A Name For High-Tech Grief

Donald Knuth wants A Name for High-Tech Grief.

On his news page, Donald poses the following question.

But what do we call the combination of helplessness and agony that affects us when our computers or computer-based appliances do inexplicable things, for which there's no apparent workaround?

He provides an initial list of candidates gathered from friends.

• cyber despair (David Eisenbud, Talin)
• technitis (Chuck McManis)
• compu-terror (Steve Diamond)
• cyber burned or cyburned (Betsy Zeller, Dave Marvit)
• digital dread (Aza Raskin)
• techno angst (Jono DiCarlo)
• irritable bit syndrome (Charles Merriam)

Donald suggests people test the list in real world situations. Perhaps a winner will emerge.

Does anyone have suggestions for additions to the list?

Here are a few off the top of my head:

• Control-Alt-Hate
• bit rage
• computermyalgia

On the other hand, this might be a non-issue. Computers are a fad.