[Closed] Bulls**t bingo

That's a great one!
Just off to the toilet to ringfence the unicorn.

I'm now plotting to use "ringfence the unicorn" at work. I might just run around the office, shouting it repeatedly.

"If you re-invent the wheel one more time we're going to need a wheel warehouse"

"Fill yourself full of Win!"

I once received an email requesting "bi-directional commentary between ourselves and the supplier".

"Firstly, we have signed a transformational outsourcing deal with xxxx which will deliver an increase to our cost synergies from the £112m per annum in 2013, which we will still hit on time, to £143m per annum by 2015. This deal de-risks the embedded value, contractualises the delivery of the cost synergies, and it de-risks the execution of our plans, allowing us to focus on the other opportunities we have as a business."

A verbatim quote from a recent email.

Oh, and another favourite around here is "what will success look like?". Guh.

I received the following email yesterday - from a guy who got up at 05.15 to send it.

This is the whole email in response to me very nicely pointing out he was being a bit of a knob. I believe it's in English but it's not something I understand - maybe it's scouse 🙂

Absolutely, it remains on my radar, and make the assumption and add a risk, prior to be advised otherwise. This is just one facet of the overall picture, and we need to gain traction in order to obtain agreement on a baseline architecture within the TSA.

"If you re-invent the wheel one more time we're going to need a wheel warehouse"

"Fill yourself full of Win!"

I like both of them, I'll be using them as my own from now on.

[img] [/img]

"Firstly, we have signed a transformational outsourcing deal with xxxx which will deliver an increase to our cost synergies from the £112m per annum in 2013, which we will still hit on time, to £143m per annum by 2015. This deal de-risks the embedded value, contractualises the delivery of the cost synergies, and it de-risks the execution of our plans, allowing us to focus on the other opportunities we have as a business."

What in the name of God does this mean.?

"ringfence the unicorn" user is obviously a top bloke/burd as nobody could come up with that with serious intent. He's a bullshit bluffer or the highest order

clasps hands and prays to god that it's true (while "they" aren't looking 😉 )

Upon being given a task by our overall Manager, my Line Manager once said this;

'Right, we've been given this caged monkey, let's get it to the zoo'.

Luckily I work in an environment where laughing directly in someone's face and calling them a k**b doesn't get you immediately fired.

[i]What in the name of God does this mean.?[/i]

Exactly

In my office managers are always whanging on about 'workshopping' things, and referring to elements of our work as using the word 'space' (e.g. 'in the z-series space').

Not bull poo of the same order as previous posts, but still gets on your nerves after a while ...

We also get a lot of our 'offshore' colleagues requesting we 'do the needful' ... (?)

"Let's run it up the flagpole and see who salutes."

In the context of a meeting to decide how best to word a questionaire email to the users.

I've also heard "Let's throw it at the wall and see what sticks."

"Utilising our synergies" was always a particular favourite.

One of the guys here announced that he'd "socialised the initiative with the primary customer"

So, you mentioned something to the bloke in passing in a corridor then!

'Right, we've been given this caged monkey, let's [s]get it to the zoo[/s] go spank it'.

😀

run it up the flagpole

"we either bodge it to ss or bend everything back and reindex the whole system"

I'm just off for an interactive 360-degree bipartite horizon scan with one of the crew, just before he walks the plank on this one

😯 [absolutely gobsmacked] 😯
People actually say shit like this??? 😯 and expect to be taken seriously??
No wonder the countrys fooooked!!!

"we either bodge it to ss or bend everything back and reindex the whole system"

I like this. We should make a concerted effort to get bike-related phrases into the bullshit bingo play space.

*ponders something about zip ties and heli tape 😆

"Firstly, we have signed a transformational outsourcing deal with xxxx which will deliver an increase to our cost synergies from the £112m per annum in 2013, which we will still hit on time, to £143m per annum by 2015. This deal de-risks the embedded value, contractualises the delivery of the cost synergies, and it de-risks the execution of our plans, allowing us to focus on the other opportunities we have as a business."

That would make sense if the grammer was sorted out a bit, I hate long sentances joined with comma's...

Let's run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.

This was used in 12 Angry Men, the 1957 film, where the Robert Webber character uses a whole series of such cliches to hide his inability to make a decision. Bizarrely, something used to take the mickey is now said seriously again.

That would make sense if the grammer was sorted out a bit, I hate long sentances joined with comma's...

Not to mention spelling and punctuation. 😉

"That's potentially another roadblock to add to the bucket if there's the potential for pushback from our key business stakeholders."

A bucket of roadblocks. WTF would that look like? Would the bucket be massive or the roadblocks tiny?

"That's one to get on your radars."

A simple one, but "going forward" rips my knitting. If everyone would stop saying those two words together I think half my meetings would finish noticeably more quickly. Its a completely pointless phrase. You're planning stuff. EVERYTHING is in the future.

Anyone remember Drop the Dead Donkey? The spirit of Gus lives on.

"Jill, could you come for a quick scuba in my think tank?"
"Today is tommorow's tadpole of opportunity"

'Ringfence the unicorn' is pure gold I will try and remember that one 🙂

Happily, I don't work in this sort of environment. HR recently tried their luck with "[i][b]Onboarding[/b][/i]" but were swiftly told to sort that sort of thing out and it's become "new staff" or something less vomit-worthy.

The most over-used phrase at our place is 'leave it with me' closely followed by 'going forward' at the end of every sentence? Like an inflexion? Going forward?

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

I was recently told by a former colleague that I was considered "elitist" by a lot of people at my old workplace because I shunned bullshit bingo in favour of more correct English.

Some good ones here! Sadly, a lot of them are ones I recognise!

[i]"We are at a nexus, with pipeline projects from many stakeholders."[/i]

Translated: We're skint and don't know what to do, but hopefully one of our funders will cough up soon.

Just back from the US, where such language is used as a normal means of communication.

I'm sure that anyone who uses such utter rot instead of real language is only doing so to hide their lack of intelligence.

My absolute favourite has to be "boil the ocean" as in "let's not boil the ocean here".

Anyone who uses "synergies" in a serious way should have a long hard look at themselves.

And the annoying use of the word "right?" at the end of every sentance to try and muster a response to indicate that they are indeed correct or thinking that they are not correct is wrong. Words fail me...........

I shunned bullshit bingo in favour of [s]more correct[/s] English.

?

I'm sure that anyone who uses such utter rot instead of real language is only doing so to hide their lack of intelligence.

This! Also add competence to intelligence. I've been in meetings where peolpe have waffled on like this for hours without saying anything of meaning or relevance.

Well to be fair, in most companies, the main aim in meetings is to get out of them having wasted some time and not got any more work handed to you.

Anyone who uses "synergies" in a serious way should have a long hard look at themselves.

It does have valid uses. I never mind hearing it when you're talking about buying companies, mergers etc as that's one very good reason to do that sort of thing. In far too many cases I'm reminded very much of the quote from The Princess Bride [i]"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. "[/i]

"Synergies" is the one that makes my teeth itch.

I may try and see if i can[i] facilitate [/i]the phrase "drown the mole" whilst keeping my face straight.

I had someone asking if we could "integrate our synergies" once.

I laughed at him.

I find that scorn-filled laughter is the only way to deal with idiots like that.

granuality

I used to play the "Buzzword Bingo" game prior to meetings or presentations. You'd pick the latest phrase and wait until some k**b would utter it. First one out of the hat bought the first round.

Some favourites: "Let's get all our ducks in a row", "Our synergistic approach...." and "key".

As in "This is key", "The key skillset", "Key operational effectiveness".

We have "Key" meetings FFS!!!!!!!!!!

And when did the name signs and posters become "signage"??????/

CFH - Sounds like you completed the task perfectly. He was an idiot, you pointed it out. I believe that integrated all available synergies.

I was once asked by a boss to provide him with a list of everything I hadn't thought of.

I queried what he was asking for and he was adamant that this is what he wanted. At the end of the day I gave him a blank sheet of paper, and he got angry with me. To this day I'm not entirely sure what I did wrong.

You gave him a list of things he'd already thought of.

😆 so belters in here! yet another reason why i love the Apprentice!

"Going Forward" really really gets on me!

And when did the name signs and posters become "signage"??????/

A particular curse at the moment is verbing perfectly good nouns. "Well, we need to productise this service." What? You've bollockised the English language, I know that much.

Well to be fair, in most companies, the main aim in meetings is to get out of them having wasted some time and not got any more work handed to you.

Hahaha, and that is the problem!

I've worked in a few companies like this, where people would gladly spend hours spouting tripe they didn't understand or had just made up on the spot, just to prolong things or try to avoid working. Was it just me that actually didn't mind being given some work to do to stop the tedium, and would actually rather have contributed to physically moving the company forward rather than just bloody talking about it...

Anyway lots of oldies in this thread and a couple of new goodun's I'd not heard before. "Ringfence the unicorn" eh! I usually manage one of those first thing in the morning, just before I get in the shower, and maybe another in the afternoon if I've had a big breakfast/lunch! 😉

It's funny how different things grate on different individuals too though, I used to have to put up with crap like this being spoken on a daily basis as if it was normal, and you just sit there and grin smugly that the offenders probably didn't do very well at school and think they're being clever using big words, it doesn't bother me that much. But I've nearly punched people hard in the face for the use of the phrase "touch base" before. Silly eh, but those two little words said together in a certain context angers me in such a way I can only think about wanting to hurt the person saying it for the immediate future!

You gave him a list of things he'd already thought of.

Surely, he'd already have that? (-:

re: "touch base",

Whenever I hear that phrase I think of the US system of 'bases' for copping off with someone. I keep meaning to be outraged at someone about it.

Cougar, you should have put "this page intentionally left blank" on it

Another;

"Let me revert back to yourself on that"

Revert. Back. AAAAAARGH!

I currently cover the US markets and one i hate allthough not exactly bullshit bingo is.

Thanks for reaching out ! / Im just reaching out / lets reach out..
ad infinitum..

Does my head in !

"Touch base"

They both derive from baseball. The expression touch base comes from a batsman hitting a home run over the boundary wall, he then runs/ambles round and touches the bases to formalise the home run.

I work from home 99% of the time so don't get to witness this BS first hand. Loving this thread some classic stuff, I'll have to try it out on the postman or electric meter reader.

"this page intentionally left blank" 😆

Thanks for reaching out ! / Im just reaching out / lets reach out..
ad infinitum..

You should suggest that he reach around and get in touch.

CaptainFlashheart - Member
Another;

"Let me revert back to yourself on that"

Revert. Back. AAAAAARGH!

"Yourself" in place of "you" annoys the hell out of me. Always assumed it was a Glasgow thing (trying to talk all posh and that) but maybe not.

As long as you don't attempt to "revert back to your fellow countryman".

Apologies guys, we're getting dragged off topic here and there's a clear list of core business objectives the key stakeholders of this thread are seeking clarity on based on the outcome of us discussionizing it. Lets crack on.

LOL
I thought I was being stupid...Where I'm on placement they design harsh environment clothing and kit, so Fire protection, overalls, that sort of thing. Was in a meeting last year with a client who wanted a sort of flame proof thing who spoke like that. "initialize" that and "formulize the parameters" and so on...eye watering after shave as well.

Tried to chat me up at lunch, I waited till he took a big bite of his sandwich before telling him I preffered fanny.

I waited till he took a big bite of his sandwich

fish finger sandwich?

Badly packed kebab, Stoner...

*snoorrrrff*

I was once in a meeting (I know, the shame) when I used the phrase "I'm so not into that" in reference to a particular legal argument.

The response was immediately to take the piss out of me for "speaking street".

I felt I had, at last, made it to the level of prole-dom for which this thread is so sweetly dedicated.

Thanking you. 😉

EDIT - Emsz..! I've just disgraced myself in front of 40 colleagues at that..!

[i]the main aim in meetings is to get out of them having wasted some time and not got any more work handed to you[/i]

Well, yeah, obviously. How else am I supposed to get through the day?

On the subject of invented words how about '...due to your declinature to remove the tree...' WTF

I quite like 'bollockise' though

And don't start me on 'yourself' instead of 'you'

Auto Suggesting"

And 'iconic' for anything slightly better than ordinary

'I just want to [i]flag[/i] this to [i]colleagues[/i] to consider[i] going forward[/i].'

Three of my HoD's worst.

any sentence that contains "heuristic" or "holistic" = HOUSE !

I'm suddenly grateful for my grumpy but blunt gaffer. The closest he gets to ambiguous is 'Go and find xxxx and work it up the bastard'

Training courses, that's a different matter though. 'Customers', for example.

When evaluating an idea, concept or opinion at work I try to replace the phrase "that's shit" with "that's sub-optimal" whenever I can

It sounds high tech

Don't forget this next time The Apprentise is on TV

[img] [/img]

Guys, I need you all to focus, as there's an elephant in the room here.

"Challenge"

As in: "we are looking for a supplier who sees this as a challenge" = the brief is impossible, but we're all scared of our boss. Please can it be your fault.

Or on internal emails: "X has an exciting new assignment, in which we have challenged him to..." = we want to get rid of this person, but they know where the bodies are buried. We hope they just get fed up of working here and bugger off.

"Challenge" - workplace equivalent of "dare ya".

Now hold on to that thought, and once you've internalised, we can debrief.

"rightsourcing" popped up on my radar a while back.

Is that like rightshoring?

Equally vomitous!

"ringfence the unicorn"...pure gold...this will go down a treat in the pub tomorrow night...

The non-medical manager of our anaesthetic department is an endless source of this vacuous drivel. I find it hard not to laugh at some of his made-up words and phrases. This week he talked a lot about "orthopaedic additonality" which I think means "doing some extra orthopaedic lists". He's also guilty of "going forward" and "pushing back".

I'm definitely going to try to introduce "ring fence the unicorn" at the next opportunity.

Did this nonsense start with 'Object Oriented' ? Object Orientated, surely...

I thought the thread was worth a resurrection as i was invited to a workshop on the following today:

Reorienting a Customer Centred Approach into the Curriculum

I work in a university, we don't have customers ffs, they are students.

They are customers these days, sounds like you needed that workshop 😉

I think it means how to smile unconvincingly whilst serving a BK Whopper.

I spoke to a bloke in a company that develops event logging software and asked if they used it themselves.

"Oh yeah - we're eating our own dogfood here" came the reply.

"Leverage" said in the american way. The best was:

"Leverage the opportunity pipeline"

stupid drivel.

I'm surrounded by it....