Editorial: Exciting Debacles

Abstract

We all inhabit a world in danger of being submerged in hyperbole, as well as in water. "Obscenity of cricket tour" shrieks a headline in the Dominion Post for July 8; "Baloney" is the retort coming from the normally mild-mannered mouth of the Leader of the Opposition, in response to a comment from a government minister; a breakdown in the Police communication system, leading to major delays in the 111 emergency dialup, becomes a "botchup"; and a post-mortem on the failure of the joint bid with Australia for the 2003 Rugby World Cup classifies it as a "debacle". However, not all hype is negative. We are now confronted with a raft of "exciting" developments: investments in the sharemarket present "exciting" prospects for the creation of financial wealth; takeovers of large companies provide "exciting" challenges; job advertisements allure us with "exciting" opportunities; an urban housing subdivision presents "exciting" possibilities; we live in "exciting" times.