Workshop - a word that has lost it's true meaning

[dave50]

The word 'workshop' should only mean a place where things are manufactured or repaired like a garage or factory. When I hear it used to describe a place where people get together to do or discuss something totally pointless I cringe because I just know it will be something that involves wasting lots of public money.

[jake-the-peg]

Lot's of words lose their original meanings

The word "silly" for example originally meant Holy.

You might think that's what it "should" mean but sorry - nobody's in charge of what words mean!

Are you of the opinion that the only sort of work is manufacturing and repair?

If not why shouldn't other work also occur in a "workshop"

What's your opinion based on? Have you ever been to one of these "workshops"?

Generally they're either training sessions or meetings where people put their heads together to try to solve a problem.

Would they be less wasteful if they were called training?

[bednobs]

crumbs dave you really are a misery aren't you :).
Who made you in charge of what words should mean?

[baza]

first time attended a workshop i expected to be given overalls not a flipchart and a thick marker pen.

[emmie]

like seminar, or team building, ugh.

[jno]

that's the way metaphor and analogy work, and they're significant components in the development fo English. Middle managers "work" in their workshop just as much as carpenters do in theirs; both are carrying out their jobs.

[emmie]

jno, middle managers work, no, they let their underlings do that.

[jake-the-peg]

Remarkable how easy your bosses job looks until you have to do it.

Of course some people never get the chance to find that out!

[RATTER15]

"The word "silly" for example originally meant Holy."

Well thats not far off the truth now!

[jomifl]

I think the word 'silly' came from the German word 'selig' which now means blissful, I can see a sort of connection between 'holy' & 'bliss' but it's a bit tenuous.

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.etymonline.../index.php?term=silly


The word's considerable sense development moved from "blessed" to "pious," to "innocent" (c.1200), to "harmless," to "pitiable" (late 13c.), to "weak" (c.1300), to "feeble in mind, lacking in reason, foolish" (1570s).

[jomifl]

Now that makes complete sense Jake.,

[ChuckFickens]

This is my idea of a workshop...

http://i47.tinypic.com/2euim3n.jpg

[craft1948]

I've got a shed like that Chuck............

[Buenchico]

'Workshop' generally only involves a waste of money when it's used as a verb, as in "Let's get together and workshop this, guys".

[ChuckFickens]

You're not my Mother are you craft? that's my dads shed!

[weecalf]

often wondered why the mps are referred to as the honourable member for where ever .Wrong on both accounts.Are members not part of the body ?

[craft1948]

lol Chuck...............it was the shed left by the previous owner of my house. I don't know why he left it as it must have hundreds of pounds of gear in there. The builder greased it all up and covered it in 'stuff' to preserve it.............I must get around to flogging it off as after 5 years the guy can't be coming back for it.

[Buenchico]

>>>The builder greased it all up and covered it in 'stuff' to preserve it<<<

Well, it's OK if you're into that type of thing, I suppose ;-)

[craft1948]

That's how I've lasted this long Chris :-)

[askyourgran]

yeah I've heard about people going into ecstasies over a greasy tool.