Do you get PCMCIA?

Buzzwords can tend to drive people crazy, and are becoming more common than less.  I'm not sure this is a good thing.

In my younger days, the word "buzz" referred either to that irritating sound that winged insects like cicadas used to make in your ears or, in ordinary conversation, to the latest gossip or scoop pertaining to a particular subject, most often, show business.

In more recent times, however, the word "buzz", while retaining a lot of its old meanings, has evolved into a more hip term among the younger generation the meaning of which is not really so clear but is so widely used that it can actually bombard your olfactory senses and drive you to tears if not totally up the wall. The modern and evolved term is "buzzword".

Take PCMCIA for example.  Despite what the computer industry wants me to believe I believe it should stand for People Can’t Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms

Although the computer industry is rife with this type of consumer "abuse", buzzword proliferation is widespread, and despite regular spraying to control it, appears to be expanding.

Take education for an example.  The new buzzwords are "career pathways," "education pipeline," "redesigning high schools," "smaller learning communities," and "cluster-based economic development strategies." Recycled buzzwords from prior years include "school-to-work," "workforce development system reform," "business-education partnerships," and "meaningful outcome measures."  Pardon me for seeming dense, but exactly what do these oft used terms actually mean?

While I'm ranting, have you had enough of hearing “Doing more with less,” “creating improved efficiencies,” “downsizing,” “right-sizing,” “trimming fat,” “curbing expenses,” and “streamlining processes” that are too common in todays workplace?

Do these phrases clarify communications, or simply reduce it to common "pop culture?"

When we're communicating, whether with our staff or new recruits, what words do we use?  Are these words descriptive enough to tell those around us what we expect, or do simply describe a "theme" that characterizes the sense of what we want to do?  (e.g. save the whales - while it's a catchy mantra, it lacks the important specifics like "how to" and "why are we doing this?")

I'd like your feedback whether I'm just oversensitive to the way we tend to communicate, or whether you see it as well.