net-net

[Tom Zurinskas]

Shows how tone matters, reflecting attitude.  I think her net-net was gross-gross.  As if the public is supposed to know what it means.


Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL7+
see truespel.com phonetic spelling




>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Jonathan Lighter
> Subject: Re: net-net
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I didn't mean to imply that she was trying to obscure the facts, merely that
> her familiarity with the idiom "net-net" had impaired her ability to speak
> lucidly to the average voter - and even to the average news anchor.
>
> Whatever the accounting method actually employed at Hewlitt, the word
> "overall" would seem to suffice for non-accountants, unless a specialist
> explanation is required. (As, for example, if the general truth of the
> matter were in dispute.) But I'm still not certain that she was even using
> "net-net" in its literal sense.
>
> JL
>
> On Tue, Oct 12, 2010 at 11:47 AM, Baker, John wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender: American Dialect Society
> > Poster: "Baker, John"
> > Subject: Re: net-net
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > "Net net" actually does have a meaning. It is a valuation
> > technique in which current assets are netted to reflect uncertainties in
> > collection (e.g., inventories are valued at liquidation values), and
> > then liabilities are netted against assets.
> >
> > As described, however, HP's job creation number was merely a
> > "net" number, because there was only one netting process. There are at
> > least two possible explanations for Fiorina's use:
> >
> > 1. She is using a phrase that sounds impressive but
> > is meaningless in context (or, perhaps, sounds more impressive than is
> > really the case), for obfuscatory purposes. This, I take it, is Jon's
> > theory.
> >
> > 2. There actually was a calculation that reflected
> > two netting processes, but she does not remember what the other netting
> > process was or feels that she would be unable to describe it concisely.
> > Based on my experience with CEO spokespersons, this would be my guess.
> >
> > There is also something called a "net net net" (or "triple net")
> > lease, in which the lessee has to pay the net amounts of three types of
> > costs. I'm not aware of any quadruple nets, however.
> >
> >
> > John Baker
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> > Of Jonathan Lighter
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 9:42 AM
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > Subject: net-net
> >
> > CNN yesterday:
> > http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1010/11/sitroom.02.html
> >
> > "FIORINA: I managed Hewlett-Packard through the technology recession,
> > the
> > worst in 25 years, the dot-com bust. But, net-net, we created jobs.
> >
> > . . .
> >
> > "BLITZER: So, the 30,000 figures who were laid off during -- I guess the
> > dot-com bust, if you will, I guess that's true, even though you say you
> > created more jobs than you than you had -- were forced to lay off? Is
> > that
> > what you're saying?
> >
> > "FIORINA: Yes. Net-net, we created jobs.
> >
> > "BLITZER: What does that mean, net-net?
> >
> > "FIORINA: Well, it means there were more employees working for
> > Hewlett-Packard the day I left than the day I arrived."
> >
> > So it means "comparing the later net figure to the earlier." In other
> > words, "overall."
> >
> > A vital element overlooked in the transcript is the impatience in
> > Carly's
> > voice when she had to explain the meaning of "net-net" to a veteran
> > journalist. You mean it isn't obvious??
> >
> > Anyway, if you say "net-net," other *supposedly* intelligent people will
> > have to ask you what it means, and that puts you in the vital ascendant.
> > Gooooaaaaal!!!
> >
> > JL
> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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