I will not begin to travel the path of understandings between generations. I watch TV with closed caption on because I am clueless. In fact, it turns out that I have not had a clue since my being born.
All it takes is a few songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s to come on and when coupled with my recollection of the lyrics ... clueless. I am going to get a button that says, "Is that what that meant?"
Heck, we were learning and deciphering Morse code in my high school physics class.
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James Williams P.E., M.ASCE
Principal/Owner
POA&M Structural Engineering, PLC
Yorktown, VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2022 10:53 AM
From: Michael Shirk
Subject: What's Your Favorite or Most Used Idiom from the World of Engineering?
Thomas hit that nail on the head. That was the first thing that came to my mind as well, and for the same reason. It's not just idioms but also over-used buzz words….(sustainable, collaborative, holistic, leverage, strategic, passionate, etc.). Our industry is supposed to be made up of educated people, but why does everyone seem to have such a limited vocabulary that they have to use these same words and phrases over and over to the point it becomes comical? I have to admit however, idioms and buzz words are better than the latest alternative of acronyms. OMG it is frustrating being a Boomer trying to adapt to the world of the Millennials. I've been doing this nearly forty years and sit in meetings and hear acronyms tossed around, and I have to ask what they mean – and then I ask "why didn't you just say that?" OWRIJ5YA (oh well, retirement is just 5 years away)
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Michael Shirk P.E., M.ASCE
Trekk Design Group
Kansas City MO
Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2022 08:02 AM
From: Thomas Walski
Subject: What's Your Favorite or Most Used Idiom from the World of Engineering?
"At the end of the day..." Why do so many things happen at the end of the day? Why can't they happen all day long?
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Thomas Walski Ph.D., P.E., F.EWRI, F.ASCE
SR PROD MNGR
Bentley Systems,Inc
Nanticoke PA
Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2022 12:06 PM
From: Mitchell Winkler
Subject: What's Your Favorite or Most Used Idiom from the World of Engineering?
Here's a potentially fun topic for a Monday. What's your favorite or most used idiom from the world of engineering and why do you like it? Conversely, what idioms do you find annoying or over used? We had a moderator call last week and the idiom "grease the skids" was used prompting this post.. An idiom (I had forgotten and had to look up) is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.
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Mitch Winkler P.E., M.ASCE
Houston, TX
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