What is the lifespan of a word that has meaning, impact and relevance? What is the term time of a phrase that captured the moment – aargh... the zeitgeist – but then becomes a cliché, redefined, over used in the wrong settings and, what seems to be the way, as a spray on term to get people through the day, the meeting, the moment... without, usually, making any progress?
Words, terms for example, in my territory are:
Sustainable... dare you, go on, tell me what that means and then find another separate organisation that shares its resonance. How long is this anyway? This sustainable thing?
Consultation... (taking ideas into account, give them careful consideration) has been corrupted beyond belief and integrity.
Partnership... good grief, what a waste of not only a reasonable word, but a principle of practice and a philosophy...
Efficiencies... almost an anagram of IFFI SCIENCE... used as a term for too many excuses for poor leadership in too many settings.
Education System... lost its depth, width, cultural resonance and importantly has excluded more than it includes. Still, its world leading. Investment... not in people any more, but only in structures by sinister city types...
Outputs... the last refuge of people who demand them as proof of innocence before pronouncing guilty verdicts.
Positive high regard... too often no longer a starting point with people any more... see outputs... but now replaced by a guilty till proven innocent approach.
Funding... creeping towards a power crazy approach to getting people to bring game playing and begging into play to achieve their survival, far less develop from and because of their initial principles.
Community... ah well, we all have to share some responsibility for losing sight of this...
Christmas... many have said that the sense of this was lost a long time ago... well, whatever, have a peaceful, safe and happy holiday and say hi to the folks next door, up the road and round the corner. They’ll welcome it.
Oh yes: HOPE... Now, there's a discussion.
