damned by faint praise

[aclivity]

I've often heard, and used, the term "damned by faint praise"; yesterday I heard perhaps the best example of this ever:

Condoleeza Rice, she of oil-tanker fame, was described on the PM program on R4 as having taught GW "all he knows" about foreign policy.

Now then, I must get back to work - I'm trying to live up to my last performance review which said that my "quality of work is immeasurable".

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by aclivity

Now then, I must get back to work - I'm trying to live up to my last performance review which said that my "quality of work is immeasurable".

Are you sure you heard them right????? Was it not quantity they really said??

Chris

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by chrisch

Are you sure you heard them right????? Was it not quantity they really said??

Chris

it may have been, I probably wasn't listening.

Actually, my last performance review was at my last company and earlier this year they had to let me go. So perhaps it was the 'value' of my work that was so difficult to measure?

[Mr T.]

Andy,

is there no beginning to your talent?

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

Andy,

is there no beginning to your talent?

I can't green blob you, apparently, but have a virtual green blob on me.

There used to be a site - on Dilbert.com I think - that would generate performance reviews that were like this. In fact, there still is, and this is my review:

Performance Appraisal for Mr. Hill:
Mr. Hill has proven to be one of the company's larger investments and no one has caught him sleeping on the job. Mr. Hill does the kind of work you don't expect to see today. His performance defies measurement and it's tough for management to keep up with him. Additionally, Mr. Hill has name recognition throughout the divisions. Mr. Hill works behind the scenes. He has been responsible for the changes in our work group dynamics. Not surprisingly, he handles assignments with unlooked-for creativity. For completeness I should mention that Mr. Hill knows the value of office equipment.

http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/di...questions.html


I thought of another damning faint (or should that be feint? Pedants, help!) praise:
"Many wonder at the extent of his knowledge"