My new favorite business game

[Ennis Ray Lynch Jr]

Whenever some one says, "They said" or "they want" or some variation then I ask "Who is they" and watch the hilarity ensue since usually they don't know who they is and what they really meant was I.

Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost "All users always want Excel" --Ennis Lynch

[Marc Clifton]

Another fun one is "Oh? When did they say...?" Marc

[SortaCore]

I always ask "And who set the deadline?" because if it wasn't my team me, they aren't familiar enough with my team to set a good one. (I have a supervisor that promises something in 2 days that I'll predict 5 days for, hence the strikeout)

[Fran Porretto]

Indeed! One of my favorite variations on that theme is the "studies show" shibboleth.

In a discussion of public policy, whenever someone tries to bolster his argument with the "studies show" gambit, I immediately ask, "What studies, conducted how and by whom? Can you provide references?" Inasmuch as these days, for every study there's an equal but opposite study, the countermeasure is quite effective.

"They want" and "they say," and all their variations, are ways of asserting a nebulous, un-checkable authority. Like many other such phrases, they should be buried face down with stakes through their hearts -- and the way to make that happen is never to let them pass unchallenged.

(This message is programming you in ways you cannot detect. Be afraid.)

[kalberts]

A similar favorite of mine: When I came to the US to a 4-child family to go to high school for a year, all the time I heard "mother" tell her childen "You ain't supposed to" do so-and-so, say so-and-so, be knowledgeable about so-and-so. Quite often Bible Belt supposing was somewhat different from my own Norwegian supposing, so I curiouslyu interrogated: "Who is doing that supposing?" Needless to say, my questioning lead to a number of small conflicts.

[BrainiacV]

Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

I ask "Who is they"

You know, "them" :laugh:

Psychosis at 10 Film at 11 Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.

[onemorechance]

That always reminds me of this[^] "Far Side" cartoon.