Imagine this, you’re sitting in the conference room at 0910 waiting for the 0900 meeting to start and in strides the guy who called the meeting and says, “where are we in the movie?”. What movie? I’m not sure about other places, but this particular pithy saying has become very popular in government of late. Like other pithy sayings such as “that’s really on point” I much prefer plain language. Is it really that hard to say, “where are we in this particular project?” or “your presentation was well received and very well done”?

I mean, really? As someone who served over 20 years in the military, being on point means moving ahead of a group of men on patrol and being the first one shot, when and if the shooting starts. So, you can imagine I’m not really fond of that particular pithy saying, “on point”. Oh, I get what they’re trying to say, it’s just not really hitting home with me. The same goes with the movie comment above. I’m sure most of the readers of this blog have watched the movie, Office Space or the television series, The Office. The same stupid sayings that show up in the movie or TV series eventually find their way into government, and seemingly into every meeting I have attended over the last 15 years. I suppose if you’re trying to be hip or connect with your colleagues, then saying those things probably make sense. I still find them stupid, but that’s just me.

Rant finished, that is all.

PS. I’m already anticipating the, “that post was on point” comments. Just so you know.