Systemic Failure

[waxwing]

Systemic Failure.

I think it's an interesting term because of the definition of systemic.

1. of, or pertaining to, a system
2. pertaining to, affecting, or circulating through the entire body: systemic disease; systemic pesticide.

So, a question arises. If something is labeled a systemic failure, does it follow that the system itself has failed or that the the entire body, regardless of system(s), fails? This is not meant to be a question of semantics, although I can forsee it becoming one.

[Serotonin]

I always thought of "systemic failure" belonging to corporate newspeak.

It also was the type of word I would use as a depressed teenager, evaluating my own social skills, or technical competence. *remembers dark old days*

I guess that integral parts of the "system" have failed to do their job, resulting in failure.

[coffeezombie]

Were you the one who did the dualism post too? Is this dictionary post thing part of a regular series?

No, a whole system doesn't need to fail for it to be a systemic failure. Failure of an important part of the system will also cause it. That's my opinion, anyway.

[waxwing]

Very funny. No, its not part of a regular series.

Something against the dictionary?

[Jacque]

No, a whole system doesn't need to fail for it to be a systemic failure. Failure of an important part of the system will also cause it. That's my opinion, anyway.
Aren't all or the majority failures part of a system? Redundant with the purpose of conveying exaggeration? Or the only type of failure a technocrat is able to identify, thus no cog is responsible only the machine? Fatalistic?

[coffeezombie]

Well, I am talking about something that causes the entire system to shut down. It can be something very small, though. Removing a certain organ completely from the body might kill someone, but the rest of the body could be completely healthy. I'd consider this "systemic failure." A common cold is not systemic failure.

[Jacque]

Removing a certain organ completely from the body might kill someone, but the rest of the body could be completely healthy. I'd consider this "systemic failure." A common cold is not systemic failure.
The critical failure of a subsystem then. But if your immune system can be identified as a...system, then there could be a systemic failure within that system regarding certain anitbodies, leukocytes, etc. Systemic failure sharing to much accountability? If all are at fault, then no one person can be?

[coffeezombie]

Systemic failure is a failure that is strong enough that the entire system shuts down, even if it is a small part of that system that only fails in reality.

[Jacque]

Systemic failure is a failure that is strong enough that the entire system shuts down, even if it is a small part of that system that only fails in reality.
That is to say then that if something fails, it is because something below has failed. If All fail, then Some fail. A obvious redundancy not worth the breath...bureaucratic waste of words. I had originally understood it to be 'everything failed so let's start from scratch', which conveys meaning not 'only this failed and some parts are still good', which is always my asssumption. I suppose it's said in anticipation of those whose natural tendency is throw the baby out with the bath water, a rhetorical term with a moderating effect on overreaction.

[kuranes]

I've only seen the term used in the insecticide field in a special way. Most insecticies work by spraying or dusting them on the plants being protected, or the nests of the pests ( while they rest, first, as a test ). But "systemic" insecticides are sucked up by the plants roots as part of their "food", and only become apparent after the insect bites into the plant. "Rude."

They are usually poisonous to humans too, as I recall. You could put some organophosphorous varieties of systemic into dimethyl sulfoxide and spray it on someone, and the effect would be possibly like a poor man's GA, with the anti-cholinesterase effects. Not recommended.

Otherwise "systemic" used with "failure" would seem to fit anything that causes a system to fail.
K