h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Found out this weekend, from a friend who works in local government childcare and social care, that 'brainstorming' is no longer acceptable. Apparently it is offensive to people with mental illnesses, like epilepsy and so forth.

So, what do we replace it with?

At my friends work, their manager is using the term 'Thought-shower'.
I'm doing a little survey, so tell me, what image does 'thought-shower' bring immediately to mind

Didn't we have this discussion 2 weeks ago?

RF

depends on who 'we' is referring to. If thee and me, then no, we didn't

'Thought shower' doesn't bring anything to mind. Are you being Mr Gutter-brain again, Ictoan?

Yes, the brainstorming term was brought up recently on a thread about Political Correctness - I think it was on one of anhaga's threads.

Anyhow, I think it's silly that the term brainstorming might be considered offensive by anyone. Then again, I'm not terribly PC.


az

It's here: F19585?thread=574729 from about post 27 onwards.

Surprised you weren't in on this discussion, Ictoan!

RF

Hmm, I am clearly the last to know on this issue! Still think it is daft but the people who are agin it are more bothered about it than people like me who think it is a waste of time and effort.
Ho hum, time to hide under my shell again then!

It's to be known as 'mind mapping' in schools and colleges.

but mind mapping is already a valid, useful and seperate technique!

Apparently another alternative is "Board blasting"
What?!

Oh, and I have anecdotal evidence (no time to google) that 'brain storming' was to be copyrighted by De Bono (the management bod, not the U2 bod!). Although I don;t think he suceeded, if he even tried.

I think this brainstorming thing is made up. It's one of those "let's say this and see how many people will believe it" things, like the number of spiders the average human swallows in their sleep. Obviously, some thicko down at your local government office has bought the story hook, line and sinker. They probably think that they swallow 8 spiders in their sleep too.

RF

Ah, but the thing is, if the person involved has just 'bought the line' then that actually makes it real, since this person has authority to dictate such things within the council.
Although I have verification of the term being 'contested' from wtihin the adult education field.

I wonder if it's possiber to trace this back to its source. In the meantime, award your local council the "8 Spiders" award.

RF

well, you could always submit it to snopes! Although they would probably come back saying something like
"brainstorming not acceptable usage in England: False: England is an ancient myth and has no real existence"

or some such

What's an 8 spiders award?

A long time ago, the "fact" that on average, humans swallow 8 spiders in their sleep during their lifetime, was widely circulated on the internet, along with a load of other spurious "facts" like "a duck's quack has no echo, and no-one knows why". These were made up to see how much people would believe if they read it in an email.

RF

I came across the ban on the term brainstorming a couple of years ago via school governors, so if it is an urban myth, it's been around for a while.

Let's all put our thinking caps on instead

Surely "thinking caps" is offensive to stupid people who can't think?

RF

"Surely "thinking caps" is offensive to stupid people who can't think?" .... and wear caps.


like


um


well


chavs?

Oh, and I wonder if this means that Lego Mindstorms will have to be renamed?

<>



Meanwhile . . . *mind mapping*????


az

Oh, and thinking...if you break it down into its component syllables, is potentially offensive to the underweight and/or anorexics. Whilst "king" is obviously not gender-neutral. I propose:

idealbodymassratiochallengedgenderneutralmonarchicalpersonbutifyou'rearepublicanthat'sOKtoo caps.

There. Much better.

RF

Well - caps are seen as a working class symbol - I think we'd better go with idealbodymassratiochallengedgenderneutralmonarchicalpersonbutifyou'rearepublicanthat'sOKtoo headgear.