Brainstorming is politically offensive - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Ishmal · 07-07-2005, 07:28 PM

Brainstorming is politically offensive

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Inquirer

NEXT TIME the management drags you into one of those god awful 'brainstorming' meetings, you can refuse on the grounds that they are politically incorrect and banned by Irish civil servants.
Unfortunately, the method which aims to generate ideas among staff, is considered OK. But Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in Belfast have to use another word to describe them.

Apparently brainstorming is considered offensive to people with brain disorders such as epilepsy as well those with brain tumours or brain injuries.

A spokeswoman told the Observer that the DETI does not use the term brainstorming on its training courses on the grounds that it may be deemed pejorative.

The Campaign for Plain English, which does not really stand for a lot of marketing or management buzzwords, has said that the decision had 'reached the point of real ridicule'.

Spokesman John Wild wondered if some people haven't got anything better to do with their time.

link

what the fuck is wrong with some people these days???

first Coutch-Potato is offensive to potato farmers...

now Brainstorming is offensive???

we wont be allowed to talk soon, for fear of offending someone!

Zephyr66 · 07-07-2005, 09:00 PM

That's utterly ridiculous... I can't even think of much of a response, that's how dumb that is. So i guess I'll just stick with saying it's retarded.

Telluride · 07-07-2005, 09:11 PM

If I made a list of things that I think will cause the downfall of Western Civilization, political correctness would either be number one or number two on that list.

TexanAvenger · 07-07-2005, 09:37 PM

Yes. Forget all the other, bigger, problems in the world. The word "Brainstorm," which has been around for roughly forever, with no ties to the epileptic condition, is something that should be put to death.

What's more, and on a general note, stop whining about what terms like "Brainstorming" are politically incorrect. There's somebody out there who is offended by something you say or do that's just as ridiculous. I feel that AIMspeak and L337 are travesties of the English language, but I've no more right to tell people to stop as they do me for saying something they find equally inane.

If you're going to be considered an adult in the world at large, if you're going to drive, if you're going to drink, if you're going to vote, if you're going to pick something to be offended about: Grow up. Be an adult. And, for god(dess)'s sake, at least stop whining if you can't do that.

maximusveritas · 07-07-2005, 09:48 PM

I've never understood why some people get so bent out of shape about these stories.
Does "political correctness" really affect our lives in a meaningful way?

The "couch potato" thing was just about some potato farmers in Britain trying to stop the spread of a phrase that they think is damaging to their business.
I don't think anyone here seriously thinks we are ever going to have to stop using the phrase.

The brainstorming thing looks like something that some random office in Ireland has decided to avoid using for some reason. Sure, it's stupid, but why should I care? It's an isolated incident that doesn't affect me the least bit.

analog · 07-07-2005, 10:05 PM

Did anyone else notice this is from a tabloid publication?

I bet this article was next to the one about aliens abducting elvis and using his body as a puppet to amuse the Lindbergh baby.

Of course, I could be wrong on that. Even if it's true, we've seen stupider behavior before... we see it all the time. I'm just glad for once it didn't come out of the US.

stevie667 · 07-08-2005, 02:37 AM

In the school i went to, this has already happened. We were no longer allowed to call them brainstorms, so we called them 'spider diagrams'. When this was found to scare one pupil in switzerland who was afraid of everything, we had to call them 'mind maps'.

Run for the hills, PC is here, and it's going to eat you!

ObieX · 07-08-2005, 04:13 AM

This is why I usually don't care anymore. Sure there's a time and place for most things, but mostly if i want to swear i'll swear, if i want to use a term i'll use a term, and will generally use any word or combination of words i want. If someone has a problem with it.. well.. thats their problem.. not mine.

thejoker130 · 07-08-2005, 05:16 PM

I think i'm just gonna head into a dark corner of my room and cry for awhile.

dlish · 07-08-2005, 07:37 PM

thank god for TFP!

thats all i can say!

Journeyman · 07-09-2005, 01:46 AM

Belfast, Northern Irish, all I care to say.

07-07-2005, 09:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Telluride Browncoat Location: California	If I made a list of things that I think will cause the downfall of Western Civilization, political correctness would either be number one or number two on that list. __________________ "I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice." - Friedrich Hayek

07-08-2005, 02:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	In the school i went to, this has already happened. We were no longer allowed to call them brainstorms, so we called them 'spider diagrams'. When this was found to scare one pupil in switzerland who was afraid of everything, we had to call them 'mind maps'. Run for the hills, PC is here, and it's going to eat you! __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

07-08-2005, 04:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
ObieX Pickles Location: Shirt and Pants (NJ)	This is why I usually don't care anymore. Sure there's a time and place for most things, but mostly if i want to swear i'll swear, if i want to use a term i'll use a term, and will generally use any word or combination of words i want. If someone has a problem with it.. well.. thats their problem.. not mine. __________________ We Must Dissent.

07-08-2005, 05:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
thejoker130 Insane Location: slippery rock university AKA: The left ass cheek of the world	I think i'm just gonna head into a dark corner of my room and cry for awhile. __________________ WHAT MORE CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? ------------------------------------- I like you. When the world is mine your death will be quick and painless.

07-08-2005, 07:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	thank god for TFP! thats all i can say! __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

07-07-2005, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zephyr66 My custom title's the shit! Location: Canada	That's utterly ridiculous... I can't even think of much of a response, that's how dumb that is. So i guess I'll just stick with saying it's retarded.

07-07-2005, 09:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
TexanAvenger Born-Again New Guy Location: Unfound.	Yes. Forget all the other, bigger, problems in the world. The word "Brainstorm," which has been around for roughly forever, with no ties to the epileptic condition, is something that should be put to death. What's more, and on a general note, stop whining about what terms like "Brainstorming" are politically incorrect. There's somebody out there who is offended by something you say or do that's just as ridiculous. I feel that AIMspeak and L337 are travesties of the English language, but I've no more right to tell people to stop as they do me for saying something they find equally inane. If you're going to be considered an adult in the world at large, if you're going to drive, if you're going to drink, if you're going to vote, if you're going to pick something to be offended about: Grow up. Be an adult. And, for god(dess)'s sake, at least stop whining if you can't do that.

07-07-2005, 09:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
maximusveritas Winner	I've never understood why some people get so bent out of shape about these stories. Does "political correctness" really affect our lives in a meaningful way? The "couch potato" thing was just about some potato farmers in Britain trying to stop the spread of a phrase that they think is damaging to their business. I don't think anyone here seriously thinks we are ever going to have to stop using the phrase. The brainstorming thing looks like something that some random office in Ireland has decided to avoid using for some reason. Sure, it's stupid, but why should I care? It's an isolated incident that doesn't affect me the least bit.

07-07-2005, 10:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
analog Banned	Did anyone else notice this is from a tabloid publication? I bet this article was next to the one about aliens abducting elvis and using his body as a puppet to amuse the Lindbergh baby. Of course, I could be wrong on that. Even if it's true, we've seen stupider behavior before... we see it all the time. I'm just glad for once it didn't come out of the US.

07-09-2005, 01:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
Journeyman Like John Goodman, but not. Location: SFBA, California	Belfast, Northern Irish, all I care to say.