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"Touch Base"

oznerol

Platinum Member
I hate it so much that every time one of the project managers say it, I feel like punching them in the face. And I mean that in the most literal way possible - dare I say it - I wish for my fist to "touch base" with their face.

I dare.

If work was a drinking game, and the rule was I had to take a shot every time I heard that phrase, I would be in an unconscious stupor before lunch. I'd be the guy who is so completely smashed that everyone draws obscene things on his face with a black marker. Then I'd get a memo the next day saying I have to "touch base" with my manager regarding my behavior at work.

One guy in particular has used it at least once in every conversation I've ever had with him. And I talk to him almost daily. This is no exaggeration. It's as if the guy is obsessed with "base touching." I would google it, but I fear the results would not be safe for work.

I'm not sure who came up with the meaningless phrase, or why people find it necessary to use it - often multiple times in a single conversation - but regardless, for the love of all that is good in this world, stop using it. Let it die a quiet, painless death.

That all being said, knowing proper message board etiquette, responses to this post all but require the use of "touch base." This is quite understandable. However, please note that by using said phrase it is also required for you to punch yourself in the face.

:beer:
 
Originally posted by: K1052
I think we should touch base on this rant later.

I'm making this a primary action item.

I agree, though maybe we should have a pre-meeting meeting to make sure that our ideas provide a synergy within the specific parameters. 😉

god, i hate corporate speak....
 
Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
Originally posted by: K1052
I think we should touch base on this rant later.

I'm making this a primary action item.

I agree, though maybe we should have a pre-meeting meeting to make sure that our ideas provide a synergy within the specific parameters. 😉

god, i hate corporate speak....

Before we have the pre-meeting, we need to determine what the actionable items are and what the timetable for completion is. We also need to consider outside factors and should form an investigatory group to determine the effects of these factors on our project goal.
 
I think we should take this discussion off-line and handle it in sidebar. Once we manage expectations and develop timelines we can touch base on it later.
 
I was at an "all hands meeting" the other day and the guy speaking must have said "touch base" about 15 times. He kept saying things like "Once we get this implemented, we'll touch base with everyone about the specifics." Annoying. He slipped "bandwidth" in there a few times too for extra bonus points.
 
Originally posted by: AmpedSilence
Originally posted by: K1052
I think we should touch base on this rant later.

I'm making this a primary action item.

I agree, though maybe we should have a pre-meeting meeting to make sure that our ideas provide a synergy within the specific parameters. 😉

god, i hate corporate speak....

I'd like to pro-actively advance this strategic plan for a pre-meeting meeting in order to adequately future-proof this new paradigm.
 
ahhhh.
Let me "reach out to you" and say I feel your pain.
I love especially when offshore people "reach out to me" to me from thousands of miles away.
 
Originally posted by: skace
The scary thing is how these words and phrases sneak into your own vocab unconsciously.

That has to be the worst thing. I almost said "Let's touch base" to one of my friends the other day. I was ready to off myself after that...
 
Ah, someone else out there that understands my agony! I, too, am exceedingly weary of that phrase. Anybody who says it to me, I say back to them "ok, I'll check in with you..."
Go rebellious me.

I work in the mental health field, and I always thought the phrase came from a particular theroretical framework a lot of my colleagues use. Anyway, it doesn't matter, the phrase is overused.
 
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