Introducing the Jargon Index
August 2, 2018 6:52 AM Subscribe
Professional services company Grant Thornton unveils the Jargon Index It’s easy to fall into the status quo trap of relying on business jargon to make your case. These buzzwords are so prevalent that we decided to track them in our new Jargon Index to help you avoid the most overused corporate-speak. Are you tired of smoke and mirrors and looking to reinvent the wheel? We guarantee paying attention to this index will help you move the needle the next time you’re in a meeting.
The full list of 124 buzzwords is available as a PDF.
Here are the Top 5:
#5: On the same page
#4: Action plan
#3: Game changer
#2: Value add
#1: Best in class
In a LinkedIn post, Grant Thornton CEO Mike McGuire admits to his won guilty pleasures: customer-centric, low-hanging fruit, and core competencies.
"...we all sometimes use rhetorical shorthand to get a point across – and that’s no crime. The problem starts when we allow tired, vague, made-up language to substitute for well-expressed, original ideas."
The full list of 124 buzzwords is available as a PDF.
Here are the Top 5:
#5: On the same page
#4: Action plan
#3: Game changer
#2: Value add
#1: Best in class
In a LinkedIn post, Grant Thornton CEO Mike McGuire admits to his won guilty pleasures: customer-centric, low-hanging fruit, and core competencies.
"...we all sometimes use rhetorical shorthand to get a point across – and that’s no crime. The problem starts when we allow tired, vague, made-up language to substitute for well-expressed, original ideas."
Doesn't include my absolute bugbear "working hand in glove" - working hand in hand makes sense, we're partners, but working hand in glove? Am I the hand? Am I the glove? Am I expected to be your hand puppet, responding to your every finger flex?!
posted by Molesome at 7:00 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Molesome at 7:00 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
How about we change "at the end of the day" to "at the end of Time as we know it?"
posted by kozad at 7:01 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by kozad at 7:01 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Personally, I have always loved the term "human resource", IMO much akin to "natural resource"...
... And my favorite quote on that is another from Utah Phillips (the setup prior to getting to the quoted part below, is that he is giving a speech to graduating students):
"You are about to be told one more time that you are America's most valuable natural resource. Have you seen what they do to valuable natural resources?! Have you seen a strip mine? Have you seen a clear cut in the forest? Have you seen a polluted river? Don't ever let them call you a valuable natural resource! They're going to strip mine your soul. They're going to clear cut your best thoughts for the sake of profit unless you learn to resist, because the profit system follows the path of least resistance and following the path of least resistance is what makes the river crooked!"
Natural Resources - The Past Didn't Go Anywhere
posted by jkaczor at 7:05 AM on August 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
... And my favorite quote on that is another from Utah Phillips (the setup prior to getting to the quoted part below, is that he is giving a speech to graduating students):
"You are about to be told one more time that you are America's most valuable natural resource. Have you seen what they do to valuable natural resources?! Have you seen a strip mine? Have you seen a clear cut in the forest? Have you seen a polluted river? Don't ever let them call you a valuable natural resource! They're going to strip mine your soul. They're going to clear cut your best thoughts for the sake of profit unless you learn to resist, because the profit system follows the path of least resistance and following the path of least resistance is what makes the river crooked!"
Natural Resources - The Past Didn't Go Anywhere
posted by jkaczor at 7:05 AM on August 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
My personal "go-to" in the past was "best practices" - but over time, I became more and more cynical and now just tell my clients that I use "current practices"...
posted by jkaczor at 7:08 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by jkaczor at 7:08 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
Doesn't include my absolute bugbear "working hand in glove" - working hand in hand makes sense, we're partners, but working hand in glove? Am I the hand? Am I the glove? Am I expected to be your hand puppet, responding to your every finger flex?!
Hand in glove is supposed to mean you're working with someone who has wear a glove so that everyone doesn't find out they're evil incarnate like Skeletor or the Grim Reaper or some shit. The idea is if they're not wearing a glove you'll see the skeleton hand and think "something's not quite right here". The implication is that you're doing something dishonest. People are just idiots and want to say something fancier than the common and pedestrian "hand in hand" so the original meaning has been diluted.
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 7:09 AM on August 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Hand in glove is supposed to mean you're working with someone who has wear a glove so that everyone doesn't find out they're evil incarnate like Skeletor or the Grim Reaper or some shit. The idea is if they're not wearing a glove you'll see the skeleton hand and think "something's not quite right here". The implication is that you're doing something dishonest. People are just idiots and want to say something fancier than the common and pedestrian "hand in hand" so the original meaning has been diluted.
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 7:09 AM on August 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Sorry, but this will always be the only jargon website for me.
http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/
posted by robotmachine at 7:10 AM on August 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/
posted by robotmachine at 7:10 AM on August 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
made-up language
All language is made-up.
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 7:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
All language is made-up.
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 7:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
Clichés are double-edged swords.
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:22 AM on August 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:22 AM on August 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
Also, "we have to think outside the box" is firmly inside the box now.
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:22 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:22 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Google searches "best in class" site:grantthornton.com -"jargon index"
177 results.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:27 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
177 results.
posted by inflatablekiwi at 7:27 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I generally avoid clichés like the plague
posted by little onion at 7:29 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by little onion at 7:29 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
hmmm.... no mention of 'synergies,' nor the leveraging thereof.
posted by logicpunk at 7:36 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 7:36 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I was recently at an all-day series of seminars for work and heard the phrase 'don't try to boil the ocean' like NINE TIMES between different speakers. What was especially aggravating is that the context implied that it was meaning 'don't take on a monumental task all at once, it's doomed to fail'.. however, for that we already have the perfectly apt 'don't bite off more than you can chew' which covers that just fine. In addition, you shouldn't try to BOIL THE OCEAN at ALL, even if you figure out how to do it in discrete portions to make the labor more manageable. Leave the dang ocean alone, folks! You've done enough!
posted by FatherDagon at 7:38 AM on August 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by FatherDagon at 7:38 AM on August 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
but what are the learnings we can take away from this?
posted by BungaDunga at 7:40 AM on August 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 7:40 AM on August 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
"On the same page"?
Look, I agree that some jargon can be obfuscatory and unhelpful in promoting clear communication, but does anyone seriously have a problem with a phrase like "on the same page"?
Then "Action Plan"? Really? Are we allowed to mention To-Do Lists or Calendars or is that too jargony for Grant Thornton? Holy shit, action plan is like two words, both of which are appropriate in describing the thing.
What next:
#5. "paper clip"
#4. "sandwich"
#3. "lunch break"
#2. "annual leave"
#1. "thumb drive"
posted by surenoproblem at 7:43 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
Look, I agree that some jargon can be obfuscatory and unhelpful in promoting clear communication, but does anyone seriously have a problem with a phrase like "on the same page"?
Then "Action Plan"? Really? Are we allowed to mention To-Do Lists or Calendars or is that too jargony for Grant Thornton? Holy shit, action plan is like two words, both of which are appropriate in describing the thing.
What next:
#5. "paper clip"
#4. "sandwich"
#3. "lunch break"
#2. "annual leave"
#1. "thumb drive"
posted by surenoproblem at 7:43 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
"Action plan" is redundant. What other kind of plan could there possibly be? A plan to do nothing?
posted by enn at 7:45 AM on August 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by enn at 7:45 AM on August 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
These aren't jargon. These are cliches.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:47 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:47 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
A plan to do nothing?
I plan to action this tomorrow.
posted by arcticseal at 7:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
I plan to action this tomorrow.
posted by arcticseal at 7:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
"Action plan" is redundant. What other kind of plan could there possibly be? A plan to do nothing?
"I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait."
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 7:50 AM on August 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
"I'm not standing still. I am lying in wait."
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 7:50 AM on August 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
I'm surprised to hear that "low-hanging fruit" is a modern business buzzword. Somehow I got the idea it was older, and a reference to Aesop, as in the opposite of "sour grapes".
posted by sfenders at 7:51 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by sfenders at 7:51 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
> "Action plan" is redundant. What other kind of plan could there possibly be? A plan to do nothing?
It's pretty common to have to deal with architectural plans, contingency plans, strategic plans, etc
posted by surenoproblem at 7:51 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
It's pretty common to have to deal with architectural plans, contingency plans, strategic plans, etc
posted by surenoproblem at 7:51 AM on August 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
The problem starts when we allow tired, vague, made-up language to substitute for well-expressed, original ideas.
Most of the time, what you're doing in businesses is stuff that's already been done before. You might as well use phrases that have been used before to describe stuff that's been done before. Hardly anybody is coming up with original ideas, so hardly anybody needs original language.
posted by clawsoon at 7:55 AM on August 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Most of the time, what you're doing in businesses is stuff that's already been done before. You might as well use phrases that have been used before to describe stuff that's been done before. Hardly anybody is coming up with original ideas, so hardly anybody needs original language.
posted by clawsoon at 7:55 AM on August 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Buzzwords =/= jargon
posted by pompomtom at 7:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by pompomtom at 7:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
My old company was obsessed with metaphorical buckets. Once we started putting one thing in buckets everyone was always separating things into buckets. And we worked in higher ed so I always imagined a bunch of college students being carried around in a pail.
I wonder if they knew about the word "groups".
posted by Emmy Rae at 8:00 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I wonder if they knew about the word "groups".
posted by Emmy Rae at 8:00 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Buzzwords == jargon for managers
posted by clawsoon at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon at 8:02 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Of course, industry jargon-slinging is small potatoes compared to the DoD: https://www.duffelblog.com/2018/03/army-standardizes-thinking-outside-the-box-procedures/
posted by bendybendy at 8:03 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by bendybendy at 8:03 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
"Action plan" is redundant. What other kind of plan could there possibly be? A plan to do nothing?
There are always three plans.
1) Do nothing. Result: The entire enterprise catches fire, tips over, and sinks into the swamp.
2) Do the thing I want. Result: Sunlit uplands of milk and honey; bonuses all around.
3) Do the gilded silly thing. Result: It's all funds and games until someone loses an eye.
Someone loses an eye.
2 and 3 are 'action plans'.
posted by pompomtom at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
There are always three plans.
1) Do nothing. Result: The entire enterprise catches fire, tips over, and sinks into the swamp.
2) Do the thing I want. Result: Sunlit uplands of milk and honey; bonuses all around.
3) Do the gilded silly thing. Result: It's all funds and games until someone loses an eye.
Someone loses an eye.
2 and 3 are 'action plans'.
posted by pompomtom at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I like some of these, because they are shortcuts everyone understands.
I am super fond of "next steps." I honestly hate meetings and such where people go on about projects. Just tell me what you need from me, and don't bog me down with an insurmountable or intimidating list. Tell me the one or two things you need now, and when you need them by. When that's done, feed me more.
Jargon is annoying, but it serves a purpose. I've been doing a lot of reading of academic writing lately. It's full of jargon, but I can't imagine trying to read some of these papers without it. I find that sometimes the formulaic way these papers are laid out allow me to skip right to the meat. Or if not that, at least allow me to not give everything a deep reading.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
I am super fond of "next steps." I honestly hate meetings and such where people go on about projects. Just tell me what you need from me, and don't bog me down with an insurmountable or intimidating list. Tell me the one or two things you need now, and when you need them by. When that's done, feed me more.
Jargon is annoying, but it serves a purpose. I've been doing a lot of reading of academic writing lately. It's full of jargon, but I can't imagine trying to read some of these papers without it. I find that sometimes the formulaic way these papers are laid out allow me to skip right to the meat. Or if not that, at least allow me to not give everything a deep reading.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
Grant Thornton’s Jargon Index is part of the firm’s “Status Go” brand platform, which emphasizes challenging the status quo in a forward-thinking way that produces results for clients.
They're going to be so pissed off when "Status Go" starts trending.
posted by hypersloth at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
They're going to be so pissed off when "Status Go" starts trending.
posted by hypersloth at 8:04 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Clichés are double-edged swords.
The first character in the Chinese word for “cliché” means “opportunity.”
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:05 AM on August 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
The first character in the Chinese word for “cliché” means “opportunity.”
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:05 AM on August 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Doesn't include reach out, which I notice often, but the 4 Tops are pretty great.
Jargon is used to signify that you're cool, part of the in-group. And language is used to try to sound smarter, which is where a lot of poor jargon use gets out of control. The phrase "out of pocket" once meant that employees shouldn't have to pay for business expenses, you shouldn't be out of pocket on that project, there's a budget for incidentals and I used to hear it used to mean someone would be unavailable by phone. I have a dental appointment; I'll be out of pocket this afternoon.
posted by theora55 at 8:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Jargon is used to signify that you're cool, part of the in-group. And language is used to try to sound smarter, which is where a lot of poor jargon use gets out of control. The phrase "out of pocket" once meant that employees shouldn't have to pay for business expenses, you shouldn't be out of pocket on that project, there's a budget for incidentals and I used to hear it used to mean someone would be unavailable by phone. I have a dental appointment; I'll be out of pocket this afternoon.
posted by theora55 at 8:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
out of pocket has been bugging me for 2 years! You were never in my pocket! You mean you will be unavailable? Maybe say that because it actually makes sense??
Just dug up my old list of annoying corporatisms I made during a very long meeting. My favorite: predictive decisioning
posted by Emmy Rae at 8:16 AM on August 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Just dug up my old list of annoying corporatisms I made during a very long meeting. My favorite: predictive decisioning
posted by Emmy Rae at 8:16 AM on August 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Not jargon.
No entry for the misuse of "unique."
No alternatives to actually help people communicate better in a business setting.
Grant Thornton can blow me. How's that for "jargon."
posted by desuetude at 8:19 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
No entry for the misuse of "unique."
No alternatives to actually help people communicate better in a business setting.
Grant Thornton can blow me. How's that for "jargon."
posted by desuetude at 8:19 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Decisioning! Holy Verbery, Batman!
posted by theora55 at 8:19 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 8:19 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
I had thought (through TV, because that's how Australians learn American) that "reached out to" just meant "contacted", and it annoyed my Aus laziness because OMG EXTRA SYLLABLES.
You guys should slang better.
posted by pompomtom at 8:21 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
You guys should slang better.
posted by pompomtom at 8:21 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I had thought (through TV, because that's how Australians learn American) that "reach out" just meant "contact", and it annoyed my Aus laziness because OMG EXTRA SYLLABLES.
I was looking at some coding done some time in the 1970s-1980s the other day (that was still in use) and instead of 'phone number', they called it the 'reach number' in the user interface and the code.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:24 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I was looking at some coding done some time in the 1970s-1980s the other day (that was still in use) and instead of 'phone number', they called it the 'reach number' in the user interface and the code.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:24 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
My boss loves to say about a problem that someone else has to deal with: "the Turd is in their pocket."
Nooooooo....
I work in property management, I have to ocassionally deal with literal sewage and shit, I don't want metaphorical shit too.
posted by vespabelle at 8:25 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Nooooooo....
I work in property management, I have to ocassionally deal with literal sewage and shit, I don't want metaphorical shit too.
posted by vespabelle at 8:25 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is one aspect of corporate life that really grinds my gears oh goddammit.
But seriously. I cannot escape the feeling that people inject this lingo to catch coworkers off guard in some sort of bullshit powerplay when there are perfectly fine words and phrases already in existence to express their thoughts.
posted by offalark at 8:26 AM on August 2, 2018
But seriously. I cannot escape the feeling that people inject this lingo to catch coworkers off guard in some sort of bullshit powerplay when there are perfectly fine words and phrases already in existence to express their thoughts.
posted by offalark at 8:26 AM on August 2, 2018
My wife recently took a new job, and one of her responsibilities is to do the new employee orientation. This is where I discovered that it isn't called "orientation" anymore. It's now "onboarding."
The first time she used that term I did a complete head wobble and "wtf is onboarding?" It's utterly enigmatic of management's need to make every damned movement sound as if it's the most important thing one will ever do in your life.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:35 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
The first time she used that term I did a complete head wobble and "wtf is onboarding?" It's utterly enigmatic of management's need to make every damned movement sound as if it's the most important thing one will ever do in your life.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:35 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
No alternatives to actually help people communicate better in a business setting.
That's a good point. If you can't provide a good alternative, then the jargon may be filling a niche. Like, I thought "jump ship" was just an expression, and what else would get across that meaning?
My pet peeve is when people say "utilize" when "use" would be perfectly fine.
posted by RobotHero at 8:35 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
That's a good point. If you can't provide a good alternative, then the jargon may be filling a niche. Like, I thought "jump ship" was just an expression, and what else would get across that meaning?
My pet peeve is when people say "utilize" when "use" would be perfectly fine.
posted by RobotHero at 8:35 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Onboarding mystified me too, instantly reminding me of waterboarding. Similar passive aggression: "I'll f/u next week"
posted by bendybendy at 8:48 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by bendybendy at 8:48 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
ugh "reach out" makes my teeth itch every time I hear or read it
I wondered what the hell these people do. Their about page starts off with "Grant Thornton has what it takes to help you drive excellence throughout your business. We collaborate, deliberate and innovate. Our people speak up, get creative and shake up the status quo. We believe in the power of fresh thinking and passionate people and we call that commitment Status Go." That's in front of a big, eye-catching image and I'm pretty sure it means next to nothing. And then I scroll down, and there in tiny type like they're ashamed of it: they're a group of "of independent audit, tax and advisory firms". This fact is of course in the middle of several other sentences trying desperately to make them sound cool.
posted by egypturnash at 8:48 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I wondered what the hell these people do. Their about page starts off with "Grant Thornton has what it takes to help you drive excellence throughout your business. We collaborate, deliberate and innovate. Our people speak up, get creative and shake up the status quo. We believe in the power of fresh thinking and passionate people and we call that commitment Status Go." That's in front of a big, eye-catching image and I'm pretty sure it means next to nothing. And then I scroll down, and there in tiny type like they're ashamed of it: they're a group of "of independent audit, tax and advisory firms". This fact is of course in the middle of several other sentences trying desperately to make them sound cool.
posted by egypturnash at 8:48 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
If you can't provide a good alternative, then the jargon may be filling a niche.
This is usually how jargon comes about, yes. Half of it is shorthand for a concept that would take much longer to express in plain language, as cjorgensen says, and the other half is just alternative ways to express something that you need to say all the time, so you don't get repetitive. The second type of jargon can eventually become the repetitive thing that you need alternative ways to express, but that's just the way that language naturally works.
But don't mind me, I'm just beanplating over here.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
This is usually how jargon comes about, yes. Half of it is shorthand for a concept that would take much longer to express in plain language, as cjorgensen says, and the other half is just alternative ways to express something that you need to say all the time, so you don't get repetitive. The second type of jargon can eventually become the repetitive thing that you need alternative ways to express, but that's just the way that language naturally works.
But don't mind me, I'm just beanplating over here.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
"wtf is onboarding?"
...another pet peeve of mine.
In fact, a double-peeve. It's not like this is an appropriation of some nautical term. No-one "onboards" a vessel. One 'boards' a vessel. How fucking hard is that?* A gangplank and a walk, ordinarily, perhaps some help for the less ambulatory.
*Yes this is a trick, because I've had whole contracts fucked up because "onboarding" means idiots haven't given you access to the server/email/FUCKINGCHAIR one needs to do the job≥
posted by pompomtom at 8:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
...another pet peeve of mine.
In fact, a double-peeve. It's not like this is an appropriation of some nautical term. No-one "onboards" a vessel. One 'boards' a vessel. How fucking hard is that?* A gangplank and a walk, ordinarily, perhaps some help for the less ambulatory.
*Yes this is a trick, because I've had whole contracts fucked up because "onboarding" means idiots haven't given you access to the server/email/FUCKINGCHAIR one needs to do the job≥
posted by pompomtom at 8:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Aren’t these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound smart?
Depends on the person and the environment. If I'm surrounded by people who speak this way, I'll speak this way. If I'm speaking with folks whose mastery of English in a business setting is relatively weak but they've learned these terms, I'll use these terms. Linguistic shortcuts (like "buzzwords" and "shortcuts") are helpful, as long as they carry real meaning in context.
posted by davejay at 8:52 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
egypturnash: And then I scroll down, and there in tiny type like they're ashamed of it: they're a group of "of independent audit, tax and advisory firms". This fact is of course in the middle of several other sentences trying desperately to make them sound cool.
Whenever accountants start telling me how creative they are, I get worried.
posted by clawsoon at 8:52 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Whenever accountants start telling me how creative they are, I get worried.
posted by clawsoon at 8:52 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Okay, who leaked the song titles for Guided by Voices' new box set?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Aren’t these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound smart?
You're fired.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
You're fired.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I wondered what the hell these people do.
I don't know about now, but my father worked there as a systems analyst for decades, and back then they were an accounting firm.
posted by davejay at 8:54 AM on August 2, 2018
I don't know about now, but my father worked there as a systems analyst for decades, and back then they were an accounting firm.
posted by davejay at 8:54 AM on August 2, 2018
I use "current practices"
You just reminded me of a time yea many years ago when I used to frequent some Usenet programming group or another. There was one guy in there who was weirdly insistent on using the phrase "contemporary praxis". It was grating.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 8:55 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
You just reminded me of a time yea many years ago when I used to frequent some Usenet programming group or another. There was one guy in there who was weirdly insistent on using the phrase "contemporary praxis". It was grating.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 8:55 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Whenever accountants start telling me how creative they are, I get worried.
Ordinarily, if you need a creative accountant, you ask them. I'd not known they advertised,.
posted by pompomtom at 8:56 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ordinarily, if you need a creative accountant, you ask them. I'd not known they advertised,.
posted by pompomtom at 8:56 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
There was one guy in there who was weirdly insistent on using the phrase "contemporary praxis". It was grating.
TFW you try to avoid annoying people by not using jargon and end up annoying people because you didn't use jargon.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:57 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
TFW you try to avoid annoying people by not using jargon and end up annoying people because you didn't use jargon.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:57 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
What other kind of plan could there possibly be? A plan to do nothing?
I think a lot of these redundancies arise to express the superlative. "Think outside the box" is like this. If you ask people what "think outside the box" actually means they'll say things like "be creative" or "don't just repeat the same old solution" - in other words the activity described by the word think. So "think outside the bix" ends up meaning really really think just like "action plan" ends up meaning for real let's stop talking about this plate of beans and eat them already.
Other stuff on this list - I dunno - "onboarding" used to be called "orientation" but the principle metaphor - that the project is a ship and this collection of activities that includes knowledge transfer, training, introductory meetings will get you on board that ship - doesn't seem as absurd or Orwellian or contentless as some of the buzzwords.
posted by eustacescrubb at 8:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think a lot of these redundancies arise to express the superlative. "Think outside the box" is like this. If you ask people what "think outside the box" actually means they'll say things like "be creative" or "don't just repeat the same old solution" - in other words the activity described by the word think. So "think outside the bix" ends up meaning really really think just like "action plan" ends up meaning for real let's stop talking about this plate of beans and eat them already.
Other stuff on this list - I dunno - "onboarding" used to be called "orientation" but the principle metaphor - that the project is a ship and this collection of activities that includes knowledge transfer, training, introductory meetings will get you on board that ship - doesn't seem as absurd or Orwellian or contentless as some of the buzzwords.
posted by eustacescrubb at 8:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Working in healthcare, my own personal bugbear is "Center of Excellence." Allow me to quote this journal article:
"Formally defined, a center of excellence is a program within a healthcare institution which is assembled to supply an exceptionally high concentration of expertise and related resources centered on a particular area of medicine, delivering associated care in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary fashion to afford the best patient outcomes possible...While one might assume that in the highly-regulated healthcare industry use of the center of excellence designation would be restricted to those providers which meet prescribed standards and hold associated certifications, this generally is not the case. With few exceptions, the center of excellence designation can be applied at will by healthcare establishments."
In other words, it's purely marketing bullshit designed to make it sound like a hospital or ASC is officially "excellent" but it means exactly nothing. As if it weren't already difficult enough to discern the actually quality of any given health care provider.
posted by zeusianfog at 9:05 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Formally defined, a center of excellence is a program within a healthcare institution which is assembled to supply an exceptionally high concentration of expertise and related resources centered on a particular area of medicine, delivering associated care in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary fashion to afford the best patient outcomes possible...While one might assume that in the highly-regulated healthcare industry use of the center of excellence designation would be restricted to those providers which meet prescribed standards and hold associated certifications, this generally is not the case. With few exceptions, the center of excellence designation can be applied at will by healthcare establishments."
In other words, it's purely marketing bullshit designed to make it sound like a hospital or ASC is officially "excellent" but it means exactly nothing. As if it weren't already difficult enough to discern the actually quality of any given health care provider.
posted by zeusianfog at 9:05 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Every sword is double-edged,* but sometimes both of the edges aren't sharpened.
* I guess there might be a Moebius sword or something. But who would want to wield a Moebius sword, even if they could figure out how to get it out of the Moebius scabbard?
posted by mullicious at 9:06 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
* I guess there might be a Moebius sword or something. But who would want to wield a Moebius sword, even if they could figure out how to get it out of the Moebius scabbard?
posted by mullicious at 9:06 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
that the project is a ship and this collection of activities that includes knowledge transfer
Indeed, but no-one has ever, in the history of English, 'onboarded' a ship.
Many have boarded ships.
posted by pompomtom at 9:06 AM on August 2, 2018
Indeed, but no-one has ever, in the history of English, 'onboarded' a ship.
Many have boarded ships.
posted by pompomtom at 9:06 AM on August 2, 2018
Every sword is double-edged
Oh this is just bloody trolling now.
posted by pompomtom at 9:10 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Oh this is just bloody trolling now.
posted by pompomtom at 9:10 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
One of my pet peeves is “Performant”. What is wrong with just using “fast”?
posted by antijava at 9:16 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by antijava at 9:16 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Indeed, but no-one has ever, in the history of English, 'onboarded' a ship.No, but people bring things on board all the time, which is the construction that onboarding derives from.
I get very tired of this language because it is very indirect, which makes it so easy to string it together in ways that range from obfuscation to meaninglessness. But the longer I'm in an environment that uses these phrases the more I find myself using them, and even thinking in terms of them. It's disheartening, because it so often makes seeing and thinking clearly much more difficult. I don't know that I have a solution, but I do know it allows us to spend a lot of time talking around problems instead of solving them--there is a very real sense in my office that saying something directly is now the height of rudeness.
posted by Fish Sauce at 9:17 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
One of my favorite phenomena is when someone high-ish up on a team comes up with a new little bit of jargon, and suddenly everyone on your team is saying it. On one of my last corporate projects we had a sponsor who was very insistent that the team look through all of the existing materials and "de-dupe" where we could (this was his cute term for "get rid of redundant stuff"), and within a week I couldn't be on a call with anybody connected to that project without hearing that term multiple times over. I wish you could charge in for dental work caused by tooth-grinding in meetings.
posted by DingoMutt at 9:21 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by DingoMutt at 9:21 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Orientation is what you provide to new employees to help them find their way in their new company once they arrive. I don't like the term "onboarding," but I recognize that "orientation" as a term did not properly convey that someone needs to take responsibility for completing internal systems stuff like setting up their email and accounts prior to their start date.
posted by desuetude at 9:23 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by desuetude at 9:23 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Every sword is double-edged,* but sometimes both of the edges aren't sharpened.
I'm just thinking outside the box here, but couldn't you have a triple-edged sword?
posted by clawsoon at 9:24 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm just thinking outside the box here, but couldn't you have a triple-edged sword?
posted by clawsoon at 9:24 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Every sword is double-edged,* but sometimes both of the edges aren't sharpened.
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:25 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
edge. noun.Pedantry is a two-way street.
...
2 the sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:25 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
@pompomtom: Not necessarily!
Killick: Ahoy, Cap'n, I've got the surgeon from the Leopard here in the jolly boat, what should I do with him?
Aubrey: Bring him on board at once!
posted by Fish Sauce at 9:28 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Killick: Ahoy, Cap'n, I've got the surgeon from the Leopard here in the jolly boat, what should I do with him?
Aubrey: Bring him on board at once!
posted by Fish Sauce at 9:28 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
A good example in the FPP just above this one: "Multiple studies have shown synthetic fibers to make up the lion’s share of microplastics found in oceans, rivers and lakes, and clothes made from synthetics (polyester, nylon, and so on) are widely implicated as the source of that pollution." What does "the lion's share" mean? Is it the majority by weight? The plurality? Something else? There no way to know! If the problem is serious enough to write an article about, surely it wouldn't have been difficult to actually explain precisely the extent of it, right?
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2018
posted by J.K. Seazer at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2018
Personally, I have always loved the term "human resource", IMO much akin to "natural resource"...
I still remember one of my first days at my first corporate job, nearly 20 years ago - somebody asked if I could help out on their project, and the manager on whose project I was working at the time said, right in front of me, that she didn't want to lose a "resource" for so long. I felt like something that should be stocked in the supply cabinet.
I think my odds of being okay with being a corporate employee for the rest of my life were pretty much torpedoed right then and there.
posted by DingoMutt at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I still remember one of my first days at my first corporate job, nearly 20 years ago - somebody asked if I could help out on their project, and the manager on whose project I was working at the time said, right in front of me, that she didn't want to lose a "resource" for so long. I felt like something that should be stocked in the supply cabinet.
I think my odds of being okay with being a corporate employee for the rest of my life were pretty much torpedoed right then and there.
posted by DingoMutt at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
edge. noun.
...
2 the sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon
Ugh, can we not with the sword jargon? What's wrong with saying "sharp bit"?
posted by tobascodagama at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2018
...
2 the sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon
Ugh, can we not with the sword jargon? What's wrong with saying "sharp bit"?
posted by tobascodagama at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2018
> Ugh, can we not with the sword jargon? What's wrong with saying "sharp bit"?
Do you mean the pointy bit or the slicing bit?
posted by desuetude at 9:33 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Do you mean the pointy bit or the slicing bit?
posted by desuetude at 9:33 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'd say "bring him aboard", or possibly "bring him on board", never "onboard him"
(and then I'd duck before I were labeled a dirty prescriptivist).
posted by pompomtom at 9:35 AM on August 2, 2018
(and then I'd duck before I were labeled a dirty prescriptivist).
posted by pompomtom at 9:35 AM on August 2, 2018
~My pet peeve is when people say "utilize" when "use" would be perfectly fine.
~ugh "reach out" makes my teeth itch every time I hear or read it
My wife also uses "reach out to" a lot, and you have to peel me off the ceiling every time.
A HUGE bug-in-the-butt for me is the proliferation of "impact" substituting for both "affect" and "effect." I know it sounds all dramatic and "omg teh importants!!" bit you aren't talking about asteroids crashing into the Earth!
I want to throw a brick at the tv or radio every time some talking head uses impact when effect or effect would be much more accurate.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:38 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
~ugh "reach out" makes my teeth itch every time I hear or read it
My wife also uses "reach out to" a lot, and you have to peel me off the ceiling every time.
A HUGE bug-in-the-butt for me is the proliferation of "impact" substituting for both "affect" and "effect." I know it sounds all dramatic and "omg teh importants!!" bit you aren't talking about asteroids crashing into the Earth!
I want to throw a brick at the tv or radio every time some talking head uses impact when effect or effect would be much more accurate.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:38 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Do you mean the pointy bit or the slicing bit?
Slicing? More jargon! Who even talks like that? Use plain English, jeeze.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:44 AM on August 2, 2018
Slicing? More jargon! Who even talks like that? Use plain English, jeeze.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:44 AM on August 2, 2018
I'd say "bring him aboard", or possibly "bring him on board", never "onboard him"
You're right in that "onboard" as a verb to mean "to bring aboard" is new-ish (the late 1960s, says Dictionary.com), but that - the movement of a noun or adjective to verb format - is pretty normal for English, where we verb nouns and noun verbs all the time. And the metaphor is clear, unlike, say, "think outside the box."
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:45 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
You're right in that "onboard" as a verb to mean "to bring aboard" is new-ish (the late 1960s, says Dictionary.com), but that - the movement of a noun or adjective to verb format - is pretty normal for English, where we verb nouns and noun verbs all the time. And the metaphor is clear, unlike, say, "think outside the box."
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:45 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
No "build your brand" or any of its variants? Even the public library where I work is increasingly prone to obsessing about its brand, and how best to strengthen its brand, and the branding work we can all do. To which I say...
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:50 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:50 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
My current pet peeve is "learnings."
"Learning" meaning "thing learned" is actually quite old - from Middle English. Shakespeare used it in Cymbelline:
The King he takes the babe
To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,
Breeds him and makes him of his bedchamber,
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of, which he took,
As we do air, fast as ’twas minist’red,
And in ’s spring became a harvest; liv’d in court
(Which rare it is to do) most prais’d, most lov’d,
A sample to the youngest, to th’ more mature
A glass that feated them, and to the graver
A child that guided dotards.
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:50 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
"Learning" meaning "thing learned" is actually quite old - from Middle English. Shakespeare used it in Cymbelline:
The King he takes the babe
To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,
Breeds him and makes him of his bedchamber,
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of, which he took,
As we do air, fast as ’twas minist’red,
And in ’s spring became a harvest; liv’d in court
(Which rare it is to do) most prais’d, most lov’d,
A sample to the youngest, to th’ more mature
A glass that feated them, and to the graver
A child that guided dotards.
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:50 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Tiger team.
I swear to God one of these days I'm going to raise my hand in a meeting and say "Excuse me, but how is a tiger team different from a regular team?"
They will have brought it on themselves, and I won't regret it for one moment.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I swear to God one of these days I'm going to raise my hand in a meeting and say "Excuse me, but how is a tiger team different from a regular team?"
They will have brought it on themselves, and I won't regret it for one moment.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sweet, and we all get the meaning, but (to me, I'm sorry) "onboard" only means (to me, and, incidentally, anyone I've discussed this with so far) HR-speak. No ships, boats, rafts, dinghies etc would ever be associated with 'onboarding'.
(I'm a bit pissed* at this point, and may have forgotten what the point was....)
(on edit: OH FFS!! "Learnings" is an ugly synonym for "lessons")
*Cwlth version, not USA version
posted by pompomtom at 9:55 AM on August 2, 2018
(I'm a bit pissed* at this point, and may have forgotten what the point was....)
(on edit: OH FFS!! "Learnings" is an ugly synonym for "lessons")
*Cwlth version, not USA version
posted by pompomtom at 9:55 AM on August 2, 2018
Tiger team.
Isn't that part of US Militarism? One observation helo teamed with one assault?
posted by pompomtom at 9:57 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Isn't that part of US Militarism? One observation helo teamed with one assault?
posted by pompomtom at 9:57 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
to me, and, incidentally, anyone I've discussed this with so far
except, of course, me.
:D
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:58 AM on August 2, 2018
except, of course, me.
:D
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:58 AM on August 2, 2018
I swear to God one of these days I'm going to raise my hand in a meeting and say "how is a tiger team different from a regular team?"
Originally they were pen testers. But in business a tiger team is a subset of teams. They're usually ad hoc formed by specific cross-disciplinary specialists for a specific purpose or action. Like I can have a team of helpdesk operators but if I stick a helpdesk guy with a security guy and a network administrator to work on say a malware infection that's a tiger team.
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 9:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Originally they were pen testers. But in business a tiger team is a subset of teams. They're usually ad hoc formed by specific cross-disciplinary specialists for a specific purpose or action. Like I can have a team of helpdesk operators but if I stick a helpdesk guy with a security guy and a network administrator to work on say a malware infection that's a tiger team.
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 9:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
"Learnings" is an ugly synonym for "lessons"
Totally agree that it's got a terrible music to it compared to "lessons." I just meant that it's not new jargon.
posted by eustacescrubb at 10:00 AM on August 2, 2018
Totally agree that it's got a terrible music to it compared to "lessons." I just meant that it's not new jargon.
posted by eustacescrubb at 10:00 AM on August 2, 2018
DingoMutt, I've really enjoyed inventing a nonsense phrase and deadpanning it authoritatively in a meeting to watch how it spreads over the next week. Best if you have a secret collaborator who uses it again later.
It's equally rewarding in a design crit context and a useless corporate matrix, for different reasons.
posted by a halcyon day at 10:03 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's equally rewarding in a design crit context and a useless corporate matrix, for different reasons.
posted by a halcyon day at 10:03 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
What does "the lion's share" mean? Is it the majority by weight? The plurality? Something else? There no way to know!
Optimal hunting group size: the need for lions to defend their kills against loss to spotted hyaenas, in the African Journal of Ecology, suggests that 20% of lion kills can be lost to hyaenas. That's probably more than average, but on the other hand they probably lose some to other species too. More research is needed.
posted by sfenders at 10:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Optimal hunting group size: the need for lions to defend their kills against loss to spotted hyaenas, in the African Journal of Ecology, suggests that 20% of lion kills can be lost to hyaenas. That's probably more than average, but on the other hand they probably lose some to other species too. More research is needed.
posted by sfenders at 10:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I've really enjoyed inventing a nonsense phrase and deadpanning it authoritatively in a meeting
The milk is pizzled.
posted by eustacescrubb at 10:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
The milk is pizzled.
posted by eustacescrubb at 10:11 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
You might as well use phrases that have been used before to describe stuff that's been done before.
Shaka. When the walls fell…
posted by arcticseal at 10:16 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Shaka. When the walls fell…
posted by arcticseal at 10:16 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Do we have alignment on this", meaning, do we agree on stuff?
Somewhere, there's a popular management paperback bestseller that talks about "alignment", is my guess.
posted by gimonca at 10:18 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Somewhere, there's a popular management paperback bestseller that talks about "alignment", is my guess.
posted by gimonca at 10:18 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Pedantry is a two-way street.
Clearly, you need to think outside the street.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:23 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Clearly, you need to think outside the street.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:23 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
ugh "reach out" makes my teeth itch every time I hear or read it
I've gone past itchy teeth into white-hot rage, pretty much.
Also, this thread is reminding me of a training thing I was sent to back in the 90s. The guy teaching it had obviously just finished reading some kind of business self-help book, because nothing was a "problem"--it was a "challenge". He said things like "One of the challenges with that is..." over and over and over until I wanted to wrap my hands around his throat and give him breathing challenges.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 10:24 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've gone past itchy teeth into white-hot rage, pretty much.
Also, this thread is reminding me of a training thing I was sent to back in the 90s. The guy teaching it had obviously just finished reading some kind of business self-help book, because nothing was a "problem"--it was a "challenge". He said things like "One of the challenges with that is..." over and over and over until I wanted to wrap my hands around his throat and give him breathing challenges.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 10:24 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
but does anyone seriously have a problem with a phrase like "on the same page"?
Well - to me, whenever I personally think of the page, I mentally refer to one in a dictionary* - therefore, it's really a bunch of essentially random words, only associated by their spelling. So - I find it useless.
As to onboarding - yes, hilarious.
Mentally, I do equate it with waterboarding - the term did seem to arise when that one came into the public-eye. I have to deal with this onboarding often for clients - because it is meant to encompass the entire business process - not just employee orientation, but is supposed to also cover physical infrastructure (chair, desk, computer), network access/permissions, access to specific software, etc.
Of course - I am also often tasked with working the other end of the spectrum - "offboarding". Someone leaves an organization - which is also fun, because if they leave of their own accord - they "might" come back (and you might want them to come back - sometimes on contract/term or sometimes as an employee), so simply deleting their account is actually not a good thing...
No human resources people are ever amused when I "accidentally" refer to that process as... "offloading"...
Ah, the life of a consultant - while I try to be technical-only - these "management consulting" jargon terms inevitably creep into my personal lexicon...
* - this is because, when I was young, occasionally when I was in trouble for some infraction or another, my punishment was... "pick a page from the dictionary, write down all the words and definitions - then, use each of them in a sentence, forming at least one cohesive paragraph that has meaning". (IMO... best discipline choice evar...)
posted by jkaczor at 10:28 AM on August 2, 2018
Well - to me, whenever I personally think of the page, I mentally refer to one in a dictionary* - therefore, it's really a bunch of essentially random words, only associated by their spelling. So - I find it useless.
As to onboarding - yes, hilarious.
Mentally, I do equate it with waterboarding - the term did seem to arise when that one came into the public-eye. I have to deal with this onboarding often for clients - because it is meant to encompass the entire business process - not just employee orientation, but is supposed to also cover physical infrastructure (chair, desk, computer), network access/permissions, access to specific software, etc.
Of course - I am also often tasked with working the other end of the spectrum - "offboarding". Someone leaves an organization - which is also fun, because if they leave of their own accord - they "might" come back (and you might want them to come back - sometimes on contract/term or sometimes as an employee), so simply deleting their account is actually not a good thing...
No human resources people are ever amused when I "accidentally" refer to that process as... "offloading"...
Ah, the life of a consultant - while I try to be technical-only - these "management consulting" jargon terms inevitably creep into my personal lexicon...
* - this is because, when I was young, occasionally when I was in trouble for some infraction or another, my punishment was... "pick a page from the dictionary, write down all the words and definitions - then, use each of them in a sentence, forming at least one cohesive paragraph that has meaning". (IMO... best discipline choice evar...)
posted by jkaczor at 10:28 AM on August 2, 2018
and it annoyed my Aus laziness because OMG EXTRA SYLLABLES.
Ok - I am going to "poke the bear"... You Aussies talk the talk about not using extra syllables - but, man for months when I was using the transit systems, I was always looking for signs reading "Exit" - which, I personally think is much shorter than "Way Out". (ok, ok ... same number of syllables... but you have to admit, fewer characters...)
posted by jkaczor at 10:41 AM on August 2, 2018
Ok - I am going to "poke the bear"... You Aussies talk the talk about not using extra syllables - but, man for months when I was using the transit systems, I was always looking for signs reading "Exit" - which, I personally think is much shorter than "Way Out". (ok, ok ... same number of syllables... but you have to admit, fewer characters...)
posted by jkaczor at 10:41 AM on August 2, 2018
Ok - I am going to "poke the bear"... You Aussies talk the talk about not using extra syllables - but, man for months when I was using the transit systems, I was always looking for signs reading "Exit" - which, I personally think is much shorter than "Way Out". (ok, ok ... same number of syllables... but you have to admit, fewer characters...)
We (they? I haven't lived back home in almost a decade) also use "give way" instead of "yield".
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 10:46 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
We (they? I haven't lived back home in almost a decade) also use "give way" instead of "yield".
posted by Definitely Not Sean Spicer at 10:46 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
how is a tiger team different from a regular team?
In my experience, a tiger team is usually a very temporary, cross-functional group of people who are asked to confront a specific, urgent, cross-functional problem. I'm on a team of engineers who makes the web page, for example. That's my day-to-day role and my regular team. But one day, the web page stops talking to the database. It's a big emergency. So I'm put on a tiger team along with some database people to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it. The tiger team will dissolve as soon as the problem has been identified and/or fixed.
posted by treepour at 10:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
In my experience, a tiger team is usually a very temporary, cross-functional group of people who are asked to confront a specific, urgent, cross-functional problem. I'm on a team of engineers who makes the web page, for example. That's my day-to-day role and my regular team. But one day, the web page stops talking to the database. It's a big emergency. So I'm put on a tiger team along with some database people to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it. The tiger team will dissolve as soon as the problem has been identified and/or fixed.
posted by treepour at 10:49 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Two businessy phrases that I hate the most are "ask" as a noun, when "request," which works just fine as a noun. NYT has a discussion of verbs-as-nouns from 2013, including another annoyance: "reveal" as a noun.
The other is "tasked with," as in, "I was tasked with filling out the TPS reports," when "asked to" works just as well: "I was asked to fill out the TPS reports." Up above--sorry to call out--jkaczor uses "tasked with" to complain about other jargony phrases.
posted by msbrauer at 10:51 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
The other is "tasked with," as in, "I was tasked with filling out the TPS reports," when "asked to" works just as well: "I was asked to fill out the TPS reports." Up above--sorry to call out--jkaczor uses "tasked with" to complain about other jargony phrases.
posted by msbrauer at 10:51 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
How can we have this discussion without Weird Al's "Mission Statement" playing in the background??
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:53 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Somewhere, there's a popular management paperback bestseller that talks about "alignment"
Well - while driving your "best in class" vehicle with all it's technological "bells and whistles", if the wheels are not aligned, they not all pulling in the same direction - this happens in complex machinery which has many "moving parts".
When it does happen, you are definitely not "on the same page". Hopefully you can come up with an "action plan" at the right "price point" when you find a local "customer centric" service center.
Just watch out that they don't try to upsell you with any "value adds", because they trying increase their market share through "organic growth" - at the end of the day, it just a bunch of "nuts and bolts" and we don't really want to "reinvent the wheel" with anything "bleeding edge".
Once they accept your vehicle for service, it will be "in the pipeline", it won't be long until their service technicians are able to apply their "laser focus", so you can "hit the ground running" and get back on the road.
Now... "lean in close", while we "brainstorm" the "game plan" for the rest of the trip - you are going to be "in the driver's seat", be careful not to "move the needle" too much - we wouldn't want to hit all those "ducks in a row".
...drops-mic, peace out people...
posted by jkaczor at 10:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Well - while driving your "best in class" vehicle with all it's technological "bells and whistles", if the wheels are not aligned, they not all pulling in the same direction - this happens in complex machinery which has many "moving parts".
When it does happen, you are definitely not "on the same page". Hopefully you can come up with an "action plan" at the right "price point" when you find a local "customer centric" service center.
Just watch out that they don't try to upsell you with any "value adds", because they trying increase their market share through "organic growth" - at the end of the day, it just a bunch of "nuts and bolts" and we don't really want to "reinvent the wheel" with anything "bleeding edge".
Once they accept your vehicle for service, it will be "in the pipeline", it won't be long until their service technicians are able to apply their "laser focus", so you can "hit the ground running" and get back on the road.
Now... "lean in close", while we "brainstorm" the "game plan" for the rest of the trip - you are going to be "in the driver's seat", be careful not to "move the needle" too much - we wouldn't want to hit all those "ducks in a row".
...drops-mic, peace out people...
posted by jkaczor at 10:59 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
jkaczor uses "tasked with" to complain about other jargony phrases.
Heh... good catch, they truly have eaten my soul...
posted by jkaczor at 11:02 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Heh... good catch, they truly have eaten my soul...
posted by jkaczor at 11:02 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
The Card Cheat: No "build your brand" or any of its variants? Even the public library where I work is increasingly prone to obsessing about its brand, and how best to strengthen its brand, and the branding work we can all do. To which I say...
...you're going to bring a red-hot branding iron to work one day?
posted by clawsoon at 11:02 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
...you're going to bring a red-hot branding iron to work one day?
posted by clawsoon at 11:02 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I used the phrase "pain point" once.
Sorry.
posted by clawsoon at 11:03 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sorry.
posted by clawsoon at 11:03 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Well - to me, whenever I personally think of the page, I mentally refer to one in a dictionary* - therefore, it's really a bunch of essentially random words, only associated by their spelling. So - I find it useless.I always thought this came from theatre and film. Being "on the same page" would mean reading from the same part of the script during rehearsal. I was in a play in high school where there were two lines three pages apart that were so similar that if our one actor accidentally delivered the second one in place of the first the entire company would skip three solid pages of the play without even realizing we'd done it, and the director would say something like "no, that is not the page we are on." We were not on the same page as the director.
posted by Fish Sauce at 11:07 AM on August 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'm still nursing a grudge against a guy I knew in my industry who, upon me acting in a way that was consistent with what he knew about my personality, informed the group that I was "still on-brand". I sullenly said "this isn't a brand, it's my personality" which I assume was further on-brand for Emmy Rae Incorporated and our various industry partners.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:09 AM on August 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:09 AM on August 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
The longer I participate in this discussion, the more I begin to fear that my vocabulary is now almost entirely comprised of technical jargon, "management" expressions, cliches, colloquialisms, cross-over leaks from militarisms, memes and pop-culture references.
Yikes. This is one of those reasons I have fought becoming a technical author - in today's market, technical materials must have none of the above to be consumable across world-wide cultures. And, if I don't find it interesting or fun to write, then it's just like the endless technical documentation I already prepare for my dayjob... Boooooring...
posted by jkaczor at 11:10 AM on August 2, 2018
Yikes. This is one of those reasons I have fought becoming a technical author - in today's market, technical materials must have none of the above to be consumable across world-wide cultures. And, if I don't find it interesting or fun to write, then it's just like the endless technical documentation I already prepare for my dayjob... Boooooring...
posted by jkaczor at 11:10 AM on August 2, 2018
I have probably used:
pain point
price point
bring to the table
bang for your buck
gatekeeper*
low-hanging fruit
flesh out
drill down
out of the loop
reinvent the wheel
scope creep
pick your brain
status quo
bandwidth*
best practice
strawman*
* These ones, I think I haven't used in a business context, so maybe I don't mean it in a jargony way?
posted by RobotHero at 11:17 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
pain point
price point
bring to the table
bang for your buck
gatekeeper*
low-hanging fruit
flesh out
drill down
out of the loop
reinvent the wheel
scope creep
pick your brain
status quo
bandwidth*
best practice
strawman*
* These ones, I think I haven't used in a business context, so maybe I don't mean it in a jargony way?
posted by RobotHero at 11:17 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sure, a lot of these are annoying and inefficient, but some are just alternate words that are no less easy to understand than what they have replaced. Languages change. I'm sure we could go back 100 years and find all sorts of business cliches that have since been replaced by newer business cliches.
And of course, we're all on a website where people consistently use the thankfully less common these days phrase "because [reason]", and refer to their spouses as "Mr./Mrs. [username]" and their children as "mini [username]" or "[username] jr." rather than the far more efficient "my husband/wife/daughter/son'.
So, pot, meet kettle.
posted by jonathanhughes at 11:20 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
And of course, we're all on a website where people consistently use the thankfully less common these days phrase "because [reason]", and refer to their spouses as "Mr./Mrs. [username]" and their children as "mini [username]" or "[username] jr." rather than the far more efficient "my husband/wife/daughter/son'.
So, pot, meet kettle.
posted by jonathanhughes at 11:20 AM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
One of the (many, many, many) managers in my organization is seemingly incapable of speaking in anything but management-ese; I ran into her in the elevator a couple of weeks ago and even her small talk about the weather was all like "I hope the projected inclement weather for this weekend does not impact my ability to add value to my recreational activities. I look forward to hitting the ground running and implementing my best practices game plan while I'm out of the loop." It's the uncanny valley of human language.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:26 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:26 AM on August 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
The CardCheat: No "build your brand" or any of its variants?
Reader, we hooted.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:38 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
clawsoon: ...you're going to bring a red-hot branding iron to work one day?I worked at a place where they announced a new organizational identity (logos, letterhead, motto, whatever). The presentation used the tagline "Heat + Pressure = Brand" -- and a picture of an actual, red-hot branding iron as the illustration of the notion that they would be impressing upon audiences who we were and what we did.
Reader, we hooted.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:38 AM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Awhile back, my local paper published a story about how a department store (Kohl's) was starting to accept in-person returns from Amazon. I found this quote from one of Kohl's executives, which appeared in the article (I've gone back to find it in the company's press release), quite amusing:
"This is a great example of how Kohl’s and Amazon are leveraging each other's strengths – the power of Kohl’s store portfolio and omnichannel capabilities combined with the power of Amazon’s reach and loyal customer base.”
I'm still trying to figure out what "omnichannel capabilities" are.
posted by crLLC at 11:43 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
"This is a great example of how Kohl’s and Amazon are leveraging each other's strengths – the power of Kohl’s store portfolio and omnichannel capabilities combined with the power of Amazon’s reach and loyal customer base.”
I'm still trying to figure out what "omnichannel capabilities" are.
posted by crLLC at 11:43 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
they don't try to upsell you
"Upsell" itself qualifies as jargon, surely.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:47 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
"Upsell" itself qualifies as jargon, surely.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:47 AM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
and a picture of an actual, red-hot branding iron
Oh my. I wonder if there were any co-workers that had historic ties to slave/prisoner branding - that could have been an HR jackpot for them...
I'm still trying to figure out what "omnichannel capabilities" are.
The unknowingly choose the wrong made-up "management-speak" phrase, they were probably looking for: "omniscient"
posted by jkaczor at 11:48 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh my. I wonder if there were any co-workers that had historic ties to slave/prisoner branding - that could have been an HR jackpot for them...
I'm still trying to figure out what "omnichannel capabilities" are.
The unknowingly choose the wrong made-up "management-speak" phrase, they were probably looking for: "omniscient"
posted by jkaczor at 11:48 AM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Upsell" itself qualifies as jargon, surely.
Caught me... Yes, I am "willing to bet" that "market share" and "pulling in the same direction" are also offenders...
posted by jkaczor at 11:49 AM on August 2, 2018
Caught me... Yes, I am "willing to bet" that "market share" and "pulling in the same direction" are also offenders...
posted by jkaczor at 11:49 AM on August 2, 2018
Back when I worked in publishing there was a magazine-- Business 2.0-- that had a regular feature called like "Enough!" where they would list overused businessy jargon/cliche. I don't know, they might still be around and might still be doing it but it's impossible to google for something like that.
This was in like the late 90s, and even then "heavy lifting" was played out in my opinion
posted by pagrus at 12:21 PM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
This was in like the late 90s, and even then "heavy lifting" was played out in my opinion
posted by pagrus at 12:21 PM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Ugh, all lists like this do is give a very small number of people an excuse to feel smug. Can we just, like stop it with the language policing already?
posted by WizardOfDocs at 2:02 PM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by WizardOfDocs at 2:02 PM on August 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
And if I'm confessing, I have used "performant" and might use it again. If pressed to explain why "fast" doesn't work, it is something about "achieving an acceptable frame-rate on most computers." Where just "fast" doesn't say how fast is fast enough, or whether it's just fast because I ran it on a powerful computer.
posted by RobotHero at 2:12 PM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotHero at 2:12 PM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
So I only have a BS in biology but I’m here to tell you that a “tiger team” is pretty much gonna be one tiger. They don’t really do the collaboration thing when hunting or any other time.
posted by freecellwizard at 4:03 PM on August 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by freecellwizard at 4:03 PM on August 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
Jargon: The vase is no longer there.
—Professor Branestawm's Dictionary
posted by Quackles at 4:16 PM on August 2, 2018
—Professor Branestawm's Dictionary
posted by Quackles at 4:16 PM on August 2, 2018
Jargon: it is what it is.
posted by snofoam at 5:38 PM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 5:38 PM on August 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
“tiger team” is pretty much gonna be one tiger
I believe the metaphor is about the stripes. Cross-disciplinary team and all.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:55 PM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I believe the metaphor is about the stripes. Cross-disciplinary team and all.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:55 PM on August 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I went looking to see if these bozos had "block chain" or "deep learning" on their web page--the kind of jargon consultants like because, unlike this list, most people *don't* actually understand it and they can charge for it. ("Taking something offline" on the other hand is pretty clear and can help keep a meeting on track rather than run up your consultant's bill on that project.)
They don't seem to be the sort of firm that'd talk about deep learning* but splashed on their front page was the phrase "catalyze growth" and it took me under a minute to find stuff about block chains.
*Wait, I was wrong! Lots of hits if I resort to a google site search. They talk about how deep learning is smashing business models.
If you ask people what "think outside the box" actually means they'll say things like "be creative" or "don't just repeat the same old solution" - in other words the activity described by the word think.
Well, not really.
If I tell someone to think about a problem and they come back with a standard approach but including some subtle analysis of risks, resource estimates, timelines, suggestions on team members, and two minutes in I say "I really wanted you to think out of the box on this one" they could be justifiably annoyed and say "why didn't you say that, then?".
Like a lot of the complaints here ("action plan" vs "plan", "onboarding" vs "orientation") the synonym thing doesn't hold up.
I definitely get hating them though. Many are over used or tics. I am mildly traumatized by the phrase "think out of the box" because a bullying manager (not mine) with a severe case of Dunning-Kruger would use it as a prelude to a demand to do things exactly the way he wanted, which happened to be the only approach he sort of knew, from ten years ago, and had never gotten to work. Drove me bonkers. If it happened today I would have the confidence to call him on it, and watch his brain lock up when he tried to cut out his pet phrase from his speech.
zeusianfog: centers of excellence
Yeah, I feel this has a much better claim to "jargon" than most of their list, every time I've run into it, it never seems to mean more than "the team that does this thing."
posted by mark k at 11:21 PM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
They don't seem to be the sort of firm that'd talk about deep learning* but splashed on their front page was the phrase "catalyze growth" and it took me under a minute to find stuff about block chains.
*Wait, I was wrong! Lots of hits if I resort to a google site search. They talk about how deep learning is smashing business models.
If you ask people what "think outside the box" actually means they'll say things like "be creative" or "don't just repeat the same old solution" - in other words the activity described by the word think.
Well, not really.
If I tell someone to think about a problem and they come back with a standard approach but including some subtle analysis of risks, resource estimates, timelines, suggestions on team members, and two minutes in I say "I really wanted you to think out of the box on this one" they could be justifiably annoyed and say "why didn't you say that, then?".
Like a lot of the complaints here ("action plan" vs "plan", "onboarding" vs "orientation") the synonym thing doesn't hold up.
I definitely get hating them though. Many are over used or tics. I am mildly traumatized by the phrase "think out of the box" because a bullying manager (not mine) with a severe case of Dunning-Kruger would use it as a prelude to a demand to do things exactly the way he wanted, which happened to be the only approach he sort of knew, from ten years ago, and had never gotten to work. Drove me bonkers. If it happened today I would have the confidence to call him on it, and watch his brain lock up when he tried to cut out his pet phrase from his speech.
zeusianfog: centers of excellence
Yeah, I feel this has a much better claim to "jargon" than most of their list, every time I've run into it, it never seems to mean more than "the team that does this thing."
posted by mark k at 11:21 PM on August 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
"processize" is one I've learned recently. I'm torn between "okay, there's a word for that" and head-tilting.
posted by XtinaS at 3:38 AM on August 3, 2018
posted by XtinaS at 3:38 AM on August 3, 2018
...even her small talk about the weather was all like "I hope the projected inclement weather for this weekend does not impact my ability to add value to my recreational activities. I look forward to hitting the ground running and implementing my best practices game plan while I'm out of the loop."
I once knew a woman who worked in marketing, and she would, in non-work conversation, refer to any place she was traveling to as a "market." As in, "We're taking a vacation to the Orlando market."
posted by Thorzdad at 5:37 AM on August 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
I once knew a woman who worked in marketing, and she would, in non-work conversation, refer to any place she was traveling to as a "market." As in, "We're taking a vacation to the Orlando market."
posted by Thorzdad at 5:37 AM on August 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
No, but people bring things on board all the time
Yeah, daft late edit, but ordinarily one would bring something aboard.
posted by pompomtom at 6:51 AM on August 3, 2018
Yeah, daft late edit, but ordinarily one would bring something aboard.
posted by pompomtom at 6:51 AM on August 3, 2018
That vid hates my proxy, but if it's for me: if there's one thing MeFi has taught me (apart from the pronunciation "MEEEEE-FY"), it's that I'm always wrong about language questions, but that won't stop me.
posted by pompomtom at 8:11 AM on August 3, 2018
posted by pompomtom at 8:11 AM on August 3, 2018
It's a clip from Psych: The Musical where Shawn starts singing a song entitled "I've Heard It Both Ways".
posted by tobascodagama at 8:21 AM on August 3, 2018
posted by tobascodagama at 8:21 AM on August 3, 2018
Fun etymology: the origin of the word "Cliche" refers to a block-print whose image is reproduced many times. In the case of a wooden block-print, the image would eventually blur if over-used.
posted by ovvl at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ovvl at 11:11 AM on August 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
In the case of a wooden block-print, the image would eventually blur if over-used.
When I used to teach writing I pointed out to students that using cliches meant using a blurry description instead of a clear one. Since everyone has used these phrases so much they already "mean" what the reader decided they mean long ago, which means they stand less chance of being used the way the writer desires. But, I also encouraged them to treat cliches as placeholders - places to come back to later and edit into something more suited to what they really want to say.
posted by eustacescrubb at 12:34 PM on August 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
When I used to teach writing I pointed out to students that using cliches meant using a blurry description instead of a clear one. Since everyone has used these phrases so much they already "mean" what the reader decided they mean long ago, which means they stand less chance of being used the way the writer desires. But, I also encouraged them to treat cliches as placeholders - places to come back to later and edit into something more suited to what they really want to say.
posted by eustacescrubb at 12:34 PM on August 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm amazed that 'leverage' [verb] is not there. The time our small business was bought by a corporation and we all went to headquarters for orientation, the suits must have used the word several dozen times. The meeting lasted so long I had to leverage the bathroom.
posted by MtDewd at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MtDewd at 2:11 PM on August 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
My now-former manager busted out "ideating" and "visioning" in one particularly crap meeting - the other sales-critters were apparently very taken with it, because it's proliferated wildly here within the "ecosystem". I'm still trying to introduce "burp the Tupperware" as a new version of "dot I's and cross T's" into a report at some point, but I'm leaving in 2 months so time is almost up. If anyone wants it, it's free - go knock yourselves out!
posted by ninazer0 at 7:34 PM on August 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ninazer0 at 7:34 PM on August 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Missing stair, gaslighting, sea-lioning... I was thinking about how opaque these bits of Metafilter jargon are if you don't know the backstories. We're just as bad as management types when it comes to jargon.
Then I got thinking about the "who moved my cheese?" trend, and how easy it is for executives to say that you shouldn't worry about someone moving your cheese when they've got a big block of cheddar back home and won't have to go to the food bank to get more cheese if someone moves theirs... but I digress.
posted by clawsoon at 8:19 AM on August 14, 2018
Then I got thinking about the "who moved my cheese?" trend, and how easy it is for executives to say that you shouldn't worry about someone moving your cheese when they've got a big block of cheddar back home and won't have to go to the food bank to get more cheese if someone moves theirs... but I digress.
posted by clawsoon at 8:19 AM on August 14, 2018
Missing stair, gaslighting, sea-lioning... I was thinking about how opaque these bits of Metafilter jargon are if you don't know the backstories. We're just as bad as management types when it comes to jargon.
None of those terms originated on MetaFilter. Missing stair comes from a 2012 post on the blog The Pervocracy. Gaslighting comes from the 1944 movie Gaslight. And sea lioning was coined by David Malki in a 2014 Wondermark strip.
posted by Lexica at 10:48 AM on August 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
None of those terms originated on MetaFilter. Missing stair comes from a 2012 post on the blog The Pervocracy. Gaslighting comes from the 1944 movie Gaslight. And sea lioning was coined by David Malki in a 2014 Wondermark strip.
posted by Lexica at 10:48 AM on August 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Exactly - they didn't originate here, but we use them with the enthusiasm of someone who has just tried on their first suit and read their first pop management book.
posted by clawsoon at 1:13 PM on August 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by clawsoon at 1:13 PM on August 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Sour grapes" originated in an Aesop's fable. Sometimes these expressions are a presumption of a shared culture. That we both know who Shaka is and what happened when the walls fell. Which itself is a Star Trek reference.
Sometimes this lets that shared knowledge to do some heavy lifting rather than spell out your meaning in excruciating detail. But it can also alienate people who haven't read the right books, seen the right shows, etc.
And that's the expressions that do clearly fill a niche. (You all know what I mean by "fill a niche" yeah?)
"Game changer" I have a vague sense of what it means, so I don't think I'm outside the culture of it. But I don't have a really specific concrete idea of what it means, and I don't think I'd ever call something a "game changer." I might say "I think this will have a huge impact on __" or something like that. I don't feel like "game changer" is so useful a phrase that I would feel its absence.
posted by RobotHero at 9:07 AM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sometimes this lets that shared knowledge to do some heavy lifting rather than spell out your meaning in excruciating detail. But it can also alienate people who haven't read the right books, seen the right shows, etc.
And that's the expressions that do clearly fill a niche. (You all know what I mean by "fill a niche" yeah?)
"Game changer" I have a vague sense of what it means, so I don't think I'm outside the culture of it. But I don't have a really specific concrete idea of what it means, and I don't think I'd ever call something a "game changer." I might say "I think this will have a huge impact on __" or something like that. I don't feel like "game changer" is so useful a phrase that I would feel its absence.
posted by RobotHero at 9:07 AM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
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