Interesting concept. Any references (essays/vids) you can recommend?
On 28 March 2013 09:50, Jason Smith <j...@iriscouch.com> wrote: > On Wed, Mar 27, 2013 at 8:54 PM, ASF IRC Services < > asf...@wilderness.apache.org> wrote: > > > 3. 1.2.2 > > a. someone explain xylophone (Wohali, 3) > > b. ship 1.2.2 (jan____, 3) > > > > "Xylophone" is single word, a compression, of a complex, subtle idea. > > The goal of xylophone is to return immediately to the original conversation > without any social stigma or discomfort. > > "Xylophone" means, "With respect, this conversation has reached diminishing > returns. While I acknowledge its importance, I propose that we table it and > pop the conversation stack, back to the more urgent issue." > > The key to xylophone is, nobody loses face. Nobody is accusing anybody of > any wrongdoing, of wasting time, of being unprofessional. Nothing like > that. An individual may utter the word, but xylophone is a mantra the group > tells itself. Nobody is keeping score. > > When somebody invokes "xylophone," proper etiquette is to **immediately** > halt the conversation--mid sentence even--and return back to the main > discussion. Remember, xylophone is not an accusation. There is no shame in > being xylophoned. (Carrying on the less-urgent discussion, > however--**that** is shameful.) > > There are regional dialects. People in the San Francisco Bay Area say > "Styrofoam." > > -- > Iris Couch > -- NS
