Council bans brainstorming

[kweli]

Just found this on DI's latest headlines page. I just wanted to add, this is nothing new. I worked for the council here in Doncaster over five years ago now, and 'Brainstorming' was banned way back then and replaced with 'thought showers'

'A council has banned the term "brainstorming" and replaced it with "thought showers".
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent was accused of taking political correctness to extremes after instructing staff to make the change.

The move came as council chiefs feared the word brainstorming might offend mentally ill people and those with epilepsy.

The buzz term is often used by executives to generate ideas among their staff.

Article continues: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2162568/Council-bans-brainstorming.html

[eyepod]

'A council has banned the term "brainstorming" and replaced it with "thought showers".
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent was accused of taking political correctness to extremes after instructing staff to make the change.


Hmmn what the hecks wrong with "brainstorming" :confused:? Well I guess if it's a council they're gonna be "golden thought showers" directed at that us the mere public. I bet they paid some consultancy shed loads for this forward thinking.

[krakhead]

Just found this on DI's latest headlines page. I just wanted to add, this is nothing new. I worked for the council here in Doncaster over five years ago now, and 'Brainstorming' was banned way back then and replaced with 'thought showers'

'A council has banned the term "brainstorming" and replaced it with "thought showers".
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent was accused of taking political correctness to extremes after instructing staff to make the change.

The move came as council chiefs feared the word brainstorming might offend mentally ill people and those with epilepsy.

The buzz term is often used by executives to generate ideas among their staff.

Article continues: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2162568/Council-bans-brainstorming.html

Like you say, this has been around for years - longer than 5 years if memory serves, I'm sure this was around in the early 90's. I thought the epileptic society had issues a statement saying they had no issue with the term brainstorming whatsoever. The NHS Trust I work for uses the term brainstorm.

And as a little extra, I was talking to a friend yesterday about her University work, I used the term brainstorm and she came out with the - epileptics will be upset etc. So we decided that she should Idea Splash instead! - surely that won't upset anyone!! ;)

[skyline]

I have to laugh sorry

Brainstorm may upset people with mental illness? I have heard it all now!

And we pay for these to people to sit in a room and decide a word may upset someone.Maybe someone should suggest to Royal Tunbridge Wells Council that the word dept is offensive to the poor and in most cases results in stress, anxiety and in the worse case scenario suicide

[eyepod]

I have to laugh sorry

Brainstorm may upset people with mental illness? I have heard it all now!

And we pay for these to people to sit in a room and decide a word may upset someone.Maybe someone should suggest to Royal Tunbridge Wells Council that the word dept is offensive to the poor and in most cases results in stress, anxiety and in the worse case scenario suicide

I didn't realise this was supposed to be offensive to epileptics. My Mum and a friend are both epileptic, I will have to test to see if they get offended by it. I am sure they are more likely to get pissed about sky high council taxes that get spunked on this sort of crap than "brainstorming".

[duckingdafta]

sounds like a Tavistock tactic.

[w1nstonsm1th84]

Yeah, this country becomes more like 'Ninteen Eighty-Four' by the day- it's all about 'policing' one's thoughts.

[pduffy4]

This smells of Common Puropose to me, assholes!

[ennui]

Well fuck me sideways with two straws and a chopstick, I've heard it all now. (and I bet you couldn't say that at a Tunbridge Wells Council meeting without getting some dark looks... actually are we allowed to say "dark" these days?)

[gremlin]

:rolleyes:

[krakhead]

http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/whatsnew/pr/show_pr.cfm?id=271

Epileptics don't give a toss about 'brainstorming' - official! ;)

[informationx]

Isn't Brain and council and oxymoron? lol

[coshh]

...and people go along with the PC nonsense?

[pepsirat]

My mam was told that she should not use the term blackboard she had to call it chalk board. She said am i aloud to call a white board a white board she asked. They said yes. My mam asked what is the difference you have white people and black people. You have white and black objects. So why should it course offense. Also why was it still ok to say white board and not black board?

[Jane643]

I worry about our council staff -


Birmingham Council banned left turns off roundabouts a couple of years ago........

[w1nstonsm1th84]

Birmingham... isn't that the place that celebrates 'Winterval' each December time? ;-)

[rise_to_addiction]

I work in Sheffield and this kind of thing has indeed been going on for years. I remember in a meeting many moons ago where someone was corrected for saying 'white-board' instead of 'thought board' on racist grounds. Straight up!

Here a just a few more.....

Like most places in the UK we celebrate Christmas with huge decorations all over town. Due to external pressure Sheffield has had to replace it's traditional 'Merry Christmas banner of the town centre with 'Happy Eid'.


Businessman 'Implies an evaluation of the sexes'

Epileptic Use 'person with epilepsy'

Half-caste Offensive, use 'mixed parentage' but not 'mixed race'

Handicapped 'is seen as Insulting'

Mental Handicap Use 'learning disabilities or difficulties '

Mental Illness - should say 'mental health problems' instead.

West Indian 'Colonial overtones'

Wheelchair bound Use 'wheelchair user'

although I do agree in 'some' cases a revision is long overdue what with equality etc.. but certainly not to this extent. for example, I remember years and years ago when a teacher corrected me for saying someone is black instead of coloured and now it's completely reverted back again. Black people ARE black and white people are WHITE etc.. I hated 'coloured' because I always felt it meant that Westerners were the superior race and everyone else is just 'coloured'.