Tunbridge Wells council have banned the term ‘brainstorm' for think tanks in the gentle Kentish spa. ‘Thought-Showers' is regarded as less offensive to people who are mentally ill. (You couldn't write this stuff, much less marvel how much brainstorming ever happened in the town.)
But why stop there? We use lots of potentially provocative or wounding terminology in our business, and here are some helpful suggestions for more socially acceptable language:
Old term New, improved
You're fired (too brutal) You'll flourish elsewhere
Campaign (too military) Activity
Strategy (also too military) Thinking
Creative firepower (far too military) Creative people
Think tank (still too military) Think float
Pitch (too American) Bowl
Compete (too...competitive) Try jolly hard
Launch (too maritime) Start
TV spot (too close to acne) TV advert
TV commercial (too commercial) TV advert
Management (too bossy) Organisers
Creative Director (far too bossy) Artist in residence
Award-winning (too elitist) Good
Grand Prix (too French) Prize
Palme d'Or (also too French) Prize
Tissue meeting (too sad) Chat
Delete (not very green) Put on one side for now
Decision (not very even-handed) Well, er......
Sorry but ‘Thought-Showers' sounds very mucky and like a euphemism for something else. Answers on a postcard.
Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells
Its like Rastafari (Iyaric) - careful avoidance of negative connotation - only its Tunbridge - perhaps they've all gone reefer crazy!
Examples of Iyaric:
Livication replaces "dedication", to rid itself of a connotation of death
Overstanding (also "innerstanding") replaces "understanding", referring to enlightenment that raises one's consciousness.
Politricks replaces "politics", because so many politicians, etc. turn out to be more like tricksters.
Irie Irie
Love that - little thought showering on e-mail ends with Turnbridge Wells goes Rasta.
David Wethey
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Member since: 03 Jun 2008
Last login: 05 Sep 2008
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