Organizations, be they government agencies, businesses, or steering committees, have discovered they can wash their hands of any responsibility for causing inconvenience (and even for failing to provide basic services) by adding “Please plan accordingly” to any announcement.

“All bathrooms in the building are nonfunctional until further notice. Please plan accordingly.”

“All windows will close 2 hours early today, and no associates will be available until Monday. Please plan accordingly.”

“The northbound lanes will be blocked for repairs until January. Please plan accordingly.”

I get it. To some degree I even appreciate it – even as a coded message, it’s useful to know that a group is disavowing any need to fix (or even ameliorate) the problems they cause.

It just makes me want to add the phrase to things like prophecies and plot-drive prognostication, just to see how they change the tone.

“Winter is coming. Please plan accordingly.”

“You’re a wizard, Harry! Please plan accordingly.”

“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Please plan accordingly.”

I have a Patreon!

My patrons are the reason I can make posts like this. Please plan accordingly. 😀