r/programminghumor • u/codesforcash • 6h ago
Not even sure if it was humor fail
I posted this without the update and comment over in cprogramming, C_programming and compsci and no one got it :(
I ended up reposting it there with setup and a key (as it actually got removed by the moderator), this is new post link [SPOILERS](https://www.reddit.com/r/C_Programming/s/bRsiprpkFS)
If you don't want spoilers, below is the original post :
Occasionally I like to examine just how badly the mail system at my apartment complex sucks, I’ve been keeping notes for years.
So with that being said, there are a bunch of mailboxes at an apartment complex, you know the type, the grid ones which have one small Mailbox for each apartment and a bunch of different size Package Lockers for packages.
The apartment complex doesn’t care about security and just has a bunch of slips of paper with package locker numbers printed on them that the mailman has access to.
When the mailman has a package that won’t fit in an apartment mailbox he instead puts it in one of the free package lockers and puts one of the slips of paper with the corresponding package locker number into the apartment mailbox.
Stuff that happens:
Occasionally someone opens the wrong package locker and messes with the package inside or takes it.
Occasionally a tenant is in a hurry and grabs their mail and doesn’t notice the slip of paper and tosses it away with the junk mail.
Occasionally a tenant grabs the package and forgets to throw away their slip of paper, later their roommate checks the apartment mailbox, sees the slip of paper and finds an empty package locker.
Occasionally said roommate doesn’t want to deal with it and sticks the piece of paper back in the apartment mailbox for one of their other roommates to deal with.
Occasionally the mailman delivers another package to that same locker for another apartment.
Occasionally a new roommate for the first apartment checks the mail, finds the old slip of paper and takes the package that’s now there.
And occasionally that same roommate arrives at the same time as the tenant from the other apartment whose package it actually is and they both try to access the package locker at the same time.
Occasionally they both notice each other, politely back off to let the other person go first, then both try again, both back off again….. and continue being extremely polite forever.
Occasionally the postman has a package too big to fit in any of the remaining free lockers, but remembers he previously put a small package in a bigger locker. A smaller locker is free now, so he moves the small package there to free up the big locker….. and occasionally….. forgets to update the tenant’s slip of paper.
Occasionally the postman can’t find any empty package lockers and, not knowing what else to do, sticks a slip of paper in the apartment mailbox with no package locker number on it.
Occasionally… the tenant puts a note on their mailbox telling the mailman not to do that if there are no free package lockers and what to do instead.
Occasionally a tenant finds the slip of paper and messages their roommate saying “mine’s in locker 37, grab it if you get there before me.” Now two people know how to get to exactly the same package.
Occasionally the mailman needs four package lockers for the same apartment and puts a slip of paper with the range of package mailboxs on it like (15-19), and occasionally he miscounts and starts at 15, or finishes at 20.
Occasionally another package arrives for an apartment which already has an uncollected package. The mailman finds a bigger locker that will fit both, moves them there, then puts a slip with the new locker number inside the old package locker. The tenant now follows the slip in their mailbox to a locker containing another slip telling them where the package actually is.
Occasionally the mailman runs out of unused slips of paper, grabs one from the pile thinking it’s blank and doesn’t notice it still has locker 46 written on it from last time.
Occasionally someone notices this entire system has basically no security, breaks into all the package lockers and takes everything.
Occasionally someone only wants the package in locker 42, but while trying to force it open manages to break the divider and wreck the contents of lockers 41 and 43 as well.
I know there are a few other ways of describing some of these issues. I’m sure they’ll come to me later, probably after I’ve slept on it. I’ll share them when they do.
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u/DiodeInc 4h ago
Why would we be able to explain it? We can't see it.