'We shoot film, not people'

Idiom of the Day: "To shoot oneself in the foot"

http://www.idiomdictionary.com/definition/shoot-oneself-in-the-foot.html

It's summer camp season in America and lots of teenagers need to have something to do. The organisers of one such camp hit on a great idea: teach the teens video-production skills. How about a creative title for the module? That's when the organisers shot themselves in the foot.

The title they okayed was "We shoot film, not people"! (Remember, this is America, where guns go off in unexpected ways, often with tragic consequences.)
   

As reported in yesterday's Washington Times (11 June), the county in Maryland state where the furore erupted already has more than 50 homicides this year. An official within the agency responsible for the programme acknowledged the title did seem to be insensitive.

He said: "The flier went out very prematurely before being approved...". The five-week module was, er, targeted at teens aged 13-17.

Creativity gone ballistic, huh?

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On a different note, I'm giving myself a little pat on the back for what I thought was a creative intro (introduction) I wrote for a Sunday Times report (12 June, page 3) about Singapore recording the lowest number of marriages since 2007.

The original intro in the copy was a straightforward one. A flash of inspiration came to me and the intro became: "Cupid was a lousy shot last year -- it was a dry year for marriages."

Such moments give me great satisfaction.