Recently, a linguistics group announced a number of words and phrases that should be phased out due to obnoxious overuse, improper use, or due to the fact that they have no real meaning.
Amongst these is "it is what it is". I've usually heard it used by someone to discribe ridiculous behavior or situations and wish to make you think that there's no way to change them.
I don't think so!
In a toxic workplace, this kind of doublespeak is common.
An abusive boss is a "tough manager". Sorry! Managers manage, abusers abuse.
A destructive clique isn't a group of angry, insecure, and inadequate people. It's a bunch of "buddies". A group of "buddies" that is constantly trying to push others out of a job is the opposite of friendly.
Another classic statement is "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen".
What they really mean is if you won't suffer our abuse in silence, then you should quit.
Which what they really wanted all along.
The days of the bully and the mob are numbered. More and more people are speaking out. Tim Field pronounced the problem as the greatest one facing modern society. Others have said that these behaviors are the root of all abuse, including racial and gender discrimination, spousal abuse, rape, child abuse, and so on.
It is the fear and inadequacy of these so-called people that fuels their anger. When the first workplace bully or mob is jailed or fined, it will be a landmark day.
Let's work together to spread the word and make that day happen soon!
the confessor(01/30/2008)
I respect your right to be a straight-shooter. My objection is raised when phrases like these are made to cover-up, not clarify, unacceptable situations.
I once got promoted when a fellow co-worker opted to leave to start his own business. When it failed, my boss tried to reinstall him in his old job. His explanation? "That's just the way it is...".
I filed a complaint with the resort and state, and hinted that a drug test might reveal something interesting. My boss informed me gruffly that I was to keep my job. "Thanks," I said, "but I did what I had to do..."
dontask 0(01/30/2008)
There are certain phrases that make me puke. "You have to do more with less" is on top of my list.
MillyMoo(02/01/2008)
Personal 'fave' - You have to work smarter, not harder. The tool who says that phrase then tends to walk away as though all problems have been solved.
Wage Slave(02/17/2008)
Amen!
I worked in the QA department. The head of that department is a crazed lunatic. When our quality ratings went down the tubes she used me as a doormat. She demoted my replacement. His replacement uses the phrase "It is what it is" constantly.
He is Little Mary Sunshine. He told our entire group meeting that we have a stress free job. Keep in mind we have had CSR's have heart attacks at work!
At our group meetings I want to reach over the table pull his hair and mop the table with him.
sounds like my job(06/29/2008)
Bookwoman, I'm straight-forward and frank, too. My managers always think twice before trying anything unorthodox with me. I work quietly, am very productive, don't call out or arrive to work late, don't brown nose, I look for ways to add to my productivity, and when stats are released mine are always the highest, usually 2 to 3 times more than my team-mates. There is only one other team-mate whose productivity is consistently close to mine, about 40% less than mine, but she has help. If she didn't have that lazy person helping her, her productivity stats would be much higher. But to get to the phrase I wish would disappear...my manager is always mouthing, "They just aren't a good fit." She only says this about people who are over the age of 40 years of age. She likes to hire young women 20's and 30's, whom she can manipulate, and she makes it seem as though she is doing them a favor when she comes into the work area and starts talking her brand of silliness to them. They all are silly and just hang onto her every word. They like to talk about hair, shoes, clothing, their homes, and other materialistic things. This company very rarely will hire male employees unless it's for maintenance, janitorial, or shipping and receiving, something like that, so it's a bunch of vain women, jibber-jabbering all day long about petty nonsense. I don't even TRY to fit! I'm there to do what I get paid to do, not to "win friends and influence people."
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