Meetings Make You Dumber 207
Maximum Prophet writes "Robert Heinlein once said that the committee was the only life form in the universe with three or more bellies and no brain. MSNBC reports that his statement may have some statistical truth to it. Researchers are finding that meetings are actually bad places to be creative. You're not actually 'dumber' when you're in the meeting, just more likely to lose your creative edge. Studies have now shown that, as collaborative primates, the more often a possibility is mentioned the more likely the group is to go along with it. Individuals placed by themselves were more likely to come up with imaginative alternatives to products, for example."
Nice Timing (Score:3, Funny)
I can feel my brain atrophy.
hmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds like someone wrote this writeup while in a meeting...
The primary reason for this (Score:5, Funny)
The boss want's hoola-hoops with razors on the inside? then you better be a team player and commit 125% to that goal.
You think it's dangerous? not a team player, get out
You think there isn't a market? not a team player, get out
you mention that 100% is pretty much all someone can give without physically harming them selves? not a team player, get out
Forgot to clean the fridge?not a team player, get out
Certainly Explains Congress (Score:5, Funny)
Say.... (Score:3, Funny)
I just scanned this great article on MSNBC..Let's have the whole team meet at 4:30, I've got some ideas...
--The Boss
Re:hmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Not at all. The title is a very creative interpretation of the story.
Re:Meetings are not meant to be creative (Score:5, Funny)
"We" have decided to comment (Score:5, Funny)
The first action item will be to define what "creativity" actually is. This issue will be discussed at a CD meeting (Creativity Definition Meeting) tentatively scheduled for Monday at 9:45 am. Donuts and coffee will be served.
The results of the CD meeting will be compiled into a compelling Powerpoint presentation and displayed at our weekly Status Meeting on Wednesday at 4:30pm. Please note, we'll all be going out for drinks promptly following the meeting.
Thursday will consist of a full day of intensive focus groups, follow up discussions, and satellite meetings which will put a fine point on the issue of our supposed inability to generate new and compelling ideas. That full day of meetings will be compiled in a pink sheet for distribution to top management prior to our official Slashdot response.
Thank you.
Re:Nice Timing (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The primary reason for this (Score:1, Funny)
Q: What do these three things have in common:
1. hoola-hoops with razors on the inside
2. HMS Manchester
3. Hurricane
A: They are all naval destroyers.
Never fear! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Point of Article: Avoid Group Think (Score:2, Funny)
The point of the article wasn't that meetings are bad.
You must be a PHB, right?
Re:Meetings are not meant to be creative (Score:4, Funny)
At least, that's how it works in my school system.
Re:Meetings are not meant to be creative (Score:5, Funny)
Adventures of Action Item, Professional Superhero [fatalexception.org]
Meetings is where my productivity is highest (Score:3, Funny)
I even seem very active to the other participants, constantly taking notes on my laptop (as far as they know).
Ugghhh... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Meetings are not meant to be creative (Score:4, Funny)
Management talks that way, and it makes sence within it's context, learn it or whither.
Whither, indeed. Perhaps you might take the time to learn English.
long-time Slashdot quirk...editor's fault? (Score:3, Funny)
Title: "Learn The Language Of Math"
Text: "...from first principles. Metamath does not claim to teach you mathematics, just as..."
From Metamath (around that time) [archive.org]: "The choice of title for this story, "Learn The Language Of Math," was unfortunate and was the Slashdot editor's, not mine."
Some things never change...*tags story "confictingtitleandsummary"*.