Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Shitstorm
English translation:
online firestorm
Added to glossary by
Louise Mawbey
Mar 3, 2021 14:00
3 yrs ago
74 viewers *
German term
Shitstorm
German to English
Bus/Financial
Media / Multimedia
Social media
I'm translating a corporate social media policy. The German text uses the word Shitstorm. They monitor social media channels carefully to fend off "Shitstorms".
I don't think it is appropriate to use the word shitstorm in a corporate document in English - the tone does not seem right. Cambridge online dictionary describes it as "offensive very informal" and lots of eyebrows were raised in the UK/USA when Angela Merkel used it. What do others think? And what would be a better way to phrase it?
I don't think it is appropriate to use the word shitstorm in a corporate document in English - the tone does not seem right. Cambridge online dictionary describes it as "offensive very informal" and lots of eyebrows were raised in the UK/USA when Angela Merkel used it. What do others think? And what would be a better way to phrase it?
Proposed translations
(English)
2 +3 | online firestorm | Adrian MM. |
3 +4 | online backlash | Sarah Bessioud |
4 +1 | provoke a surge of indignation // unleash a storm of disagreement | Barbara Schmidt, M.A. (X) |
4 +1 | [a storm of] [social] opprobrium | Lancashireman |
4 +1 | social media firestorm | Cillie Swart |
3 +1 | (public relations) disaster | Brent Sørensen |
3 +1 | complete communication fiasco/PR debacle | Andreea Sepi, MCIL (X) |
3 +1 | viral outrage | Eric Zink |
3 | malicious attacks / malicious content | Peter Ward |
Change log
Mar 5, 2021 08:12: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Bus/Financial"
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Selected
online firestorm
Congrats to the asker for picking up on the Angela Merkel usage.
Example sentence:
"So, its meaning corresponds to the English 'online firestorm,' and it does not have the vulgar meaning and associations that 'shitstorm' has in English," Melanie Kunkel, an editor at Duden, told CNN.
Reference:
http://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/06/europe/angela-merkel-shitstorm-scli-intl-grm/index.html
Peer comment(s):
agree |
philgoddard
: Maybe shitstorm is a bit strong...
7 mins
|
Thanks, Phil. You may well be right, but - 'centrifugally' speaking when it hits the fan - it's two words and not one..
|
|
agree |
Eleanore Strauss
: this is pretty close.. my second choice
3 hrs
|
Thanks, Eleanore. Methinks the Duden 'editress' ought to take the credit as it's her English turn of phrase, even if tactical voters go for another answer.
|
|
agree |
thefastshow
: (Not sure if a reference to operation Gomorrha is neccessarily better than a shitstorm, but hey, shall the Allies have it their way here. ;))) // Ha,ha my parents and grandparents were bombed out.. it s vital to misbehave at times.I m in for a pint though
19 hrs
|
Thanks and Danke, the fast show > three words and not one - and, no, the Allies haven't always had it *all* their own way in Angela M's place of birth of Hamburg or Mönchengladbach: 'Dear British soldiers. You can enter this pub if you behave yourselves'.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks. There were lots of good answers but I think this is the best match of all"
+1
6 mins
(public relations) disaster
Handle a crisis promptly and professionally, you can fend off a public relations disaster and might even gain new customers.
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3196122/8-ways-to-manage-a...
+1
7 mins
provoke a surge of indignation // unleash a storm of disagreement
would be my suggestion
or of
unleash a storm
or of
unleash a storm
+1
9 mins
complete communication fiasco/PR debacle
just an idea
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Brent Sørensen
37 mins
|
Thanks, Brent!
|
|
neutral |
Eleanore Strauss
: not really... a communications (the word should be plural) fiasco could be anything
4 hrs
|
12 mins
malicious attacks / malicious content
Plenty of malicious stuff on social media (unfortunately)
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Petrus Maritz
: fend off....
18 mins
|
disagree |
philgoddard
: There are lots of possible answers here, but this is not one. A shitstorm is when things go wrong, and the attacks might be perfectly justified.
27 mins
|
neutral |
Eleanore Strauss
: This is not about malicious attacks. And btw, Phil, attacks on social media are NEVER justified.
4 hrs
|
+1
17 mins
viral outrage
As I understand it, a "Shitstorm" has two components: people are angry, and that anger is widespread.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Michael Martin, MA
: Exactly: "In many cases, the social media posts that are met with viral outrage were never intended to be seen by people outside of the poster’s social circle. Someone doesn’t even need to be on social media in order for their actions to go viral.”
55 mins
|
+4
35 mins
online backlash
I would use 'online backlash' in a corporate social media policy, although in other contexts, I may be inclined to keep the shitstorm, as Phil suggests.
Backlash puts over the idea of an 'attack' well, I feel. There are plenty examples of this expression online:
https://www.newsweek.com/kayleigh-mcenany-faces-online-backl...
Kayleigh McEnany Faces Online Backlash for Mocking Biden's 'Love Kids Better than People' Remark
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/10/chinese-writer...
Chinese writer faces online backlash over Wuhan lockdown diary
https://www.rlyl.com/de/brand-management-social-media-3/
Brand management: avoiding an online backlash
Backlash puts over the idea of an 'attack' well, I feel. There are plenty examples of this expression online:
https://www.newsweek.com/kayleigh-mcenany-faces-online-backl...
Kayleigh McEnany Faces Online Backlash for Mocking Biden's 'Love Kids Better than People' Remark
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/10/chinese-writer...
Chinese writer faces online backlash over Wuhan lockdown diary
https://www.rlyl.com/de/brand-management-social-media-3/
Brand management: avoiding an online backlash
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Lancashireman
2 mins
|
agree |
Eleanore Strauss
: imo this is the best solution and covers it nicely
4 hrs
|
agree |
writeaway
22 hrs
|
agree |
Melanie Meyer
1 day 1 hr
|
+1
32 mins
[a storm of] [social] opprobrium
97 examples here: https://www.google.com/search?q="a storm of opprobrium"&oq="...
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/opprobri...
OR "sh*tstorms"
If quoting direct from a senior executive. The use of quote marks (single or double according to preference) and asterisk absolves the author of profanity.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2021-03-03 19:02:21 GMT)
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If the policy extends beyond [online] social media, you might like to consider negative headlines.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/opprobri...
OR "sh*tstorms"
If quoting direct from a senior executive. The use of quote marks (single or double according to preference) and asterisk absolves the author of profanity.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2021-03-03 19:02:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
If the policy extends beyond [online] social media, you might like to consider negative headlines.
+1
19 hrs
social media firestorm
This seems to be the common English term for this. The key words are vast and abnormal. "A Social Media Firestorm is a process, in which users adapt or initiate the behavior of storming and occupying an official social media profile. The attacked social media profile is official, virtual property of a specific person, organization or brand. The firestormers occupy the social media profile due to a perceived performance or value related failure. During the time of the social media firestorm, the attacked profile is overrun with a vast and abnormal number of criticizing and aggressive comments. The number of comments can be considered to be vast, if it overshoots a certain natural level, which is usually realized on the social media profile. With the numerous postings, the users seek to scrutinize, criticize and controversially discuss the behavior of the target. Additionally, they want to build up pressure by publicizing the failure and negatively influencing the targets’ image.
Discussion
https://bis.lexisnexis.co.uk/blog/categories/media-intellige...
so I would just remove the offending part of the word! 'Social media crisis' or 'backlash' also work but I think 'storm' is good because it doesn't attribute blame to any party, it is just something (like any change in the weather) that companies have to prepare for.
What about 'putting out fires'?