I received an e-mail the other day which said: Hi, I am Wendy, your Carbon Neutral Living Customer Advisor.
What does that mean and what has it to do with a company selling books?
I replied: Happy to hear it, Wendy. Every day I burn my toast to a cinder and cremate the roast when I put it in the oven. At least you are off-setting any carbon that I produce.
Her e-mail went on to say how her company has reduced their carbon footprint. What's all that about? Did they give everyone smaller shoes?
An Organisation I know has a Company slogan for their staff "Unlock Your Potential". Another nonsense. Why is peoples' potential locked in the first place? You employ people to work. If they are not giving it 100% you fire them. That's how it was in my time. You don't exhort people to unlock anything.
A similar slogan I heard is "move out of your comfort zone". What does this really mean? People in life hope to live it comfortably not to go out of their way to make it difficult. What good would it do me if I moved out of my comfort zone and sat on a cactus or porcupine; it will hardly do any good for my potential!
On TV the other day a Union leader talking about a dispute said they were going to have meaningful discussions with management. Implying that up to now they were talking nonsense and shouting Yabooo Hisss and sticking their tongues out at each other.
Other silly phrases often used are global warming, climate change, environmentally friendly, no pain no gain, you can be whatever you want to be, and so on.
The last one in particular is false. These days of automation and mechanisation and AI many people will not reach their full potential no matter how hard they try. When I was young my parents used to say, you can be whatever you want to be. I wanted to be a bicycle. That didn't happen!
...does anyone really take credit for creating English?
ReplyDeleteYes Tom; it was the Romans. When the Romans invaded England and the rest of Britain many years ago, (certainly before I was born), they spoke to each other in Latin. The natives of Britain spoke in various dialects; so the Romans created/invented English in the hope that the many dialects will cause us confusion. Today there are many various accents and dialects over here, for example between Scottish English, Irish, Welsh, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and other various accents. Even in London you have various accents between districts.
DeleteThen the Brits moved to America and now you have your own version of English.
Blame it all on the Romans, Tom.
Deus benedicat.
I think a lot of it is somehow to make more money somehow.
ReplyDeleteYes Sandie, all these meaningless slogans are part of a marketing campaign often enough.
DeleteGod bless.
Those trite phrases and slogans become meaningless after a while, don't they? Always said with making a buck in mind. Blessings, Victor!
ReplyDeleteTrue enough, Martha. I have no more potential to unlock.
DeleteGod bless.
What if you don't have the key to unlock your potential? I guess you're locked in :)
ReplyDeleteGood point. Bill. Some people have the brain of a pigeon, so no potential to unlock there.
DeleteGod bless you.
'Feeling a bit foolish for swallowing these marketing slogans without a second thought. Like a chameleon without a thought in its head.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting too much, Mevely. It started with adverts on TV telling people through slogans how things would be better. Now it's emails from companies. What do I care if Wendy is Carbon Neutral or not. Good for her; but she should keep her carbon consumption to herself.
DeleteGod bless always, Mevely.
It seems emptiness is everywhere. Whatever happened to telling it like it really is?
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings
You're so right, Irish Cherokee. God bless.
DeleteYep I too get a little tired of the slogans and sayings. I am still trying to find my comfort zone! Also still looking forward to getting back into reading yours and other good books. Hard to direct my mind, when it try it won't listen...
ReplyDeleteLove you dude and like your wit... Still Thanks for the Prayers it means a lot knowing I am in your prayers... BTW I mentioned you to Him the other day...
Thank you for praying for me, Jack. Yes, we all need prayers and should pray for one another. It is in itself a way of loving one another as He commanded. God bless you, Sherry and family.
DeleteToo many slogans, not enough actually being done to correct problems, that's what I see.
ReplyDeleteYou see correctly, Mimi. A lot of talk; too little love for one another.
DeleteGod bless.