Euphemistically Speaking
The greatest in idiotic office-speak, from the BBC:
2. "My employers (top half of FTSE 100) recently informed staff that we are no longer allowed to use the phrase brain storm because it might have negative connotations associated with fits. We must now take idea showers. I think that says it all really." Anonymous, England
"Organic-growth" and "red tape" are probably my least favorite phrases to hear.
Feebie at November 5, 2009 12:33 AM
Well what do ou expect from the country that forced a Welsh sausage company to put a warning label on their product informing people that their spicy "Dragon Sausage" contained meat - though not the meat of ACCTUAL dragons?
lujlp at November 5, 2009 5:26 AM
Again with the idiocy of politically correct terminology. I've seen this for years: There is a group that suffers from some particular condition and a word is used for that condition (handicapped, retarded). A "stigma" then becomes attached to the *word* and the bien pensant think that by changing the *word,* the underlying condition will magically be changed as well. Or perhaps more accurately that the perception of the condition will be magically changed.
And it never changes. Then the new word that's been substituted acquires the same stigma and a whole new word has to be forced into use. It happens with race as well.
BlogDog at November 5, 2009 5:32 AM
I love idea shower...it sounds so dirty! I can't wait to ask a co-worker if he'd like to take an idea shower with me!
Fink-Nottle at November 5, 2009 6:07 AM
Am I the only one who thought golden shower when she read idea shower?
momof4 at November 5, 2009 6:22 AM
Ding ding ding! M4 wins the thread! And you know what the sad part is? The PC types have probably never heard that phrase, and they'd think it was a great idea!
And besides... isn't a phrase that includes the word "shower" discriminatory towards people who take baths?
Cousin Dave at November 5, 2009 6:28 AM
It's a pee party today at Amy's blog!
sterling at November 5, 2009 6:38 AM
Momof4- nah, I was thinking of that song from Bambi, the one that goes "Drip drip drop little April showers"......
....just kidding, you're not the only one who has a dirty mind (grin).
juliana at November 5, 2009 7:07 AM
I remember hearing a few years ago that we couldn't use flip charts in meetings, as the term was offensive. We had to call them something else. Of course, the butcher paper we used on them was probably offensive to somebody as well.
old rpm daddy at November 5, 2009 7:25 AM
I think that referring to me as "chronotrigger" is offensive. I must now be referred to as Mr Endowedachuck.
Also, it offends me when someone calls my bluff, and I'm holding Jack/3. People need to stop that immediately aswell.
Chronotrigger at November 5, 2009 8:07 AM
I don't know if we want too much offline base touching going on in those idea showers.
I used to work with a manager who would always use that phrase in meetings whenever something came up that she didn't want to discuss publicly. It got to the ridiculous point that she would only discuss things outside of meetings. So, we started having "offline discussions" with her instead of meetings. Same people. Just "offline."
Conan the Grammarian at November 5, 2009 9:35 AM
My company has so many silly policies, that I'm sure I could be fired with cause at any time. This actually reminds me of the Ayn Rand post from yesterday. Everyone's a criminal---and also a bad employee. We can all be fired or jailed at any time for the smallest thing. Ultimately, you just don't want anyone with any authority to notice you, because if they look hard enough they'll find your dirt.
Tyler at November 5, 2009 10:08 AM
I remember someone in US politics having to resign after describing someone as 'niggardly'. It's not only us plucky Brits who are caving in to the foolhardy.
To be honest, I don't have a problem with 'idea showering' instead 'brain storming' per se, although the fact it was changed to avoid offence offends me.
However, my first thought is that there's a decided difference between a 'storm' and a 'shower'. The difference is in orders of magnitude.
Essentially, what the BBC are telling their employees is that 'thoughts are fine, but please don't have too many of them next time'.
Which sounds to me much like what's happening around the world in the heads of heads of companies.
Idiots.
donald at November 5, 2009 11:56 AM
It just occurred to me that 'idea shower' is also over twice as long to say as 'brain storm'.
Seriously, how do people come up with these things?!
donald at November 5, 2009 11:56 AM
"I remember someone in US politics having to resign after describing someone as 'niggardly'"
There was George Allen and the "macaca" incident.
Cousin Dave at November 5, 2009 12:18 PM
> Seriously, how do people come up
> with these things?!
"Piss fest" is too hard to pronounce after a couple drinks.
Crid [CridComment @ gmail] at November 5, 2009 12:49 PM
let's not forget the shitstorm caused by hard drive connection terminology in California. Apparently having a "master" and "slave" drive on the same channel is offensive.
They'd be really put off if they read a Unix sysadmin guide, what with the killing and executing and terminating.
brian at November 5, 2009 3:29 PM
Thanks Fink-Nottle you made me smirk hard. I think I am with you I am going to try and use the nice political correct terms but with a bit of panache. So FInk are you like the guy from this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6iSk9vsK_E
John Paulson at November 5, 2009 6:53 PM
William Styron, in his Darkness Visible (about his own descent into a deep depression), writes that had the term "brain storm" not already been appropriated for its common use, it would far better describe what was going on in his head than did the bland word "depression."
kishke at November 5, 2009 8:40 PM
Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining. Political rectitude will be the death of us all. The way to defeat these nutters is to ignore them and laugh when they object.
MarkD at November 6, 2009 8:19 AM
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