Skip to main content

Let go!

As English language goes there are Euphemisms that make no sense. 'Let go' is one such. I mean who is letting who go? The Letter or the Lettee? Is this a balloon we speak of? Or is it a burning rag? Or an emotion for those so minded? Or is it describing a state of constipation with no action? It typically implies that the hirer is letting the hiree go. However if that was true it would mean that the hirer was somehow emotionally attached to the hiree and is making a tremendous effort to detach himself from the hiree. Reality is that the employee is in no shape to perform the duties expected of him and hence has to be eliminated from the expense bucket, or so it would appear. He is not pulling his weight according to the employer. Hence the employer kicks the employee out. Why call it let go? Its anything but. Its just go - leave - or I will call the cops type of emotion. Other moronic sounding plugs for this activity include 'Reduction in Force' which begs the question - were they always using such force to get things done around here? How strong was the force? Greater than gravity or nuclear? Is this reduction going to reduce the overall force? If so is that good or bad? Then there is the 'we had to go through cutbacks' theory. Again what is one cutting - backs? Why not fronts? Would the front office staff getting cut still qualify for cutbacks? Who decides on the cut? Is it quick or is it drawn out? What sort of implement would be most suited to undertake the cut? Going back to the letting go angle - the employee in most cases also has the authority to fire his boss and can let himself go of the addicition that is his paycheck. In that sense we can understand the use of the term 'let go'. Not the way its used in common parlance. If I am morbidly attached to an idea and have hard time letting it go then I can also be allowed to use the phrase if and when I get it in my stubborn skull to let it go. Thusly I do need to let go of this blog now and go let myself out of my room. Prehaps the next blog could be on the idiotic phrasing of 'Go let myself out'.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Presumptive Society

Today's world is hyper connected.  I am not so sure what it means but you hear it a lot.  It is probably hyper but not sure how connected it is.  Sugar (fermented or not) is available in many ways than before and so getting hyper is easy.  It is probably more a threat than cocaine since it is sold legally. And what is this connected stuff?  Most people I encounter seem disconnected from reality.  So going back to this assumption that we are connected there are subtle and no so subtle instances of how brands and companies and middle men try to portray someone - A linkedin profile for somebody working for X years at a place advertises to the connected network that so and so is CELEBRATING X years @ Such and Such Inc. Do we know if (s)he is celebrating or cringing?  Perhaps a better way to portray will be - So and So LASTED X years @ such & such inc. Then it exhorts the readership to go ahead and congratulate them for this lasting effe...
2 comments
Read more

Of Jims and Johns

Here is another essay on the subject of first names. As in birth names. Or names provided to an offspring at birth. While the developed world tends to shy away from the exotic like Refrigerator or Coca Cola for their new production there is a plethora of Jims and Johns and Bobs or Robs. Speaking of which I do not think there is a categoric decision point at the time of birth if a child will be hereafter called as Bob. I mean have not yet met a toddler called Bob or Rob for that matter. At some point though the parental instinct to mouth out multiple syllables runs out and they switch from calling the crawler Robert to simply Robbie to Rob. Now speaking of - it is strange that the name sounds like something you would not want Rob to do - i.e. Rob anyone. Then why call someone that? After all Rob Peter to Pay Paul is not exactly a maxim to live a young life? Is it? Perhaps Peter or Paul might want to have a say in it? Then there is this matter of going to the John. Why degrad...
2 comments
Read more

On the go(zay masta) in Japan again

Cool cat the Japanese are Tokyo at dusk  My second visit to this land of the rising sun after almost a decade. Back then clearly I was wet behind the ears product manager and likely didn’t pay attention to all (efficient) things Japanese. But today I did and of course continue to be impressed. It is as much the obvious stuff like on time travel that is both clean and comfortable and all that which makes it possible. The impressive landmark and landscapes that these humans have put together despite their cramped (or because of it) surroundings and precarious geological conditions could amaze a novice architect among us. But it’s also the little things that someone had to think about which have a phenomenal impact on day to day lives that make the Japanese stand apart. Below are few random examples- 1. Providing a very fine machined wooden toothpick in every packet of wooden chopsticks. The said chapsticks are simply set on the To Go counter of any food vendor/ convenience store wher...
Post a Comment
Read more