Comments on: You Have Problems, Not Issues

By: Monica Tyne

Monica Tyne — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:38:48 +0000

Someone I respected once told me that language evolved to facilitate deceit and intrigue. Although I had “issues” with that at the time, my current perception is that the elephant in the living room is the norm rather than the exception.

By: languageandgrammar

languageandgrammar — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:49:10 +0000

Very interesting, thought-provoking answer–thanks for leaving the comment.

By: John Palocy

John Palocy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:24:27 +0000

I can’t stand the substitution of issue for problem. It makes me nauseous. I’m a musician, and I love slang, but there is nothing to love here. It has no soul……
In a visual culture, it seems that words are just so many shells to hide things under, or prods to force knee-jerk responses. How many college educated people have just accepted this usage? Perhaps this is some kind of a mind control experiment to determine how easy it is to eliminate meaning from language.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:23:15 +0000

When we say “issue” instead of “problem” we deny that there is a problem. The 1st step in problem solving is Recognition. Just one more example of PC (political correctness) contaminating our lives.

By: Robert Brown

Robert Brown — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:26:32 +0000

Then why don’t people ever say a situation is “issuematic” and “Let’s engage in some issue solving”?

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:42:07 +0000

Irregardless? Really? Fail.

By: languageandgrammar

languageandgrammar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:57:02 +0000

Thanks for making us laugh–that’s a classic misuse of the word issue, and if Ariann reads the blog, she might think twice before sending any more e-mail.

By: Rick Creager

Rick Creager — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:29:27 +0000

I pet peeve of mine!

(SEE BELOW)

FYI, Ariann.

There are political issues and there are legislative issues, but there is no such thing as a brake issue. When brakes don’t work properly you most definitely have a problem.



Rick

________________________________________
From: Ariann
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:55 AM
To: Rick;
Subject: Taurus out of commission

The Taurus is having issues with the brakes so please don’t plan on using it this week until we can get it looked at. I’ll let you know when it’s been fixed.

Thanks,

Ariann

By: Niall (Nik) Nicholson

Niall (Nik) Nicholson — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:37:50 +0000

Wow, I’m amazed there are only 3 other comments on this topic: I last Googled “issue not problem” months ago and found this site, but the lack of comments give me the feeling that the bad guys are winning…
It’s like we have to pretend it’s always ok all the time, all yin and no yang.
No surrender. Venceremos!

By: a brosista

a brosista — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:47:57 +0000

See Ken Smith’s Junk English 2001: “Issue”