(no subject)

[wshaffer]

Having the kind of day where I have to have a long, hard think about whether it is ever appropriate to use the term "half-assed" in a business email.

I decided not. I settled for just listing the things that had not been done that still needed to be done.

Comments

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

I used the word "shitload" in a business email yesterday. I did think about it first, but not for long.

[wshaffer.livejournal.com]

I'd have an easier time using "shitload," I think. What gave me pause about "half-assed" was not merely the obscenity, but the implied criticism of the person who hadn't done what they said they'd do. I don't yet know what is going on with them, and I kind of suspect that they are actually half-assing this project, but better for me to just let their manager know what didn't get delivered and let their manager deal with it.

[markgritter.livejournal.com]

I was going to speak up in defense of 'half-assed' but your comment makes clear there was a personal dimension, which I agree is inappropriate.

'features that never get beyond version one' was a phrase that I used recently to circumlocute around 'half-assed' but in retrospect the latter would have gotten the point across. 'uncompleted' just suggests it's not done yet, nobody knows what 'desultory' is, and 'half-baked' is equally insulting. So I think there are cases where 'half-assed' fits the bill.

[azurelunatic]

I have now used the phrase "cleanse it with fire" in a --

-- no, that's not quite accurate. I have used the phrase "CLEANSE IT WITH FIRE" in a ticket, now.

The specific problem is the unnecessarily scrolling News boxes on the self-service view of the helpdesk product.

[wshaffer.livejournal.com]

The what now?

[Logs in to take a look.] Oh. That's. Special.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to make the helpdesk product something that a sane human can use without pain.