Tips, tips, tips, tips, and more @$%^ tips

Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 5:41 pm by Wally

Is it me?

Am I going mad, have I just noticed, has it been going on forever?

I’ve just started to notice a vast number of TIPS.

TIPS on how to save money.

TIPS on how to use your time more wisely.

TIPS on better healthy living.

Blah blah blah.

The trend to tips
Gives me the shits
Cos the trouble with tips
Is there’s not time for thinks.

And that about sums it up really. TIPS. The things you have when you don’t want to think something through or take some time for reflection. Gimme some TIPS. Preferably in bullet point form. Keep it short. Use Readers Digest words. Give it me now. And then piss off.

Erk. A world full of no thinking and a bucket of tips. Yuk.  Bring back time for reflection, thinking, and the occasional hint. Tips suck.

8 Comments

…what about dot points?

Or tips listed as dot points?

Or dot points listed as tips?

Comment by Kath Lockett | October 11th, 2009 7:29 pm | Permalink

Just as long as it’s not tips that involve inflating a restaurant bill by 10-20%.

Comment by Mark B | October 12th, 2009 5:49 am | Permalink

Here’s a tip. Find a way to laugh at what stresses you. Benefits may not be immediately apparent, but the next time you’re in the same situation you may be a little less stressed by it.

Comment by river | October 12th, 2009 5:30 pm | Permalink

Arrgghhh!!

Comment by Wally | October 12th, 2009 5:52 pm | Permalink

I believe that “tips” are the refuge of the overwhelmed. If someone is feeling like they can’t marshall the resources and information to deal with a problem and someone gives them a shortcut, however bogus then they consider it to be a “tip” worth sharing. In the book 1984 they espoused the idea of “duckspeaking” where you quack like a duck to simulate actually saying something without the annoying bother of actually thinking of something to say. Whenever you see those dreaded words “tip” or “tips” substitute “duckspeak” and the humorous effect will dissipate the apoplexy that rises in your brain.

Comment by Jack | October 12th, 2009 6:58 pm | Permalink

I love your suggestion, Jack – can either you or Wally give me advice (write to kathl [at] tpg [dot] com [dot] au) on how to avoid such ‘tips’ or useless buzzwords in a work situation?

Comment by Kath Lockett | October 13th, 2009 8:23 am | Permalink

Kath, you realise posting an email address like that gives it away to spammers…

Comment by Mark B | October 13th, 2009 8:54 am | Permalink

lol…how does this post make me feel about my own recent article labelled “15 Tips on paying off your mortgage faster”

there’s something elusively tantallising about the word ‘tips’ …it’s like the lure of those get-rich-quick-schemes where ppl want to be Donald Trump or Bill Gates tomorrow but they don’t want to put any effort into anything.

i’ve noticed a proliferation of the usage of ‘tips’ since the GFC started. i myself actually like ‘tips’ sometimes because if someone doesn’t write well, then it’s an epic event trying to find the whole point of their article/advice. if they write well, then it’s much better to read a well written piece.

Comment by Laks | October 23rd, 2009 9:40 am | Permalink

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