Everest syndrome

English

Alternative forms

• Mount Everest syndrome, Mt. Everest syndrome

Etymology

In reference to George Mallory's alleged reply when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest: "Because it's there."

Noun

Everest syndrome

1. The tendency of academic researchers to study things merely because they are there to be studied, regardless of whether the research is useful.
   • 1990, Paul Saettler, The Evolution of American Educational Technology‎^[1], Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, →ISBN, page 490:

     Maddux says further that there is an Everest Syndrome in educational computing and that there are those who "believe that computers should be brought into educational settings simply because they are there.⁹³ The result of the Everest Syndrome, according to Maddux "is an improper emphasis on computer hardware, and a consequent underemphasis on other, frequently more powerful variables affecting the computer."