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Council bans brainstorming (Word is deemed offensive to epileptics; hundreds of staff retrained)
The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | June 20, 2008 | Nick Allen

Posted on 06/20/2008 7:01:36 AM PDT by Stoat

Council bans brainstorming

By Nick Allen
Last Updated: 2:06PM BST 20/06/2008
 

A council has banned the term "brainstorming" and replaced it with "thought showers".

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent was accused of taking political correctness to extremes after instructing staff to make the change.

The move came as council chiefs feared the word brainstorming might offend mentally ill people and those with epilepsy.

The buzz term is often used by executives to generate ideas among their staff.

But memos have been sent to staff asking them not to use it and some have been given training which encouraged them to use the alternative of thought showers.

Even charities representing epileptics said the ban was taking political correctness too far.

Margaret Thomas, of the National Society for Epilepsy, said: "Brainstorming is a clear and descriptive phrase.

"Alternatives such as thought shower or blue-sky thinking are ambiguous to say the least.

"Any implication that the word brainstorming is offensive to epileptics takes political correctness too far."

Richard Colwill, of mental health charity SANE, said: "This ban goes too far. Few would be genuinely offended by the word brainstorming in the context of council meetings."

A spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent said: "We take diversity awareness very seriously.


(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: brainstorm; brainstorming; diversity; diversityawareness; epilepsy; hypersensitivity; language; mentalillness; pc; politicalcorrectness; tard; thoughtshowers; workplace
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Also:

Council bans term 'brainstorming' for 'thought showers' for fear of offending epileptics Mail Online

Instead the council have sent hundreds of staff on training courses to teach them to adopt a new phrase - 'thought showers'.

Let's meet in my office...for a thought showering session KentOnline News

But the National Society for Epilepsy says it is "political correctness gone too far".

A spokesman for the charity said: "It's not offensive. It is a term we use as a charity in our working environment.

**************************************************

If you would enjoy contacting the Turnbridge Wells Borough Council and speaking with them about this, you may do so here:

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council - Complaints & Suggestions

You can fill in the on-line complaint form or you can make a complaint or comment in the following ways:
  • in person at the Town Hall or Weald Information Centre, Cranbrook 
  • in writing to:
    Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
    Town Hall
    Royal Tunbridge Wells
    Kent TN1 1RS
  • by using a complaint form (available from the Reception at the Town Hall, The Weald Information Centre, Cranbrook and other Council contact points)
  • by completing a
  • by e-mail to comments@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
  • by telephone to the Town Hall 01892 526121
  • by freephone 0800 032 3222
  • by textphone 01892 545449
  • by fax 01892 534227

1 posted on 06/20/2008 7:01:38 AM PDT by Stoat
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To: Stoat

Come on. That has to be Scrappleface.


2 posted on 06/20/2008 7:02:55 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (When the rapture comes, can I have your stuff?)
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To: Stoat

Is there anyone out there with the “falling sickness” who could weigh in?

Do epileptics actually use the phrase “brainstorm” in connection with their condition?


3 posted on 06/20/2008 7:03:35 AM PDT by sinanju
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To: Stoat

I’m sorry. That sounds too much like “golden showers”. I am offended. You cannot say that. Go back to the retraining centers, you troglodytes.


4 posted on 06/20/2008 7:05:22 AM PDT by Free State Four
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To: TangoLimaSierra

That was my thought surely if I click on that link it goes to The Onion?


5 posted on 06/20/2008 7:05:39 AM PDT by JLS
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Stoat

It has to be true, cause no one could make this crap up.


7 posted on 06/20/2008 7:07:21 AM PDT by Big Mack (I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain TO EAT VEGETABLES!)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Stoat

I won’t “LOL” because I might offend a mute (or someone without a mouth).


9 posted on 06/20/2008 7:08:52 AM PDT by M203M4 (True Universal Suffrage: Pets of dead illegal-immigrant felons voting Democrat (twice))
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To: struggle
ALSO DEEMED OFFENSIVE

10 posted on 06/20/2008 7:09:12 AM PDT by struggle ((The struggle continues))
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To: sinanju

Do epileptics actually use the phrase “brainstorm” in connection with their condition?

AND if they do, it’s time for them to pick a new term instead of forcing everyone else to march to their tune/drummer.

Thats what all these ‘offended groups’ should do - get over it or change their lexicon.

And everyone else should stop knee jerking to the ‘sensitivities’ of the hand-wringing, bed wetting crowd.


11 posted on 06/20/2008 7:12:27 AM PDT by Let's Roll (As usual, following a shooting spree, libs want to take guns away from those who DIDN'T do it.)
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To: Stoat
I wonder how they came up with the name “thought showers”... hmmmm.. maybe a brainstorming session?
12 posted on 06/20/2008 7:12:48 AM PDT by mnehring
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To: Stoat

This is satire.

Isn’t it?


13 posted on 06/20/2008 7:13:01 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: Stoat

If they come up with what they think is a good idea during a Thought Shower, they can call it a Golden Shower.


14 posted on 06/20/2008 7:13:23 AM PDT by Deaf Smith
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To: struggle

“My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading in to a water fall of creative alternatives.”


15 posted on 06/20/2008 7:13:26 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Slings and Arrows; martin_fierro

You just can’t make this stuff up :-)


16 posted on 06/20/2008 7:13:44 AM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

While I have no trouble with the word “storming” the word “brain” and “thought” both suggest that someone was thinking. For use of the Council I propose a term that better scribbles their process of not thinking. “Muddle Puddle”


17 posted on 06/20/2008 7:14:20 AM PDT by ThomasThomas ( Tagline: (optional, printed after your name on post):)
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To: Stoat

Insane.


18 posted on 06/20/2008 7:14:52 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (This tagline is completely naked - STOP STARING!)
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To: Stoat

More like thought sprinkles ... or maybe a thought drip.


19 posted on 06/20/2008 7:15:07 AM PDT by coloradan (The US is becoming a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
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To: BenLurkin; All
This is satire.

Isn’t it?

If it is, then several major UK press organs are conspiring on this, including the UK Telegraph....and the story is only a few hours old.  :-)

Council bans term 'brainstorming' for 'thought showers' for fear of offending epileptics Mail Online

Charities reject council's 'over-cautious' ban on 'brainstorming' phrase » Communities » 24dash.com

Let's meet in my office...for a thought showering session KentOnline News

20 posted on 06/20/2008 7:17:50 AM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2012: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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