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[MSE Lawrence]

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'Sir Alan you're 110% right!' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

[aris]

Hey, if my amp can go to 11, then I can give 110% too :-)

[Jennifer_Jane]

Yep! It annoys me too - and I applauded Sir Alan when I saw this on TV.

Jen
x

[Hezzawithkids]

Can "SR'ALAN" please now wage war on all the other pointless posturing on this show? The only good thing about this programme is the "Your Fired" programme on BBC 2 afterwards where Adrian Childs pokes fun at the contestants and their pomposity. If these are supposed to be the brightest business minds in our country then I truly fear for the future ....

[Richard019]

Not entirely true though, it is possible as this email I received shows. (and I apologise in advance if the language is too far for the forum)

What makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If A=1, B=2 etc through to Z=26

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

and:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

but:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

and:

B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%

AND, look how far !!! kissing will take you:

A-S-S K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that while hard work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, it’s the bs and asskissing that will put you over the top.

[RedBooties]

I too was very pleased to hear Siralan say that. Memory hazy but I believe what he actually said was more in line with "We only want 100% here. Frankly you've just done yourself out of 10%." I applaud the sugar man.

[Sievers]

I get really irritated when my bank play the 110% trick as well.

They have questionnaires in which you grade quality of service as "satisfactory", "very satisfactory", "quite satisfactory", etc.

You can't have degrees of satisfactory!

Either something is satisfactory or it isn't.

Sievers

[prowla]

Originally Posted by aris

Hey, if my amp can go to 11, then I can give 110% too :-)

Out halogen hob goes up to 11!

[RedBooties]

Originally Posted by Sievers

"satisfactory", "very satisfactory", "quite satisfactory", etc.
You can't have degrees of satisfactory!

That's a very good point. I was quite satisfied by your post. Thank you.

[Crabman]

I came across this article earlier - seems Torvill and Dean started it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8020340.stm

[SunnySusie]

110% impossible? Well next time you get an extra 10% or more when buying something then I'll have the extra 10% that can't exist!

But more seriously, isn't this just a phrase that is now part of our language. Or next time I say it's raining cats and dogs will you point out that that is impossible too. I find pedantry more annoying than incorrect use of language. No one likes a know it all .

Besides we live in a descriptivist world, thankfully those who take the prescribed approach are destined to lose no matter how much it annoys them !

[MothballsWallet]

I wish I had a Spinal Tap amplifier for my speaker system - it would go up to 11!

[danellis]

I don't know why people claim that you can't have more than 100% of something. The expression isn't wrong, it's just lacking information that would make it meaningful. Percentages are *of* something. To give 110% effort, you have to give 110% *of* some other effort. For example, you could be saying you'll give 110% of the expected effort, or the average effort, or the required effort.

So, yes, it's trite, but the correct response is, "110% of what?"

[Joe65]

Yeah, but it's not half as annoying as that other widely abused figure of speech '99.99%' , as in:- "Kills 99.99% of all known germs", Yeah right .

[socrates]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxi6QDwQyLU

I think this says it all Sir Alan!