The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):
fear and loathing
(Hunter S. Thompson) A state inspired by the prospect of
dealing with certain real-world systems and standards that are
totally brain-damaged but ubiquitous - Intel 8086s,
COBOL, EBCDIC, or any IBM machine except the Rios
(also known as the RS/6000).
[Jargon File]
(1994-12-06)
The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
fear and loathing
n.
[from Hunter S. Thompson] A state inspired by the prospect of dealing with
certain real-world systems and standards that are totally brain-damaged
but ubiquitous — Intel 8086s, or COBOL, or EBCDIC, or any IBM machine
bigger than a workstation. “Ack! They want PCs to be able to talk to the AI
machine. Fear and loathing time!”