It's time to reclaim the word "problem" (half-baked rant)

Chat Forum

[closed]

It's time to reclaim the word "problem" (half-baked rant)

49 posts & 31 voices | Started 3 years ago by konabunny | Latest reply from coffeeking

Tags:

Pages: 12 Next »

konabunny - Member

Jesus **** Christ, I can't handle it any longer. I'm talking, of course, about the way people are using the word "issue" as if it meant the same as "problem". It's bloody not.

Quick recap:

- An issue is a topic, a question, a subject that needs to be discussed. It's a neutral word.

- A problem is a worry, a bad thing, a balls-up that needs to be corrected. It's a negative word.

You don't change a negative thing into a neutral or positive one just by using a different word, you smarmy ****. Saying you have "an issue with something" isn't any better than saying you "don't like it", and it doesn't mean you're any more right or wrong, either. Whether Kevin gets to go to Thorpe Park on half term is an issue; Kevin drinking vodka and passing out in the park is a problem.

So for Christ's sake let's just have the nuts to call a problem a problem. B@stards. :twisted: :twisted:

Posted 3 years ago #
muddy_bum - Member

I blame "the Saturdays" they have issues apparently.

Posted 3 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

I take issue with that.

Posted 3 years ago #
smiffy - Member

What's your problem?

Posted 3 years ago #
davidrussell - Member

issuette - thats the new one doing the rounds here.

There are only so many people you can slag off for this before it turns violent.

Posted 3 years ago #
RudeBoy - Blocked

I've got several issues....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
....of Razzle.

Posted 3 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

I would question that problem is always negative. It can also be a synonym for question, meaning a challenge

Saying you have "an issue with something" isn't any better than saying you "don't like it"

not the same, having an issue with something is less judgemental, the issue might be with the formulation or expression etc. far short of antipathy

Posted 3 years ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

I have no problem with that.

Posted 3 years ago #
trailmonkey - Member

A problem is a worry, a bad thing, a balls-up that needs to be corrected. It's a negative word.

Or it could be a mathematical problem or a puzzle.

An issue is a topic, a question, a subject that needs to be discussed. It's a neutral word

Or it could be something material, that is put forward.

The point being that lots of words have lots of meanings. "Issues" is one of them.

Ploppy pants rant, must try harder. 0/10

Posted 3 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

Got an issue?........ Take a tissue.

Problem just doesn't rhyme.

Posted 3 years ago #
jackthedog - Member

davidrussel - reading your post introduced me to the feeling of going from completely placid to unspeakably enraged in a split second.

Issuette.

Wow.

Posted 3 years ago #
binners - Member

Hora has issues regarding his desire to touch mens bottoms

Good rant though. 8 out of ten. Would be higher, but there's not enough swearing. And too few exclamation marks

Posted 3 years ago #
elliptic - Member

Can we reclaim "solution" instead?

Posted 3 years ago #
binners - Member

Can we also reclaim the phrase "run it up the flagpole and see who salutes it". Saluting flags is one of my favourite pastimes, but when I suggest it to friends they think I've become a middle manager who wants to go on the Apprentice

Posted 3 years ago #
Young Dave riley - Member

While we're ranting,can we please erradicate the Ausralianism of ending a sentence on a higher note? It drives me crazy ape bonkers.Two of my riding pals do it..and they're Teachers! What kind of example ? etc,etc..
Off to Hanchurch now,for a very wet Demo night.

Posted 3 years ago #
rogerthecat - Member

You are welcome to come to our next client meeting to meet the senior marketing manager who advised us that they the do not have "problems" they have "unresolved opportunities" - if anyone has any bright ideas how to solve an opportunity" I would be fascinated!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
FoxyChick - Member

Kevin drinking vodka and passing out in the park is a problem.

Eh?
A problem for who?
Certainly not to me!
I don't even know Kevin.

Konabunny...reckon you need to sort out your issues!!!

I don't see a "problem" as something bad/negative...just something that occurs that needs to be addressed.

Eg....I want to make some scones tonight but the probem is I have run out of flour. Is this worrying/bad/negative? No, I just need to go to the shop to buy some more!!

Posted 3 years ago #
konabunny - Member

Right, a problem is something that needs to be fixed! It doesn't mean anyone is going to die necessarily but not having eggs when you need eggs is more on the bad side than the good.

having an issue with something is less judgemental

But 90% of the time when people say "issue" they are in fact being judgmental (or STUPID!!!) but they're trying to hide behind a bogus smarmy neutralisation of the statement and pretending it's an objective statement. Bastards.

Ploppy pants rant, must try harder. 0/10

Oh. Not even a couple of marks for essential pettiness and irrationality?

Posted 3 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

But 90% of the time when people say "issue" they are in fact being judgmental

is that so ? I think expressing something as an issue implies a willingness to tackle, negotiate and resolve rather than outright rejection or stonewalling

Posted 3 years ago #
sootyandjim - Member

If there was a problem yo I'll solve it, check out the hook while my DJ revolves it....

Vee to the a to the nilla, fool.

Posted 3 years ago #
dooge - Member

Or when they say its an issue they want it discussed....and its easier and less objective than saying I have a problem. Unfortunately sometimes, we are in a world where talking about stuff is encouraged over solving a problem with pure old fashioned violence.

To me, an 'issue' is when you dont like to admit you have or there is a problem, or that the topic in question is not bad eough that you actually would do something positive to correct it. Alternatively, it could be a difficult problem that isnt solved easily.

Maybe you need to get your 'issues' sorted out as that was a proper half-baked rant!

Posted 3 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

... besides, talking about "reclaiming" a word is futile. How could you, or anyone else achieve such a thing ? Usage is mostly spur-of-the-moment - people don't generally spend a lot of time thinking about how they use language, they just do it when the moment arises, and just grab what seem like the most appropriate words and phrases from their accumulated vocabulary. It's very democratic, and 3rd parties hardly get a look in!

Posted 3 years ago #
clubber - Member

Try working for a US company. Issue is old hat. Nothing is an issue any more. We have "challenges" or "headwind" now.

eg Sales have been below target. We have several challenges that need to be worked on before we can get back on target

or

We would have hit our targets but headwind from other challenges in the company meant that we didn't...

Posted 3 years ago #
buzz-lightyear - Member

As an Engineer, my life is one of solving problems and I'm very happy about that. But to my customers, constant discussion of my "problems" is too negative and they get overly concerned. So in an effort to communicate effectively, I'm forced to use more reassuring language. Hence a lot of my "problems" get translated into "issues".

This topic, is itself, a slightly annoying issue. It's not an problem and not worth a rant IMO

Posted 3 years ago #
buzz-lightyear - Member

"people don't generally spend a lot of time thinking about how they use language"

On a good day, thinking people choose language to clarify, manipulate or even obfuscate. But I suspect that most of the time, most people just mimic what they hear.

Posted 3 years ago #
geetee1972 - Member

I want to know more about the Kevin 'thing' - what's up with that?

Posted 3 years ago #
midgebait - Member

And while we're at it...

Since when was did people become incapable of structuring sentences without starting 'With respect to...' or 'With regard to...'

'With regard to the weekend, what are you doing?' NO! Its 'What are you doing on the weekend?' ffs.

and don't get me started on turning every word that ends with 'ly' into something ending in basis. Frequent basis, regular basis, daily basis... Nu Labour have a lot to answer for.

Posted 3 years ago #
BigDummy - Member

On a good day, thinking people choose language to clarify, manipulate or even obfuscate. But I suspect that most of the time, most people just mimic what they hear.

Very well put!

Posted 3 years ago #
jojoA1 - Member

I hate how these days people can't just say what they think without prefacing it with why they think it. And for that reason, I think we should shoot all the dragons from Dragons' Den.

Posted 3 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

On a good day, thinking people choose language to clarify, manipulate or even obfuscate

I was thinking more about speech where you only have a short time to choose your words

PS Non thinking people are more commonly referred to as 'dead' or 'asleep'...

Posted 3 years ago #
konabunny - Member

"its easier and less objective than saying I have a problem.

At the risk of going from a failed ranter to a failed monomaniac - you've identified exactly what I think the problem with "issue" is. There's a reluctance to get to the point and deal with the objective thing, and an enthusiasm for removing oneself from a sticky situation where it would require a bit of allocating responsibility.

And, of course, a shortage of smacks in the mouth.

(I don't really care about this issue as much as I am making out).

Posted 3 years ago #
AlasdairMc - Member

buzz-lightyear - Member

most people just mimic what they hear.

Hence the culture that has developed whereby the use of business bullshit is almost mandatory to imply comprehension.

"At this moment in time" - what?!? Don't you just mean "now"?!?

"Do you know what I mean" at the end of every sentence - this suggests the speaker isn't that confident that they actually know what they mean so the listener hasn't got a hope in hell of understanding.

And my personal favourite going round the office at the moment

"On the back of this..." - Consequently.

It's like one person hears some BS, then the rest of the office sheep try as much as they can to incorporate these choice phrases into their vocabulary. Great fun, office politics...

Posted 3 years ago #
samuri - Member

business bullshit is almost mandatory to imply comprehension.

The use of which ironically, normally indicates a lack of comprehension. I instantly assume that anyone using corporate bollocks is an idiot and can safely be ignored until coffees are required. That seems to work most of the time. It's also a fairly safe bet that anyone using such phrases is not someone to whom action can be attributed.

Posted 3 years ago #
simonfbarnes - Member

I'm wondering, since the use of language is inherently quite a sophisticated activity, perhaps meaningless phrases serve an orthogonal purpose, like giving the user time to think, or being merely decorative afterthoughts to enliven the conversational arena ? In the same way the colour or shape of a car has little relevance to its function, yet draws considerable attention. Or it may be that peppering your language with catchphrases is fun ? Know wot I mean eh ?

"At this moment in time" - what?!? Don't you just mean "now"?!?

but the former has more poetry to it :o)

Posted 3 years ago #
coffeeking - Member

I think I'm having to agree with SFB here (which is becoming a scarily frequent thing).

"I have an issue with that" may not be the best use of the word, and problem may fit the sentence better, but problem suggests negativity and unwillingness to compromise. Issue suggests something that isn't necessarily a huge problem but will require discussion to overcome.

Posted 3 years ago #