5 ms·
I don’t know why, but I wish the author had done an sed s/scheme/concept Edit: to be clear, it’s a fine word choice. It just jumped out at me.
by dgfitz 2y ago
I don’t know why, but I wish the author had done an sed s/scheme/concept
Edit: to be clear, it’s a fine word choice. It just jumped out at me.
- dceddia 2y agoI felt the same. I took that as a bit of the author’s impostor syndrome showing through (perhaps feeling, even after all this time, that charging what he’s worth feels dishonest somehow).
- mstade 2y agoI agree. Scheme sounds like its some kind of evil plot, but truly it’s just a matter of mutual respect between the consultant and client, and – crucially – the consultant’s self respect. Poor word choice aside, the advice really is solid. I’ve been a consultant for nearly 20 years, the last 10 as an independent, and it took many years of screwing this up before coming to mostly the same conclusions.
- hn_version_0023 2y agoSchemes are inherently dishonest IMO. That’s the entire reason.
- hiatus 2y agoAt least in the UK people use it to describe things like pension plans. I don't think it's inherently unsavory.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- mrob 2y agoThe references to Land Rover and Doctor Who make me think the author is British. In British English, "scheme" does not usually have negative connotations.
- hn_version_0023 2y agoLooks like I’ve outed myself as a provincial rube! Fair point; thanks
- gausswho 2y agoMy understanding is this preference is a little known schism in Britishisms and American English. In American English, a scheme is an unscrupulous, nefarious plan villains make. Often accompanied with riotous laughter. In British English, it's more general. Like a plan, but with superficial consensus and often spreadsheets. Trees die, but people don't. You see this neutral usage in government discussion regularly. It also reminds me: Europeans speaking English often use 'simple' before they start demonstrating things. Often painfully non-obvious things. Really boxes my ears. If it was simple I wouldn't be asking for an explanation and now you're insulting me.
- alphabetter 2y agoExactly this. As a British English speaker that works a lot with the US it was an early learning. In British English a "scheme" has no negative connotations. It's commonly used in all kinds of legitimate places - for example the company you work at will have a "pension scheme". In U.S. English it has a connotation that it is nefarious in some way.
- sentientslug 2y agoYeah, this always throws me off. In American English I’d always use the word “program” instead.
- codersfocus 2y agoNeither concept nor plan are appropriate alternatives for scheme. Let's not argue with the inventors of the language on word choice.
- dgfitz 2y agoI have no desire to argue. I like understanding things and I was hopeful to understand why I felt the way I did when I read that sentence. I learned a lot! I’m really grateful that people-who-weren’t-you read my question impartially and contributed their experiences.