-style randomness to help engineers make decisions when feeling stuck. The core idea: humans often pretend their decisions are purely analytical or intuitive, but in reality, many choices are arbitrary—hidden behind consultants, astrologers, or even heated animal bones. Rather than fighting this randomness, kqr suggests embracing it actively to avoid bias, inject creativity, and save time.
The article draws on examples: management consultants legitimize arbitrary corporate decisions, Naskapi hunters used random bone-cracking patterns to avoid exploitation by caribou (adversarial randomness), and Weinberg's 'jiggling the system' for creative breakthroughs. Engineering Enigmas is a low-stakes randomizer: open the page, accept the advice, and creatively apply it to your problem. No refreshing until you get something that sticks—forcing you to work with chance rather than fight it.
- Engineering Enigmas is a Tarot-like web tool for engineers stuck on decisions, using randomness to break analysis paralysis.
- The article cites real-world use of randomness: management consultants, Naskapi bone divination to avoid adversarial exploitation, and jiggling systems for creativity.
- Randomness helps overcome the illusion of purely rational or intuitive decision-making, saving time and reducing bias.
Why It Matters
A practical method to fight decision paralysis using randomness—valuable for engineers facing complex trade-offs daily.