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Mark Shea explains the origin, meaning and use of the expression 'blamestorming'. Click below to listen:
Blamestorming
Brain storming is a method of creating ideas where a group of people sit down and make random suggestions, writing down everything that comes into their heads. The theory is that this should result in creative ideas, and lots of them.
Blame storming is quite similar, but more specific. Blame storming is a method of collectively finding someone to blame for a mistake that no one is willing to confess to. Blame storming is where a group or organisation gets together to pick out a suitable excuse or scapegoat. You might say that after a good blame storming session, the government decided to blame the current problems with the economy on factors beyond their control/the global recession/the previous government etc.
Companies often indulge in blame storming; so do families. But politicians are the real blame storming champions!
About Mark Shea
Mark Shea has been a teacher and teacher trainer for eighteen years. He has taught English and trained teachers extensively in Asia and South America, and is a qualified examiner for the University of Cambridge oral examinations. He is currently working with journalists at the World Service and is the author of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ College of Journalism's online English tutor.
