Matt Lichtenwalner

Mobile mapper for Ushr - roaming the US and Canada constantly. Maybe a bit of art and/or writing here and there to spice things up.

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Grumpy Old Man Part 8943890349823897 Matt Lichtenwalner 6/7 '23

I think we should ban the use of the phrase "game changer" and related buzz words.

If I hear one more YouTuber talk about how this shade of yellow is a TOTAL GAME CHANGER or how the nuance of this tiny adjustment to something someone else has been doing for years "totally changes everything" I'm going to have to crush someone under my foot, and since I am not in the presence of said YouTuber - because, YouTube - that means some poor schlub is going to receive a significant dose of violence not meant for them.

I think that it would be perfectly reasonable, for example, to laugh out loud and point directly at the next person you hear say "this is a game changer". And keep laughing until they leave the room or start crying.

It's obnoxious, and it's one of those things that isn't going to change because no one will do something like what I described above.

Harumph, and get off my lawn!*

[editor's note: On the off chance that you're reading this and don't know me IRL, let me be clear: I am NOT actually advocating for violence or even actual shaming someone. I'm just being grumpy and venting about something I find utterly ridiculous and annoying.]

*That shouldn't really be a problem because I don't have a lawn. 😜

Whoa. Check that out - emoticons italicize?!

Yes. There are actually things that are game changers. Due to the fact that they actually change things significantly, they happen super rarely.

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6/7 '23 7 Comments
Of course, if someone just grabbed all the components to a board game I was playing and replaced them with some other game, I might be inclined to violence [okay, sternly worded confusion] rather than just conceding their accurate fulfilment of the phrase.
nerdsholmferret
#fair
Matt Lichtenwalner
I wholeheartedly agree. Say what you mean, don’t use buzzwords.
Lindsay Harris Friel
I honestly think it’s a kind of laziness. I don’t think that they are consciously thinking “I’ll say ‘game changer’ because that’s impactful.” I think it’s more a subconscious ‘herd mentality’ thing.

And THAT is really what’s at the core of my irritation. I dislike the “I’m just one of the Many.”

Please, people. Be weird. Let your freak flag fly. Be yourself.
Matt Lichtenwalner
When a word or phrase is overused, it becomes meaningless. Business buzzwords annoy me because they fill air without conveying useful information. The company I work for wants us to "build our own brand" internally (it's a huge company). WTF does that mean? Insta my outfits?

Two of my "brands" are Lucky Brand jeans and Trident gum so ... I am a good day for Poseidon. Neptune if you're derivative.

Buzzwords can buzz off!

[and if you are thinking of Chris Tucker as Ruby Rod in the 5th Element, that's about right ...]
Shelle Klein Houser
Absolutely.

I'm also thinking of our own Chris and his efforts a while back to replace the word 'literally' (in its legitimate usage) with the word 'figuratively' - just to fuck with people and make a point of how ridiculous the current usage of 'literally' in the vernacular du jour is.

I kinda want to go back to that.

And maybe do something similar with all these business buzz terms.
Matt Lichtenwalner
I'm literally, epically laughing my ass off right now. 😘
Shannie
 

Harumph! (a PSA) Matt Lichtenwalner 2/13 '22

Okay, this is perhaps me being a little grumpy, but here's the thing: physics is a real thing.

When you are trying to get somewhere - especially a small somewhere like an elevator or the entryway to a restaurant - and you encounter an *ahem* non-petite individual like myself? Let us out before you try to squeeze your narrow ass in.

I've encountered this my entire life, and I find it absolutely maddening.

On more than one occasion, it has taken everything I had to not loudly proclaim "If you would let my fat ass out instead of cramming your way in, there will be more room for you inside!"

It seems SO obvious to me.

(For the record - yes, I realize people are caught up in their own worlds / issues and they clearly aren't thinking about the physical spaces around them. They're 'focused on something else'. I don't care. This makes me... angry. And you don't want non-petite people angry, I promise.)

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2/13 '22 8 Comments
We have exactly this problem everywhere we go. Solidarity.
Lindsay Harris Friel
Matt Lichtenwalner
I find this so unsettlingly rude when people do this! I have had my child on my front in a front pack - further increasing my size - and had people try to squeeze in past us as we unloaded. Her Majesty, in particular, was a kicker. She would swing out and thunk anyone who got close with those sparkly little size 2's.

Not my proudest moment, but it was privately a little satisfying.

DaylightKatie
I have to confess - that brought me some serious joy just picturing it.
Matt Lichtenwalner
I'm trying to avoid writing The Longest Possible Angry Rant about this topic.
When Ted and I go through doors and other narrow, crowded spaces, I tend to say, a little bit too loudly, "Ted, you have to let other people go out before you can go in," in the hopes that people will get the hint and get out of the way. ted will just barrel on through and plow right over people. And, people get in his way and expect him to stop for them, because, you know, big guy. he doesn't know how big he is.

When the world finally ends, the inciting incident will be a misunderstanding in the vestibule of a Wawa during morning rush hour.
Lindsay Harris Friel
Oh, I do love me some quality passive aggressiveness when used for the forces of Good!
Matt Lichtenwalner
Houser has no empathy for this rant, of course.
Shelle Klein Houser
None whatsoever, I’m sure.
Matt Lichtenwalner