The "I don't want to talk about AI" thread, and the new topic is: words we dislike

[MrPixel]

I was trying to think of a word that irked me other than "irk".

Then "facilitate" came to mind. In a recent PBS ad campaign about PBS in education, the interviewees were apparently given the direction to "use the word 'facilitate'" in their response to a question. It always came out stilted and awkward. One of these PSA spots was played so often that my wife and I cringed every time it came on.

We got our revenge. Our euphemism for letting the other know we need to step away to the restroom in, say, a restaurant, is "I need to facilitate."

Works for us!

 

[Bramblethorn]

The word "utilize" should not exist. There is nowhere the overly grandiose "utilize" is better than plain "use."

"But now it's time to utilize
The KGB's most brutal spies!"

- Putin: The Musical

 

[EmilyMiller]

The word "utilize" should not exist. There is nowhere the overly grandiose "utilize" is better than plain "use."

Employ…

 

[Bamagan]

They call it a 'finger', but it doesn't 'fing'! Noodle that one for a while.

 

[dirk2024]

I no longer appreciate the term "recalibrate".

Disneyland Workers from all different teams in Anaheim, California, were let go at the end of last month as the company works on 'recalibrating' the organization.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I no longer appreciate the term "recalibrate".

It's a perfectly cromulent word, just being used by arseholes there :-/

 

[stickygirl]

I'd suggest we circle back and see if the working group has the bandwidth to lean in and drill down on this - they are the stakeholders after all and have the leverage. Best practice dictates we should touch base with the out-reach group too, because the synergy could move the needle off the scale. Lets put a pin in it for now, but shall we touch base once we've got out ducks in a row over this? I'll ping you.

 

[MrPixel]

Team members should bear in mind we're discussing a paradigm shift here. Work smarter and not harder, and we can push the envelope even further.

Ohgawd. These memories of corporate-speak from 40 years ago are turning my stomach. Ugh. Thanks a bunch.

 

[stickygirl]

Team members should bear in mind we're discussing a paradigm shift here. Work smarter and not harder, and we can push the envelope even further.

Ohgawd. These memories of corporate-speak from 40 years ago are turning my stomach. Ugh. Thanks a bunch.

Worst part? I understand what they're saying

 

[iwatchus]

They call it a 'finger', but it doesn't 'fing'! Noodle that one for a while.

I use my fingers for all sorts of f-ing things. Including f-ing. I assume you have heard of finger fucking. Surely finger is just the G-rated form of fuckinger,

 

[StillStunned]

Fing, Finger and Fingest sound like three Viking brothers.

 

[iwatchus]

Fing, Finger and Fingest sound like three Viking brothers.

Sounds like the start for another WIP. Leave it there and maybe they can go through that unruly collection and cull the herd a bit.

 

[yowser]

Impactful.

 

[Bamagan]

Do you ever write complicated stories with lots of backstory that doesn't really make an impact on the action of the main story but helps add context and flavor? The LotR books provide a good example. If yes, do you ever find that it spontaneously seems to create an exciting new story seed/plot bunny that meshes wonderfully with the existing story, or else seems to perfectly align with or explain something you just wrote, but without having that backstory consciously in mind when you did it, making you feel extremely clever?
I call that moment a loregasm.