Workplace Jargon 19

[CajunCenturion]

Why Workplace Jargon Is A Big Problem

How many of the terms have you heard/used recently?

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[ChrisHirst]

Fortunately these days, the only managerial moron I have to deal with on a daily basis is me

Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[kwbMitel]

Heard some but not many thankfully.

Bandwidth looks like the odd one out for me as I use it all the time. My job all but requires it though as I work with VOIP phones in networking environments and bandwidth is a very important consideration.

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[MakeItSo]

Thankfully, most of these we wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.
I'd like to add "disruptive" (when meant as a positive thing).

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” (Kofi Annan)
Oppose SOPA, PIPA, ACTA; measures to curb freedom of information under whatever name whatsoever.

 

[djj55]

How do you define jargon? When does a word go from jargon to main stream?

Think about disk, file, mouse... All were jargon at one time.


djj
The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23) - I need someone to lead me!

 

[tcsbiz]

How do you define jargon? When does a word go from jargon to main stream?

When you read about it in the Huffington Post.

Tom

 

[strongm]

>Think about disk, file, mouse... All were jargon at one time.

Indeed, in the sense that they were specialist technical terms. I'm not sure that the workplace jargon being brought up in this thread can claim the same provenance.

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Some technical terms like floppy disc, are already on the verge of being obsolete again.

[URL unfurl="true"]http://www.globalnerdy.com/2014/01/21/a-joke-about-the-floppy-disk-in-2014-and-the-alphabet-of-the-obsolete/[/url]

So, if you just wait long enough, this kind of jargon disappears as fast as it arrived.

Bye, Olaf.

 

[SamBones]

Bandwidth looks like the odd one out for me as I use it all the time.

I used to play trumpet in a marching band. We did a lot of parades. Bandwidth was always an important consideration, expecially on smaller streets, or streets with medians.

 

[philhege]

I used to play trumpet in a marching band. We did a lot of parades. Bandwidth was always an important consideration, expecially on smaller streets, or streets with medians.

10,000 comedians out of work, and you try to be funny ;^)

When I read this, I couldn't help but think of the marching band scene in Animal House.

I'm also surprised no one's mentioned Buzz-Word Bingo yet.

-----------
With business clients like mine, you'd be better off herding cats.

 

[edfair]

After 53 years of getting new stuff to do what the customers want it to do I still use the bleeding edge descriptor, and even though the limited amount of blood has generally come from sharp edges, the sweat and tears flowed in abundance.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[kwbMitel]

@Edfair, I also find myself using the bleeding edge on occasion. Additionally, I refer to stuff even more extreme than that as vapourware.

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[SamBones]

The problem with using a phrase like "bleeding edge" is that it can mean different things to different people. I often use it as a derogatory phrase meaning there are a lot of dangers to use it. I use it to warn people about risks, or outright dissuade people from using the software in question. Some people take "bleeding edge" to mean that we will be leaders on the forefront of the technology and think I'm trying to push them towards the technology. The result is often the opposite of what I intended. That's why a whole lot of discussion needs to surround an off the cuff use of a term like that.

Some jargon clarifies. Some not so much.

 

[kwbMitel]

Good Points SamBones.

I too use bleeding edge as a derogotory term. Along with early adoptitis and beta pain. I never considered that anyone would think bleeding could be a positive thing. Some people just want to be first I guess. I stand Stongly by this saying "Just say no to release X.O"

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[2ffat]

On a similar note: Don't be Scared of Techie Buzzwords.


James P. Cottingham
I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!

 

[SamBones]

I never considered that anyone would think bleeding could be a positive thing.

The response I hear is "No pain, no gain". (Always be wary of someone that uses flippant comments in lieu of actual logical discussion.)

My response is usually along the lines of, "So you're saying that we have enough extra free time to beta test this company's product for them?"

And if we're talking about upgrading to the dreaded version x.0, is usually ask if we really have time to do the upgrade twice, because that's what it usually turns into, with the added burden of disillusioned users.

Always tie it to the bottom line, because in the big picture, that's why I'm here in the first place.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> I too use bleeding edge as a derogotory term. Along with early adoptitis and beta pain. I never considered that anyone would think bleeding could be a positive thing. Some people just want to be first I guess.
As is true for so many things, it all depends on context. As a mentor of mine loved to say when comparing long-term thinking vs short-term thinking, to the captain of the Titanic, long-term thinking is about 15 minutes. One must never forget the consequences of maintaining the status quo. What's the context?

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato