Can We Defeat Jargon?

It's a tall task. Jargon is so prevalent in our society and we are all so accustomed to hearing or reading things that make us scratch our heads. In fact, we hear or read things every day that we KNOW are not true, or stretch the truth, or purposefully deceive us. Yet, most of us just carry on and chalk it up to "Whatever!" Realistically, most jargon does not affect us personally. It's more annoying than anything.

But what if deceptive language does affect us personally? In my case, when the company were I worked shut down our plant, putting more than 100 people out of work, we were given the typical BS explanation from the corporate playbook. Is there anything we could have done about it? No. Would we have felt better if they just told us straight up why and showed a little sympathy? Maybe.

What can you do when jargon does affect you personally? It depends on the situation.

If you are in a personal situation, and someone says something suspect, call Bullshit! It doesn't have to be confrontational. Just ask questions. If someone says to you "Our ERP system went down today, and we couldn't reconcile our inventory," the best question to ask is "What Do You Mean?" Get clarification. Have a dialog. They may be using jargon that is relevant to their occupation and is understood in their circles, but is unclear to you. They should be able to explain it to you and you can move on. BUT, if they are using jargon that they are just regurgitating from what they have heard, and cannot explain it to you, there's the problem. "Well, that laptop is just Russian disinformation!" "Okay, what proof do you have?" If they are just spewing buzzwords and talking points, with no personal connection, you will never agree, and it's best to change the subject, agree to disagree, or most drastic, distance yourself. Don't fall prey to language that tries to dissuade you from what you know is the truth!

What can you do about jargon that you know is Bullshit, such as Political, Corporate, Academia, Medicine and Pharmaceuticals, Social Media, Entertainment, or any other facet of society?

Boycotts? That's probably the most drastic measure, but if enough people participate, large boycotts can actually affect change. We have seen boycotts actually force organizations to change how they do business, realizing that if something is affecting the bottom line, something better change. Probably the most recent and infamous is the Bud Light fiasco, with the marketing featuring Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender personality. It backfired abruptly, insulting the company's key demographic - the All-American male. What about a Personal Boycott? Change the channel. Don't shop certain places. Don't buy certain things. Take a stand on your beliefs. Often, a personal boycott can lead to larger change.

Let me say - not all jargon is deceptive, or has bad intentions. Just because language may sound incomprehensible doesn't mean it's untrue or deceptive. It's just that, somewhere through time, people have decided that making sometimes uncomfortable language more "palatable" is better. Is it? If we have grown so soft as a society that we can't "handle the truth," where do we go from here?

Ask questions. Challenge the status quo. Take everything you hear or read with a grain of salt. Do your own research. Make a conscious effort to make your life easier. Do what you can to change the narrative and get others on board.

Let's start a revolution! Small changes can lead to a more honest society. Together, we can slowly Kill Jargon!