Discussion on:
View:
Show:
A software vendor put on a 'canine / equine exhibition' showing all sorts of charts and graphs 'generated' by their application. When pressed, they admitted the visuals were 'generated' not by their app, but by keying the data captured by their app into ... Excel. They weren't going to supply templates for the spreadsheet layouts or graphs. (They got the contract anyway; someone at echelons above mine and easily dazzled had made the decision long before the presentation.)
"Even" has begun to annoy me. "You can eat this sandwich cold, or you can even heat it up." What's so special about that?
Self-important IT people couldn't be happy with "programmer" and "analyst" like in the good old days. Now, they need to be software engineers and most egotistically, architects. Having a daughter who studied for six years at Rice University to become a real architect -- one who designs buildings -- I can't get over these glorified systems analysts who explain their job titles by starting with "If you think about it...".
Once the title became commonplace, they had to take it to the most ridiculous level ever -- using "architect" as a VERB. I cringe every time I hear, "The system wasn't architected that way."
Once the title became commonplace, they had to take it to the most ridiculous level ever -- using "architect" as a VERB. I cringe every time I hear, "The system wasn't architected that way."
as an 'Architect' I actually agree.
However, as more junior people in IT demand engineering titles just because they pass a test and get 'Certified' means those with real experience and degrees need something more. I did not choose the title, They had to come up with something when was promoted, I would have preferred something else actually and many times just use the title of network engineer when describing what I do, it is kind of getting to be embarrassing.
AS for the title of engineer, really overused too, many in the IT field have this although use to be only if had an engineering degree, in fact some fields today you can not legally claim the title unless have a degree and other requirements in the specific field.
However, as more junior people in IT demand engineering titles just because they pass a test and get 'Certified' means those with real experience and degrees need something more. I did not choose the title, They had to come up with something when was promoted, I would have preferred something else actually and many times just use the title of network engineer when describing what I do, it is kind of getting to be embarrassing.
AS for the title of engineer, really overused too, many in the IT field have this although use to be only if had an engineering degree, in fact some fields today you can not legally claim the title unless have a degree and other requirements in the specific field.
I'm so glad someone posted this one. Let's 'architect' something. If that doesn't work, let's 're-architect' it.
Last I heard, even architects don't architect, they design.
Last I heard, even architects don't architect, they design.
When appropriate, I still often refer to "Synergy of Effort" with respect to testing, esp. Regression Testing.
"synergy" isn't inappropriate when used appropriately, and not as a weapon of buzzwordian mayhem. Although all sorts of different cultures like to use it for their own reasons because it sounds cool to them.
When used as a verb. Such as "We still need to socialize that". WTF? (yes, Wed, Thur, Fri)
A few years ago, this was all the rage at the company where I worked. I don't think half the people who used the phrase had a clue.
As we were being trained to kill people and/or destroy property (with firearms of various descriptions), it was an apt command there. Anywhere else, I would seriously question an organization's choice of that phrase.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_stock_and_barrel
Imagine all the missuses for this one.
Imagine all the missuses for this one.
These buzzards are all classics, but at the end of the day the absolute worst one in my book is "at the end of the day"!
When someone starts a sentence with 'At the end of the day,' cut in with "it gets dark". That usually throws them.
I want this report by "the close of business Friday": last I heard, IT doesn't close, ever.
Two phrases that always bugged me were: "Don't go there" and "just so we're on the same page". The first one is telling you to shut up with an implied threat. The second says "I know you're going to do it wrong," according to the plan I have in my head... When there is no actual "page" involved.
A smarmy noun as verb becoming popular with print media: 'tasked'. As, "ICE has been tasked with controlling the borders..."
JB
JB
Having worked in both financial and legal industries I can't count how many times I heard "Due Diligence" thrown around in meetings.
that one too, along with challenge, about to start a fist fight if I hear it !
How is someone diligent if their "diligence" is undue?
And I was once told that I "should have pre-known that".
...Really? Like "pre-drilling" a hole?
...Really? Like "pre-drilling" a hole?
We heard yesterday of an upcoming restructuring in January.
Restructuring = reduction in force = layoffs.
Restructuring = reduction in force = layoffs.
I hate "The CLOUD"!
By the way, I am going to try to use every word in your list at my next meeting. I work in Security, so everyone already hates me
By the way, I am going to try to use every word in your list at my next meeting. I work in Security, so everyone already hates me
I hate the cloud also, can we just go back to saying out sourced.
Hey, isn't the cloud the same as what was termed an ASP (application service or solution provider) a while back ?
I actually started hearing the term before saw it in any marking crap. Networking diagrams usually have a cloud symbol for tel-com, other services which details are not provided (also revision info for architectural diagrams), many times I heard non tech folks refer to something as in the cloud on the diagrams. There was usually a name associated, like WAN or something and was always trying to steer them to using the name of the represented environment instead in conversations. I think is really not understanding of the technology as was used by tech folks so project managers and marking folks started using that reference as was diagrammed maybe ?
Hey, isn't the cloud the same as what was termed an ASP (application service or solution provider) a while back ?
I actually started hearing the term before saw it in any marking crap. Networking diagrams usually have a cloud symbol for tel-com, other services which details are not provided (also revision info for architectural diagrams), many times I heard non tech folks refer to something as in the cloud on the diagrams. There was usually a name associated, like WAN or something and was always trying to steer them to using the name of the represented environment instead in conversations. I think is really not understanding of the technology as was used by tech folks so project managers and marking folks started using that reference as was diagrammed maybe ?
"Do more with less." Not really a buzz-word, more of a buzz-phrase. ...But... it's reality-defying characteristics make it worthy of inclusion.
If you want more, you pay more: That's called "reality." Nothing is free in real life.
If you want more, you pay more: That's called "reality." Nothing is free in real life.
I hate this too.
every time I hear this I reminds me I am already doing 500 percent more with less pay.
"We are having to reduce our number of resources" and a promise to reduce the number of projects needed every year, then demand we need to do more than have been soon afterward.
every time I hear this I reminds me I am already doing 500 percent more with less pay.
"We are having to reduce our number of resources" and a promise to reduce the number of projects needed every year, then demand we need to do more than have been soon afterward.
Yes, this code phrase "More with Less" usually goes with restructuring ( i.e. less employees/staff by attrition) or in the context of software, find a way to do it for free. Consequently, network switches that fail regularly, consolidated resources that have failed backups; basically, a bad case of You get what you pay for... ( another cliche ? )
) 
"Doing everything with nothing," or "trying to get blood from a stone." It would be more appropriate.
My most-hated phrase is "On a daily basis" -- it says in four words what should be said in one -- "Daily". If you really think that saying something with more words makes you sound more intelligent, then say, "Every day".
Second on my list is "Optics". Call me dumb, but I'm not even sure I know what it means in the way it is (mis)used.
All of these misbegotten terms stem, I think, from an attempt by the illiterate and incompetent to appear the opposite. To those of us who don't have any such compulsions, they come off as sounding pompous, arrogant, and foolish.
There used to be a comedian, Professor Irwin Cory, who billed himself as "The World's Foremost Authority." His area of authority went unspecified. The show host would throw out a subject, any subject, and he proceeded to wax and wane on the matter in a very erudite and eloquent manner. But when you actually focused on and thought about what he was saying, you realized it was all meaningless gibberish. The people who habitually bandy about these buzzwords have stolen his act!
Second on my list is "Optics". Call me dumb, but I'm not even sure I know what it means in the way it is (mis)used.
All of these misbegotten terms stem, I think, from an attempt by the illiterate and incompetent to appear the opposite. To those of us who don't have any such compulsions, they come off as sounding pompous, arrogant, and foolish.
There used to be a comedian, Professor Irwin Cory, who billed himself as "The World's Foremost Authority." His area of authority went unspecified. The show host would throw out a subject, any subject, and he proceeded to wax and wane on the matter in a very erudite and eloquent manner. But when you actually focused on and thought about what he was saying, you realized it was all meaningless gibberish. The people who habitually bandy about these buzzwords have stolen his act!
I suspect "optics" means the opposite of "it is what it is"; more specifically, it means making something look like anything **other than** what it is. But I could be overly cynical...
but most of these terms provide the general public with a common understanding of what the speaker is trying to impart. I have a few buzz word "buttons" myself, but I won't think I'm superior when you use any of them. Perhaps Toni's just giving us all a place to vent, or looking to stir the pot, but a comment like "I cannot believe anyone with half a brain and/or an ounce of self-respect would continue to use these terms" just adds to the general public's perception that IT is an elitist culture without respect for the users for/with whom we work. So, here's my take: When most IT staff can finally write a paragraph of information with no mistakes, and clearly communicate to users without implied superiority, then I may start to care about how many and what terms du jour are being overused. Word up!
... they obscure rather than clarify. They take up space in our conversation without adding any meaning. They're a seemingly intelligent form of "um".
My rule of thumb: say only what you need to say, as clearly as you can. If that involves a so-called buzzword, so be it. Most of the time, it won't.
My rule of thumb: say only what you need to say, as clearly as you can. If that involves a so-called buzzword, so be it. Most of the time, it won't.
That's a bit frightening, but if they knew this, they would just find synonyms that still mean nothing.
- Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Prev
- Next
- Toggle
