Tuesday, 8 March 2011

The responsible pharmacist

In the pharmacy department of our local Boots there is always a printed notice telling us that "The reponsible pharmacist today is (name)". Which begs the obvious question: who is the irresponsible pharmacist today, and what is s/he doing? Is she partying in the back, high on morphine? Running giggling down the high street wearing her knickers on her head? Using the Boots telephone to chat to her relatives in Australia?

By moving one word - "responsible" - and placing it after "pharmacist" the meaning would be clear and unambiguous (but, let's face it, not nearly as entertaining).

PS Not worthy of a post on its own, but I've just read this lovely quotation:
"Culture is describing Jane Russell without using your hands".
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11 comments:

  1. Rosemary Gemmell8 March 2011 at 16:42

    Great example of how to distort the meaning of a sentence - loved your imaginary scenarios!

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  2. Patsy8 March 2011 at 19:11

    Oh no! I'm sure the pharmacist I use doesn't have one of those signs - will have to keep a close eye on the irresponsible staff and see what they get up to.

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  3. Alis8 March 2011 at 21:42

    A pharmacist running amok with knickers on her head... what an excellent image!

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  4. Keith Havers9 March 2011 at 07:49

    Love the quote at the end. I'm going to make a note of that.
    I've always thought of culture as listening to The William Tell Overture without thinking of The Lone Ranger.

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  5. Judy Croome | @judy_croome9 March 2011 at 07:49

    Hahaha! That gave me a good laugh! And, of course, is a succint example of the inmportance of clarity in writing! :)
    Judy (South Africa)

    PS Lucas is very cute! (and I love his name!)
    PPS Well done on the blog award!

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  6. Tim Stretton9 March 2011 at 08:45

    I'm not sure whether it's apocryphal, but another such sign once spotted was: "We dispense with accuracy"...

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  7. Frances Garrood9 March 2011 at 09:22

    Thanks for all those replies. Keith - I love your definition! And your sign, Tim (which got me wondering: I hope our pharmacist is as accurate as she is resonsible. I think, given the choice, I'd go for accuracy).

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  8. C. N. Nevets9 March 2011 at 15:05

    An irresponsible pharmacist might not bother to charge me for the drugs, so I might be okay with that...

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  9. Frances Garrood9 March 2011 at 16:16

    Ah - but he might have charged you double, Nevets.

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  10. Sheila Norton11 March 2011 at 19:52

    Thanks for the giggle, Frances! What a burden that sign places on the poor responsible pharmacist, holding the fort while all the irresponsible ones cavort away! x

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  11. Frances Garrood12 March 2011 at 22:14

    Hi, Olivia. Yes - but you think someone would have pointed out the donwside of that sign by now!

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