Framing the corporate debate

Posted by Monica Mehta at 4:20 PM on August 16, 2005.

There's been a lot of talk among Democrats about "framing" dialogue and language, and not allowing the administration's hacks to dictate the terms of national debate. Here's a new way to eschew the establishment: Avoid corporate buzzwords. You may think you're down with progressive business lingo, but not if you're using any of the terms cited in Anne Fisher's Fortune column on "business buzzwords that make you gag," sent in by readers. Among the culprits:

Keep me posted or I'll keep you posted. Notes one astute reader, "These are usually conversation-enders indicating that no further information will be exchanged."

Radar screen, as in, "I'd like to get on your radar screen for a meeting next week." Asks Oliver, "What are we, air traffic controllers?"

"Isn't this cool?" Heard at "any Microsoft presentation of any new software," one reader notes. "Is it a rhetorical question, or do these people have a very limited vocabulary?"

A challenge or an issue, when what the speaker really means is a problem.

Touch base, as in "Let's touch base on this tomorrow." Says Bill G.: "I don't want to touch anyone's base. It sounds as if it would lead to a sexual harassment lawsuit."

No-brainer. Suggests Mitch, "Maybe we could redefine this to mean a person who says it."

My least favorite: "I'll be out-of-pocket." Thanks for the sentiment, but you were never in my pocket to begin with. Got that straight?

Monica Mehta is an associate editor at AlterNet.