General Mattis, save the U.S. military. Ban PowerPoint.

[rangerrebew]

General Mattis, save the U.S. military. Ban PowerPoint.
Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry
U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Shardesia Washington/Released
January 17, 2017
 
There are a lot of reasons to support the nomination of retired Marine Gen. James Mattis as secretary of defense. He's an enormously respected and talented general. He's a scholar and an impressively well-read man. He supports America's alliances and is clear-eyed about America's challenges, especially Russia and Iran. If anyone has the intelligence and backbone to curb some of Donald Trump's worst instincts, it's Mattis.

But there's another big reason why I want Mattis to get the job: He might be the only man with the legitimacy — and the guts — to take on the cancer eating away at the U.S. military.

What is this cancer? Is it over-reliance on outdated supercarriers and stealth fighters that aren't stealthy? No. Is it poor generalship and a culture of complacency, unaccountability, and uncritical thinking? Nope. It's worse. Much worse.

It's PowerPoint.

http://theweek.com/articles/673091/general-mattis-save-military-ban-powerpoint

[Wingnut]

I remember when PP started growing like a fungus in the corporate world. It feeds on itself. multiplies and infects every level. It got so bad the custodial staff was required to give powerpoint meetings to explain ways to save toilet paper.  I shit you not.   Time to kill the beast.

[Sanguine]

Oh, BS, General.  PP is merely a tool, and a very useful one at that.  It depends on how it's used as to whether or not it's effective.

[Oceander]

Oh, BS, General.  PP is merely a tool, and a very useful one at that.  It depends on how it's used as to whether or not it's effective.

I dunno.  The article points out that Amazon has done away with PowerPoint presentations and instead relies on short briefing memoranda. 

[Wingnut]

Oh, BS, General.  PP is merely a tool, and a very useful one at that.  It depends on how it's used as to whether or not it's effective.

It was my experience, that the only tools in a powerpoint presentation... were the people giving them.

[Sanguine]

It was my experience, that the only tools in a powerpoint presentation... were the people giving them.

 

[Wingnut]

It was like AV club geeks multipied! They Turned in the 16 mm movie projectors on roll carts, Reel-to-rell tape players and carousel slide projectors for laptops and usb cords.  Oh the humanity

[endicom]

Behind it all is...the communications panacea.

Communicate, communicate, communicate and look good without ever doing anything.

[Frank Cannon]

Oh, BS, General.  PP is merely a tool, and a very useful one at that.  It depends on how it's used as to whether or not it's effective.

PP is Satan and one of the reasons I went running away from Corporate America when I got the chance.

[Frank Cannon]

It was my experience, that the only tools in a powerpoint presentation... were the people giving them.

 

[dfwgator]

THE BALLAD OF THE POWER POINT RANGER

(sung to the tune of “The Green Beret”)


Requests are made from day to day;
Briefings held and changes made.
Graphic slides, a must they say,
Power Point is the only way.

Computers crash and printers stall,
Overloading protocol.
Network’s down and soldiers cry
Briefing’s late, so heads will fly.

Pin Power Point slides upon my chest,
Full color slides, they look the best
100 slides were made that day
but only 10 made the final display.

Smiles upon the General’s face
Slides were done, looked really great
Was up all night really working late,
Just to hear the General say ….

My soldier son, your slides were great,
Briefing’s done, staff’s up to date,
One problem son, you took too long,
So put in one more change, then go on home.

So tell my Mom I done my best,
Pin Power Point slides upon my chest
100 slides were made that day,
but only 10 made the final display