Thursday, December 17, 2009

Buzz Words

Wanna know what drives me nuts besides not writing?  Buzz words.  You know those words people say to show that they think they know what they are talking about. 

Need an example?  

I recently was having a conversation with someone in passing.  They recognized me from where I work full time, and they also knew that I wrote a blog.  Interesting how the two sides of my life meet every once in a while.

Anyway, they were talking about blogging and social network.  If I could get a nickle for every times they said content, media space, and unique hits I would have a shit load of nickles. 

So why do they drive me nuts?  Easy, because it's jargon.  It drives be bat shit crazy to hear people talk to one another like that, unless they are in the same business and that's the way they speak, but I write a blog and I do know that I am a content provider, but it doesn't mean I know what the hell I am talking about.

People throw these words around to show they are better than you, or to show they are smart for knowing the 'secret' language of the business.  Who gives a shit?  If I am talking with someone and they are using the lingo way too much, I know they are full of shit!

Remember the corporate buzz words from a few years ago?  Coach and develop? 


This shit drives me crazy.

6 comments:

Rima said...

I think it's time to step up to the plate and start thinking out of the box. Are we on the same page here?

Joe Harvey said...

Adam, I'm sure you're aware of my favorite corporate meeting game, Bullshit bingo, right?
http://www.bullshitbingo.net/cards/bullshit/
Being in food service, I cringe at most of these words, and try to avoid them. However, to chat effectively w/some folks ya gotta "mirror" them. It makes them feel better about using stupid words if you throw a few in once in awhile. But YOU'RE the smarter one for doing so...just know your audience. OR...here's a thought.. BE YOURSELF, it's what you do best.. ;)

seanhecking said...

Look to leverage synergies, that being said ... it is what it is.

Anonymous said...

Like so many things in life, this was perhaps best addressed by The Simpsons:

Lady: We at the network want a dog with attitude. He's edgy, he's "in your face." You've heard the expression "let's get busy"?
Well, this is a dog who gets "biz-zay!" Consistently and thoroughly.
Krusty: So he's proactive, huh?
Lady: Oh, God, yes. We're talking about a totally outrageous paradigm.
Meyer: Excuse me, but "proactive" and "paradigm"? Aren't these just buzzwords that dumb people use to sound important?
[backpedaling] Not that I'm accusing you of anything like that.
[pause] I'm fired, aren't I?
Myers: Oh, yes.

Tino said...

Coming from a large consulting firm experience right out of college, I can assure you that I have never heard the words "plate", "synergies", "leveraging", "black-box thinking", and "radically shifting paradigms" so many times in my entire life. I literally had to learn "consultant" speak. And I still thought it was dumb.

Just Jules said...

Smiling
nodding