The Oxford Dictionary of English (OED) describes gremlin as

an imaginary mischievous sprite regarded as responsible for an unexplained problem or fault, especially a mechanical or electronic one

The Shadowrun tabletop RPG defines the gremlins quality as follows:

Characters with the Gremlins quality never seem to get along with technology. Devices malfunction inexplicably in the character’s hands, software constantly crashes whenever [they use] it […]. Note that Gremlins is a Negative quality — its effects should be hindering to the character (and entertaining to others). […]

Boy, have I had gremlins, especially related to notifications. I wrote about my gremlins here:

• 2024
  • Week­notes 2024 W38: Sequoia letdown
  • Week­notes 2024 W34: Solo stage
  • Week­notes 2024 W32: AI cult
  • Week­notes 2024 W04: End of work
  • Week­notes 2024 W02: No no no notifications
• 2023
  • Week­notes 2023 W51: Back to work
  • Week­notes 2023 W42: Fear of failure
  • Week­notes 2023 W34: Rome
  • Week­notes 2023 W28: Lakeside
  • Week­notes 2023 W17: Gifted
• 2022
  • Week­notes 2022 W52: Crisis
  • Week­notes 2022 W51: Xmas avocado
  • Week­notes 2022 W45: Burn II
  • Week­notes 2022 W44: Burn
  • Week­notes 2022 W41: The Office
  • Week­notes 2022 W34: Insomnia
  • Week­notes 2022 W32: Heat II
  • Week­notes 2022 W28: Mayfield
  • Week­notes 2022 W21: Short week
  • Week­notes 2022 W20: Birthday
  • Week­notes 2022 W18: Back to work
  • Week­notes 2022 W16: Yikes
  • Week­notes 2022 W15: Mostly recovered
  • Week­notes 2022 W13: Mildly grumpy
  • Week­notes 2022 W09: Viral
  • Week­notes 2022 W06: Technical failure

It might look like the amount of gremlins is decreasing, but I think that’s mostly me not talking about it much anymore. I’m getting used to them!