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An Item to be Shot Dead, Without Rites or Cigarette

I keep on my computer's desktop a running list of words and phrases deserving of ridicule and banishment, similar to this. I'll post them here on New Year's Day in case anyone needs help coming up with resolutions, but there is one phrase in particular that must be killed off sooner rather than later:

"Given the current economic climate . . . [insert some vague and open-ended comment, then close the sentence with a dramatic shrug] . . ."

Precisely what in the name of Festivus do you suppose that means? Anyone? Anyone at all?

Even if one could look past the verbal junk show that is "economic climate" (and that's a big if) there is still the word "given." The phrase does not refer to anything that is given about the current economy. "Given the current . . . " in this case is really a backhanded way to introduce a discussion about events that might happen in the future, as in, "given the credit freeze, legal markets could retract." Why attempt to gesture at profundity by asserting a "given" consensus on a subject no one completely understands? Why not just admit that the future is unpredictable but current signs do not auger well, and get on to the meat of the conversation, which is to speculate about the future?

I know this is a losing battle, but that doesn't mean I cannot formally register my protest. Thanks for listening. In the meantime, have a happy holiday. Given the current state of the economy, Christmas Day is an excellent opportunity to reflect upon what matters.

*dramatic shrug*

Full post as published by Nuts & Boalts on December 25, 2008 (boomark / email).