Perfect storm, not negative

[Brenda Lester]

I thought a "perfect storm" is a result of conditions, yes, coinciding to produce an ideal result, be it good or bad.


bl



--- On Sat, 5/17/08, Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM> wrote:

> From: Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
> Subject: Perfect storm, not negative
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Date: Saturday, May 17, 2008, 1:42 PM
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society
> <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
> Subject:      Perfect storm, not negative
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Benjamin Zimmer has the below two citations for
> "perfect storm"
> (http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0801A&L=ADS-L&P=R580&I=-3
> ):
>
> -----
> "Overused by the pundits on evening TV shows to mean
> just about any
> coincidence." – Lynn Allen, Warren, Michigan.
>
> "I read that 'Ontario is a perfect storm,' in
> reference to a report on
> pollution levels in the Great Lakes. Ontario is the name of
> one of the
> lakes and a Canadian province. This guy would have me
> believe it's a
> hurricane. It's time for 'perfect storm' to get
> rained out." – Bob
> Smith, DeWitt, Michigan.
> -----
>
> All the examples I see cited in ADS citations as well as
> the second
> one above use "perfect storm" to mean something
> bad.
>
> The AP carried a story today (written by Stevenson Jacobs)
> with a
> positive meaning
> (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004420598_upsbigbrown17.html
> ):
>
> -----
> "It's the perfect storm in that Big Brown has the
> right name and cast
> around him to not only promote the sponsor but the sport in
> general,"
> said Keith Chamblin, senior vice president of
> communications for the
> National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
> -----
>
> Simply a big coincidence. BB
>
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