[QUOTE=wolfman]
Ping is a very simple and useful unix program that checkes only if a different computer is reachable and alive. Nothing else, no message, no value transmitted, just alive. It can occasionally make since in human interaction. for example “I heard there was a big Earthquake in California, But I pinged mom before the phone cut off”. You determined she was reachable and alive and nothing else.
[/QUOTE]
It’s also a duck.. 
The first user review of that book is such a timeless classic.
I hate the “ok, moving right along…” people.
[QUOTE=lissener]
*Monster, demonstrate, * and *muster *trace their meanings back to the same root word. Language changes; a word that began with one meaning ends up being associated with others, and evolves. *Ping *is a great example. (Though I admit it would annoy me too, as being aggressively faux-hip.)
[/QUOTE]
Monstrance, too. When I was a kid, raised in the Methodist Church and fascinated by monsters, I learned with utter fascination that there was a “monstrance” on view down the street at the Catholic church during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (whatever that meant). I used to ride my bike down there and peek through the doors, in hope of seeing a real live monstrance, but apparently they’d always put it back in its cage before I got there, because all you could see was this big golden cross-like thingie with a white wafer stuck at the point where the four arms czme together.
“Going forward” is, to me, an acknowledgement that We Didn’t Do It This Way Before, and that we’re instituting a process change.
The one that really chaps me is the “reach out to XYZ”. Use “talk to,” goddammit. The same person who did this is the one who *always * said “yet” instead of “but”. scream
A few years ago when I was really into following the stock market, I had CNBC on all day. Those guys used “Going Forward” so often that I suspected they’d gotten some memo ordering them to insert a GF in every sentence. I thought it was an attempt to get people’s minds off the crappy state of the markets at that time.
Unless I am making fun of someone who has a masters degree in corporate-speak, I almost never use terms like LART or DIAF.
I also never use any term like that more than once in a five minute period. I have heard my boss use the word ‘leverage’ as in ‘leverage that resource’ more than ten times within five minutes.
It becomes physically painful very quickly to listen to corporate-speak. We used to play bullshit bingo during meetings, but the games were ending too quickly.
I work in engineering R&D.
If I hear the term nano-fiber, nano-scale, or nano-technology one more time, I’m gonna go ballistic.
[QUOTE=lizardling]
“Going forward” is, to me, an acknowledgement that We Didn’t Do It This Way Before, and that we’re instituting a process change.
[/quote]
It’s still a Pointy-Haired Bossesque way of saying that. “From here on” works just as well and doesn’t sound like something out a Dilbert cartoon, IMHO.
As I said to the last Suit From Head Office who used this term: “The Salvation Army and St. Vinnies “Reach Out” to people. I talk to them, or E-mail them. Unless we’ve started selling electronics exclusively to the homeless, deprived, abused, and neglected, that is- in which case none of us should be paying taxes on our incomes since we’d arguably be a charitable organisation at that point.”
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
Yeah, but there are all sorts of X and X-type phrases in English in which the second word is redundant (with apologies to Bill Bryson): cease and desist, spick and span, kith and kin, aid and abet…
[/QUOTE]
will and testament…
I have been told that that type of phrasing is a result of the Norman invasion of England; words from Saxon and French roots were both used in legal writings to ensure repetition and tautology … no, to ensure everyone understood.
Re: “Going forward”
In my experience, the term indicates that all bickering and blame-storming is over, and a decision has been made. It’s a very useful term when one wants to turn the focus to the actions/procedures/processes and away from the individual [who may or may not have been following the old procedures].
I like it; it’s a very nice way to say, ‘Shut up’ and end the meeting.
-In future
-from now on
-starting tomorrow
-now
-henceforth (if you really need a $5 word)
Or for those very special occasions where someone is over-dwelling and needs a-kill’n: The horse is dead. Fuck it or walk away, but quit beating it.
I’m too busy leveraging my core competencies.
I use going forward rather frequently. I also use going backwards. They are different concepts and the point is too distinguish one from the other. I fail to see the problem.
[QUOTE=Scissorjack]
I’m too busy leveraging my core competencies.
[/QUOTE]
Sure, but are you actualizing your potential by thinking outside the box?
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.]
Sure, but are you actualizing your potential by thinking outside the box?
[/QUOTE]
No, but I am driving solutions to the marketplace by delivering a compelling value proposition to my customers.
Is it required that you take a course in how to sound like a douchebag to become a manager?
No matter where I go, someone with ‘manager’ or ‘vice president’ or ‘executive’ in their title is using this ridiculous words that mean nothing to talk for hours yet say nothing.
[QUOTE=catsix]
Is it required that you take a course in how to sound like a douchebag to become a manager?
No matter where I go, someone with ‘manager’ or ‘vice president’ or ‘executive’ in their title is using this ridiculous words that mean nothing to talk for hours yet say nothing.
[/QUOTE]
You sound bitter. Passed over for a promotion too many times? 
[quote]
QED said:
You sound bitter. Passed over for a promotion too many times?
[quote]
Actually, I’m an engineer. My attitude toward management is not only expected, but often encouraged. The more surly I am toward weenies in suits, the more money they keep giving me.
I think it was the fact that I actually laughed out loud when the not-British management weenie here said ‘pro sess eez’ that got me a promotion a couple months ago.
I’ve known people who are both; in fact, the current president of the company I work for is an engineer. I can only assume these sorts are held together by some sort of degeneracy pressure or some as-yet-undiscovered fifth fundamental force.
[QUOTE=Polycarp]
Monstrance, too. When I was a kid, raised in the Methodist Church and fascinated by monsters, I learned with utter fascination that there was a “monstrance” on view down the street at the Catholic church during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (whatever that meant). I used to ride my bike down there and peek through the doors, in hope of seeing a real live monstrance, but apparently they’d always put it back in its cage before I got there, because all you could see was this big golden cross-like thingie with a white wafer stuck at the point where the four arms czme together.
[/QUOTE]
Hee. Our church’s was a lot like this–VERY impressive when we were kids going to the Stations.
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
Another phrase I find irritating and pointless is “price point.” Just say “price.” It’s the same thing. Tacking a “point” onto the end of it is redundant and pretentious.
[/QUOTE]
Bunch of people beat me to this one.
The reason you hate these is because you are a reality TV watcher. I’ll bet “at the end of the day” is said at least 5 times in every boardroom on The Apprentice.