At one point, the birdbrains I work for refused to let us call problems with our
software "problems".  Rather, "problems" became... get this... "opportunities".

Opportunities?

For what?

For God's sake, please use the right tool for the right job.

--
Dan
GoofyGraffix.com

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:
>   Yeah, that's how it's usually retconned, but it's only that: A retcon.
> The original creators most probably didn't have that in mind when they
> wrote the script.

Actually, watching Obi-Wan's expression as Han says this, it is even 
possible it's *supposed* to be an attempted boast by someone who really 
doesn't know what he's talking about. Like someone bragging they have 
turbo wheels!

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

Post a reply to this message

And lo on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:40:06 +0100, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> did  
spake, saying:

> Mueen Nawaz <m.n### [at] ieeeorg> wrote:
>>         Actually, people *do* regularly say "miles ahead of..." in that
>> context. Just do a Google search and see.
>
>   Still sounds a bit odd to me... :P

Makes sense if you consider that you're in a race.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:

>   Well, programs are usually developed to solve problems (such as, for
> example, make some tasks easier), so they really are solutions to those
> problems. (One could argue from a specific program if it's a *good*
> solution to the problem, but it can still be *a* solution nevertheless.)

Well, that depends...

Some programs are, in fact, designed to solve a specific problem.

Other programs are instead designed to make money. If anything, the 
salesman has to invent a problem and make potential customers believe 
they have this problem so that your program can "solve" it for them.

So while some programs really *are* solutions, others are actually 
non-solutions to non-problems that probably end up making everybody's 
job harder, rather than easier.

So I guess it just depends on how cynical you are. ;-)

Note that the term applies to other technologies too. "Hey, we have a 
new traction solution!" What, you mean you've got some new tires?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

48580d21@news.povray.org...
>  They don't realize that's exactly as silly as saying "we are miles ahead
> of our competitors", or in European, "we are kilometers ahead of our
> competitors". IMO that expression just isn't sensible with a measurement
> of distance.

For what it's worth the distance metaphor is commonly used in French. In 
fact the original distance unit used in the expression is "lieue" (league), 
so I guess it's a couple of centuries old at least, and "leagues away from" 
or "leagues ahead" is also used in English. The metaphor has been updated to 
light-years too but it's so common that there's nothing remarkable with it.

G.

Post a reply to this message

Warp wrote:
> Mueen Nawaz <m.n### [at] ieeeorg> wrote:
>> 110%
> 
>   That's an especially funny expression because it's so easy to defend,
> and so easy to debunk at the same time.
> 
>   "Doing 110% means that you not only do everything you can, but you
> make extra effort and surpass yourself and give a little more."
>   But if you could surpass your efforts by 10%, that means you weren't
> doing it at 100% to begin with...
> 

That's a personal pet peeve of mine.  Especially since, as the article 
pointed out, you get effort inflation ('What? Only 101?')

The one I found most amusing was 'You can't have your cake and eat it, 
so you have to step up to the plate and face the music.'

Now THAT's a lot of mixed metaphors :)

...Chambers

Post a reply to this message

Stephen wrote:
> Worse still do you use any of these phrases?
> 
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7457287.stm
> 

The thing is, *most* of these aren't that bad, when used appropriately. 
  "Open door policy", "problems are opportunities", "think outside the 
box"...  all of them started out as ways of correcting bad policies and 
/ or attitudes in either the workforce or management...

...until they got overused to the point where you're willing to beat 
your manager to death with a sardine if he utters his favorite phrase 
one more time.

...Chambers

Post a reply to this message

Chambers wrote:

> The thing is, *most* of these aren't that bad, when used appropriately. 
>  "Open door policy", "problems are opportunities", "think outside the 
> box"...  all of them started out as ways of correcting bad policies and 
> / or attitudes in either the workforce or management...
> 
> ...until they got overused to the point where you're willing to beat 
> your manager to death with a sardine if he utters his favorite phrase 
> one more time.

Seems to me most managers have the mental age of a typical 5 year old.

Obsession/compulsive behaviour, egocentric thought processes, 
empire-building, inability to comprehend moderately complex concepts, 
short-term thinking, temper tantrums, etc.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

Post a reply to this message

"Darren New" <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote in message
news:4858681d$1@news.povray.org...
> Warp wrote:
> >   Yeah, that's how it's usually retconned, but it's only that: A retcon.
> > The original creators most probably didn't have that in mind when they
> > wrote the script.
>
> Actually, watching Obi-Wan's expression as Han says this, it is even
> possible it's *supposed* to be an attempted boast by someone who really
> doesn't know what he's talking about. Like someone bragging they have
> turbo wheels!

Found the script reference I mentioned. Seems to imply that the above
interpretation is correct.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Kessel_Run

  a.. n the original draft of A New Hope in 1976, the description for
"Kessel Run" is put as follows:
HAN: It's the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs!
Ben reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with obvious
misinformation.

Post a reply to this message

"Invisible" <voi### [at] devnull> wrote

> Some programs are, in fact, designed to solve a specific problem.
>
> Other programs are instead designed to make money.

Well, that also is a specific problem.

Post a reply to this message