PowerPoint and the Poddy Mouth

I signed up to be an audience member for a webconference. The presentation was a PowerPoint sales pitch for a fairly well known software product. I reckon there were about 30 of us listening on the phone while viewing the online PowerPoint presentation via WebEx.

I was rather taken aback when the saleswoman sprinkled mild profanity throughout her presentation. To her, it was no big deal. Now, the presenter wasn't upset about anything -- it was just part of her vernacular.

But her choice of language made me question how seriously and respectfully the company would treat me if I became a client.

And it wasn't that I was offended or shocked by her words -- believe me, I've heard far worse.

Rather, I made a connection between two thoughts:

1. It is highly unprofessional for a presenter who is looking to make a positive impression to use profanity to a general business audience.
   
2. Her language made me wonder about the wisdom of corporate management -- because profanity flowed so effortlessly from her lips, the company simply HAD to know that Ms. Poddy Mouth would spray her colorful comments all over new prospects, and make a less-than-stellar impression.

I didn't buy her product. I went with a competitor.

It's simply too risky to buy a product from a corporate culture that recklessly and needlessly risks offending its clients.

Now I'm not a prude. And yes, I use profanity myself.

But I save it for special occasions and audiences. A general business audience filled with people I don't know very well simply isn't one of those special occasions.

As the brilliant poet Ogden Nash wrote in his poem "Oh Shucks, Ma'am, I Mean Excuse Me"...

"...naughty words scream out like sirens
When uttered in the wrong environs."

To further quote Mr. Nash about cussing (from the same wonderful poem)

1. ...know when to leave the stuff alone.
2. ...circumstances alter cusses.

So tell me: under what business circumstances is it proper to use profanity?

Labels: Presentation

¶ 3/22/2006 11:19:00 AM