# Psychology of “cliché speak” in sports and business **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184 "2004-09-20T20:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/21 "2004-09-22T11:38:24Z")
Illiterate men trying to impress each other?? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/22 "2004-09-22T12:42:50Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Illiterate men trying to impress each other?? If you’re asking a question, you might want to rephrase it so that it can be understood. If you’re being snarky, you’re both out of place and hurting your own cause by being so unintelligible. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/23 "2004-09-22T13:48:51Z")
**Happy Scrappy Hero Pup** : _Extremely_ good posts. Posts like that can interest me in things I otherwise find excruciatingly boring, like sports patter. This is why I read General Questions. Or, to rephrase all that in the current _lingua franca_: You gave 110% percent all the way, and you stuck to the fundamentals. You delivered the goods on time, and you show a definite talent in post construction and maintaining momentum. You are a real team player and the man to watch in the coming season. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/24 "2004-09-22T16:55:28Z")
**HSHP** : Very interesting. I hate watching sports myself, one reason being the idiocy spouting from the lips of the players being interviewed. Your explanations gave me a new take on that. Who’da thunk? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/25 "2004-09-22T17:26:33Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Just once I wish someone like Jordan would have been like “Of course we’re going to win you moron, look at our record, we always win.” Well, there was the time Charles Barkley said the opponents “should just take their ass-whipping and go home.” Of course, that was when he was on the Dream Team and no one in the world pretended they wouldn’t easily beat any of the other teams at the Olympics. Barkley was the only one on the team blunt enough to actually say so to the press. (The press liked Barkley because he didn’t use the standard cliches.) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/26 "2004-09-22T21:16:12Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > I’m happy about my goal or sack or whatever I am pretty happy about my sack, too. 🙂 Seriously: Nice answers. This is what the Dope is about. ---
**Author:** ![twelvericepaddies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@twelvericepaddies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twelvericepaddies)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/27 "2004-09-22T22:17:58Z")
No, I think there is something to it all - I cannot believe the number of people who seem to be otherwise intelligent who feel compelled to say ‘at the end of the day.’ It is such a meaningless statement it makes me think they really have nothing at all to say and are trying filler. I suspect the British stand around all day and say almost nothing to each other but “at the end of the day.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/28 "2004-09-23T02:02:14Z")
They talk that way because they’re indoctrinated to talk that way, if _Bull Durham_ is any indication. Crash Davis : It’s time to work on your interviews. Ebby Calvin LaLoosh : My interviews? What do I gotta do? Crash Davis : You’re gonna have to learn your clichés. You’re gonna have to study them, you’re gonna have to know them. They’re your friends. Write this down: “We gotta play it one day at a time.” Ebby Calvin LaLoosh : Got to play… it’s pretty boring. Crash Davis : 'Course it’s boring, that’s the point. Write it down. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/29 "2004-09-23T06:30:34Z")
To me it is all about etiquette. We sports fans expect the players we support to win honorably and to be gracious in defeat. There is an unwritten code of behavior that we expect from our sports heroes. To do anything other than follow the rules of conduct and speak in cliches and somewhat predictable statements could effect the athlete’s status in the eyes of the fans (although it is true that there are some obnoxious athletes that the kids just love). I am still pissed that Cedric Benson (University of Texas football star) said that he would rather win the Heisman (best college player trophy) than beat Oklahoma- personal glory over team, school, and state? What kind of selfish man is he? The “proper and heroic” answer should have been “Certainly, I would take a victory over one of the best teams in the country and our biggest rival over any and all personal accolades. My focus is on team and winning the national championship game by game.” If he would have said that, I would have gone out and bought a $75 Benson jersey (especially if he helped beat the Sooners!) Just as important, off the cuff, honest (from their perspective) comments to the media by a player could insult their teammates, contributing to poor team chemistry, thus weakening their team. When a team starts losing, it takes a tremendous financial hit in ticket and merchandise sales. Players know that for the sake of chemistry, they put on a predictable, somewhat positive face for the media and leave the negative stuff for the lockeroom. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/30 "2004-09-23T07:10:06Z")
I am impressed, **Happy Scrappy Hero Pup**. I had some vague idea that the sports interview lingo was done so the players didn’t over-state their hopes or expose their particular game plan, but I had no idea it was so conscious. (Of course, I’ve seen the interview bit of _Bull Durham_ too: probably the highlight of that movie for me.) I suppose, given the hidden depths of the Sports Interview jargon, it could also have the benefit of not giving a particularly _good_ opponent any more respect or fear than any other. To say something like “damn, these guys are good. We’re screwed, man. We’re gonna put all our efforts into trying to get past these guys, because seriously, we need a miracle.” Sheesh, there’s no point in letting your opponent know how much you fear them. Still, that doesn’t quite explain why businesspeople must buy-in on the actionalization of capital expenditures for Q3 quality intervention supply, instead of saying something like “we need erasers.” Are they _afraid_ of exposing their game plan to those little guys? I never trusted erasers, and I never will. I can never forgive them for the death of my boy. ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/31 "2004-09-23T13:22:30Z")
Having a camera in your face can be nervewracking. I’ve done several fluff interviews for the local news and the first few times I was scared to death. Your mind goes blank, there’s a microphone in your face, and you have to say _something_. Cliches are an easy fall back and help keep you from just standing there like a deer in the headlights. Afterwards, you smack yourself and think, “Why am I such a dork?” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/32 "2004-09-23T14:47:10Z")
All this just confirms my belief that we should punish with threat of torture any journalist who interviews an athlete or coach. If their intent is truly to communicate _nothing_, then what public service is done by propagating their statements? Let their actions on the field of play speak for them? Leave the interviews for people who have something to say. ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/33 "2004-09-23T14:56:43Z")
I always thought it was a part of being “safe.” If you say the exact same things that others say, you do not attract attention – _bad_ attention – to yourself. If you stray outside the lines and say something like “Favre is an ass” then it’s going to be all over the news the next day, and you will likely be ridiculed and verbally pilloried. Same in business. You say the things you are meant to say because if you say, “That component was designed for X system and most likely won’t work with your crappy one” you are going to have a hugely different result than if you stuck with popular business speak. “We’ll work with what you can bring with the table to acheive a desireable result.” Half of life seems to be saying what you don’t really mean. I guess that’s why we’re a civilized society instead of flinging poo at each other between trees. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/34 "2004-09-23T14:58:53Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > If you’re asking a question, you might want to rephrase it so that it can be understood. > > If you’re being snarky, you’re both out of place and hurting your own cause by being so unintelligible. I thought the implication was obvious. Use of buzzwords rather than well-reasoned and well-phrased communication is a crutch of the illiterate to sound important and create the appearance of inclusion in or agreement within a group, without conveying any true substance. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184/35 "2004-09-23T22:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by ratatoskK > Use of buzzwords rather than well-reasoned and well-phrased communication is a crutch of the illiterate to sound important and create the appearance of inclusion in or agreement within a group, without conveying any true substance. If you’re including jargon in your definition of buzzwords, then I take exception to your statement. Certainly there are people who use the “in” words just to look cool, but that’s not where jargon comes from. It’s all about faster and more accurate communication. Cattle people aren’t trying to confuse anyone when they say “Heifers for sale.” It’s just shorter and easier than “Young cows that have not yet given birth to a calf for sale.” If computer geeks hadn’t developed names for all of the equipment we use, engineers wouldn’t be able to talk to each other at all. Try saying, “there’s a null pointer in that code that’s causing a memory leak” without relying on industry jargon. Often, too, what you think of as a buzzword may describe a concept your average layperson doesn’t even understand. Jargon isn’t a bad thing. It’s a necessary thing, required for shorthand communication between specialists in a field. **Misused or overused** buzzwords, on the other hand (and that includes most “business-speak”), are often exactly what you’ve described. As a brief example, in my former profession, I once hired an MBA for our marketing department. I trained him on a system I had invented and asked him to write a white paper on it. He proudly handed me the result a few days later, and it was so filled with jargon, buzzwords, “business-speak,” and other obfuscation that I couldn’t even understand it. I told him that a well-written white paper should be clear and understandable to anyone with an eighth-grade education. He said that’s not the way he was taught to write. No wonder so many people hate hiring MBAs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychology-of-cliche-speak-in-sports-and-business/265184.md?page=1)