Jun 10

The Myth of Collaboration, War and Results

col·lab·o·rate (kÉ™-lāb’É™-rāt’)

  1. To work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort.
  2. To cooperate treasonably, as with an enemy occupation force in one’s country.

There are two definitions of Collaboration. The newer, assumed, definition that harkens images of employees floating amongst cubicles, surreptitiously contributing to dozens of projects, never staying too long as to not waste time, but always helping out just enough to make a difference.

Then there is what your grandfather would think about if you mentioned the word collaboration to him. Citizens in an occupied territory helping the occupier to advance their own goals.

Gun-to-your-head collaboration is no fun for anyone.

What kind of “collaboration” do we really expect most of the time?

Comments

One Response to “The Myth of Collaboration, War and Results”

  1. ThomasPurves.com » The office as occupied territory, and three rules for collaboration on June 10th, 2007 8:28 pm

    [...] today had an entertaining riff on positive vs pejorative connotations of [...]

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