The “Cross Effect” is when I repair or otherwise perform maintenance on a computer or other electronic device, following protocols and methodologies to the letter…and then the device will not operate correctly. This is with no indication of why it’s failing to work properly, mind you. Imagine if you plugged a working light bulb into a working socket, but it wouldn’t light up. You know the bulb works, and you know the socket’s active…but no light!

I’ll have triplechecked every single thing I’ve done, but to no avail. This is incredibly frustrating and depressing, as it often results in having to send the item in question in question away for refurbishing, or worse yet, replacement.

Perhaps I give off some sort of electrical field that disrupts these devices when they’re in a state of disrepair. Esoteric metaphysical explanations aside, the Cross Effect is rather annoying. It doesn’t happen a majority of the time (not even close), but it’s happened enough that I’ve had no choice but to take notice and give it an insidious name.