Comments on: 1st Step Towards World Domination: Ban Harmless Phrases http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/ read. learn. sleep. soundly. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:24:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: B http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-447 B Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:05:42 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-447 At first glance I thought the same thing. But after thinking about it I realized that the mayor is doing something very subtle, and very subtly wrong. By abolishing certain phrases that can be legitimately used when appropriate, such as times when you really don't know something, or when you really were sick and not able to work, for example, the mayor is requiring perfection. There is a difference between mandated perfection and preferred perfection (i.e. mandated give-it-your-best-shot) <blockquote> ...Providing the mayor with wrong or incomplete information, or being late in reporting important information will be considered an attempt to undermine his work... </blockquote> There is nothing new here. This policy exists in many corporate and political structures. But banning the phrase "I'm having lunch" is going too far, especially from a mayor. If a CEO wants to make this his priority that's fine. I just get a bad feeling when it creeps into the mayor's office, especially within a country such as Russia. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I have not been to Russia and I don't a lot about the political climate there, so I'm thinking worst case scenario. Could the mayor push this ban out into the general public? You have to remember, he is in a position of power, in the country of Russia. At first glance I thought the same thing. But after thinking about it I realized that the mayor is doing something very subtle, and very subtly wrong. By abolishing certain phrases that can be legitimately used when appropriate, such as times when you really don’t know something, or when you really were sick and not able to work, for example, the mayor is requiring perfection.

There is a difference between mandated perfection and preferred perfection (i.e. mandated give-it-your-best-shot)

…Providing the mayor with wrong or incomplete information, or being late in reporting important information will be considered an attempt to undermine his work…

There is nothing new here. This policy exists in many corporate and political structures. But banning the phrase “I’m having lunch” is going too far, especially from a mayor. If a CEO wants to make this his priority that’s fine. I just get a bad feeling when it creeps into the mayor’s office, especially within a country such as Russia.

Maybe I’m just being paranoid. I have not been to Russia and I don’t a lot about the political climate there, so I’m thinking worst case scenario. Could the mayor push this ban out into the general public? You have to remember, he is in a position of power, in the country of Russia.

]]> By: Dad http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-443 Dad Sat, 08 Sep 2007 15:37:26 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-443 Sounded pretty scary.... till I actually read the article. I like your humor... but you completely misrepresented the article. The mayor should be applauded! Sounded pretty scary…. till I actually read the article. I like your humor… but you completely misrepresented the article. The mayor should be applauded!

]]> By: B http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-440 B Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:58:27 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-440 I have to link <a href="http://www.endofworld.net/" rel="nofollow">this flash movie</a> to clear up any confusion about Jesse's first comment. Don't watch it too loud, but make sure you can hear the sound. Headphones are your best bet. I have to link this flash movie to clear up any confusion about Jesse’s first comment. Don’t watch it too loud, but make sure you can hear the sound. Headphones are your best bet.

]]> By: jonathan http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-431 jonathan Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:33:06 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-431 Wait for it...wait for it.... They're both intense. (I didn't promise it would be funny.) Wait for it…wait for it….

They’re both intense.

(I didn’t promise it would be funny.)

]]> By: B http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-429 B Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:41:10 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-429 What? What?

]]> By: jonathan http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-428 jonathan Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:35:48 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-428 What do Russians and camping have in common? What do Russians and camping have in common?

]]> By: Jesse http://www.thegimcrackmiscellany.com/2007/09/1st-step-towards-world-domination-ban-harmless-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-427 Jesse Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:10:04 +0000 http://www.brianmcculloh.com/blog/?p=87#comment-427 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH the MOTHERLAND!!!!! Sorry. Had to. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH the MOTHERLAND!!!!!

Sorry. Had to.

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