The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 24: April/May 2016 | Page 29
IS IT ME?
IS IT ME?
John Davies is a senior corporate partner at leading commercial law
firm Thrings. In each edition of TBE John addresses a topical news or
business-related issue. In this issue John discusses the annoying rise of the
'Overliker'. Better? Worse? Your call.
So my previous musings about
whether or not we should
stay in Europe caused quite a
kerfuffle. Some of the song
titles you came up with were
superb although the various
suggestions did carbon date
some readers – the 70s and 80s
proved a very fertile era. Some
of you, however, need to get
out more.
Thrings
@ThringsLaw
www.thrings.com
This month I thought I’d write about
something a little more personal
which really gets my goat. I know I can
occasionally come across as a cantankerous
old man, but when did the word ‘like’
become so popular? It’s everywhere, as
though people have caught some kind of
nasty virus. People have become Overlikers.
On behalf of the grumpy crowd – please
stop!
There is no other word in the English
language which makes even the most
intelligent among us sound so daft. It’s
everywhere and it’s ridiculous. At least it is
to me.
“There is no word in the
English language which
makes even the most
intelligent among us
sound so daft”
read what those clever folk said and I was,
like, no way. And I told my friend and he
was, like, I know, right? And it was like
we were, like, of one mind. And I said I’m
going to, like, write about this because it’s,
like, getting on my nerves.
If you’re an Overliker do me a favour.
Read the last few sentences. Now read
them again out loud. You see? It sounds
ridiculous. Then again, I could be wrong
– perhaps you think that I’m being
ridiculous? If that’s the case then I’ll, like,
get back in my box.
Apparently language professors have
argued that it’s used as a modern day
sentence filler, in the way ‘um’ or ‘err’ is
often used. They’ve also claimed it’s a way
of demonstrating you’re part of a group.
Well, I’m no professor, but I am easily
annoyed and to me that sounds like (used
correctly) social anthropology gone mad. I
John Davies
e: [email protected]
t: 01793 412634
28 April 2016
Banks BHG Charity Quiz Night
To raise money for our chosen charity of the year Julia's House we will be
hosting our popular Charity Quiz Night at the Village Hotel Swindon.
Our Forthcoming Events
All our events are complimentary, open to all and are hosted at our offices
in Swindon.
12 April 2016
Friends of Auto Enrolment Meeting
During our next Friends of AE meeting, we are planning to run an 'Auto
Enrolment Surgery' for any local business owners to attend to get free
advice and help on AE.
Our drop-in surgery will run from 12pm to 1.30pm where you will be able
to obtain free expert advice from all who attend the meeting - HR
professionals, Employee Benefit specialists, AE Companies, IFA's, Pension
Providers, Payroll Software providers, and Payroll Professionals.
Julia’s House are in the process of building a new children’s hospice in
Devizes which will provide crucial respite care services to life-limited
children and their families - so please join us in raising money for this
worthwhile cause!
£5.00 per head; maximum of 4 people per team
To book your team, please contact [email protected] or call
01793 839977 and ask for Tracey.
11 May 2016
Open Networking Breakfast
Our popular breakfast networking events are designed to give you an
opportunity to meet and widen your own network of customers and
suppliers. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere with coffee, tea and bacon
rolls - it's a great start to the day!
For further details and to book your place please visit our website or contact Claire Hunt on 01793 839977
www.banksbhg.com
Professional
Successful
Efficient
Effective
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2016
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