[Laws] John Tobler's Law
John Tobler's Law:
"Wherever in this world you stand, you will soon be in someone's way."
Corollary to John Tobler's Law:
"Wherever in this world you want to go, someone will soon be in your way."
I penned "John Tobler's Law" on December 21, 2004 and its corollary on April 19, 2005. If you are aware that "John Tobler's Law" has previously been published under another name, please let me know as soon as possible.
For many years I have been an admirer of laws and rules, such as those published in Paul Dickson's famous 1978 book, The Official Rules
(also, see Paul's other "Official Rules" books). Capt. Edward A. Murphy, for example, is frequently blamed unfairly for the operation of a principle he observed in effect at Edward's Air Force Base in 1949, while working as an engineer on Air Force Project MX981. Capt. Murphy saw something essentially true and stated it in a way that, apparently, no one had before. His project manager wrote it down and labeled it "Murphy's Law." Actually, Murphy stated it somewhat differently than we usually see it now (see Murphy's Laws Origin for an excellent history). Anyway, Capt. Murphy is neither guilty nor responsible for how Murphy's law has caused you difficulty; he just stated his observation and someone else restated it and named it in honor of him. The law was in operation long before Capt. Murphy existed, as any historian will testify.I have long thought about these elegant statements of significant observed principle that heretofore went nameless. And, yes, I have hoped to join the list of those who discovered one. Now, I believe I have.
Why can't I just call it "Tobler's Law?" Simply because "Tobler's Law" already exists, named for W. R. Tobler, in 1976, and also known as "Tobler's First Law of Geography." That fascinating law states "Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." My namesake well deserves to have this wonderful law named after him and he has done the extended Tobler family proud!