Unfortunately they can also be intensely boring and irritating. As I find an increasing percentage of my time in meetings, I’ve started to notice clear traits and expressions that drive me mad. There are people who don’t speak loudly enough, those who speak too loudly (I think I’m one of these people), those who fidget, pick their nose, leave their ringtones on and many who simply sit there bored, unable or unwilling to contribute.
However, there’s one that has started to drive me mad beyond belief. It’s people saying ‘kinda’. I work in the media industry and I think that means I’m more exposed to the ‘kinda’ plague than most. There’s a lot of hot air spouted and very few interesting or insightful things to say.
There are 2 problems with ‘kinda’:
1. The use of ‘kinda’
‘Kinda’ has evolved beyond the basic word you use to fill pauses while you speak. There are many of them. ‘basically’, ‘in terms of’, ‘erm’... It seems as though ‘kinda’ is a word people use when they’re trying to sound knowledgeable. What the user doesn’t realise though is that it’s demonstrating the exact opposite. For example:
• “I think that we kinda have to spend more on X...” NO! You don’t ‘kinda’ think. You do think that.
• “ I’ve put together a kinda business plan” Is it a business plan or not? I want a business plan, not a kinda business plan. If it’s not a business plan then turn it into one. Fast!!!
• “What this graph kinda shows is...” If the graph doesn’t totally show us what you’re trying to show then it isn’t a good graph to show. Try again.
2. ‘kinda’ is not even a word!!!!!
Why is it appropriate to use a fake word in front of important people? If people were saying ‘kind of’ then I’d be slightly less irked by the situation. I also reckon people would start to use the phrase less if they thought about what it actually means. By masking behind a fake word, the protagonist has introduced a shroud of false knowledge that perhaps they even they believe.
Now I’d like to point out that I don’t immediately think you’re no good at your job or presenting if you use ‘kinda’. I’ve been guilty of using it myself in the past. I would, however, urge you to listen out for it and put a stop to using it before I turn in Michael Douglas in Falling Down.
1. The use of ‘kinda’
‘Kinda’ has evolved beyond the basic word you use to fill pauses while you speak. There are many of them. ‘basically’, ‘in terms of’, ‘erm’... It seems as though ‘kinda’ is a word people use when they’re trying to sound knowledgeable. What the user doesn’t realise though is that it’s demonstrating the exact opposite. For example:
• “I think that we kinda have to spend more on X...” NO! You don’t ‘kinda’ think. You do think that.
• “ I’ve put together a kinda business plan” Is it a business plan or not? I want a business plan, not a kinda business plan. If it’s not a business plan then turn it into one. Fast!!!
• “What this graph kinda shows is...” If the graph doesn’t totally show us what you’re trying to show then it isn’t a good graph to show. Try again.
2. ‘kinda’ is not even a word!!!!!
Why is it appropriate to use a fake word in front of important people? If people were saying ‘kind of’ then I’d be slightly less irked by the situation. I also reckon people would start to use the phrase less if they thought about what it actually means. By masking behind a fake word, the protagonist has introduced a shroud of false knowledge that perhaps they even they believe.
Now I’d like to point out that I don’t immediately think you’re no good at your job or presenting if you use ‘kinda’. I’ve been guilty of using it myself in the past. I would, however, urge you to listen out for it and put a stop to using it before I turn in Michael Douglas in Falling Down.
No comments:
Post a Comment