This is one for the rant files. I can’t begin to tell you how much I hate the term SME, but that’s never stopped me before so here goes…

In order to control a people, you must first control their language. Now I wish I could tell you who said this, if indeed someone has, but alas google has failed me. However this is a theme that crops up not only in science fiction, but also in history, and it’s even going on today. Why do you think people burn books? Why do marketing people invent new terms? Language is a way to express ideas. If you can manipulate the language you can influence the way people think, if not what they think.

What does this have to do with my h8 4 the term SME? In case you don’t know, SME stands for Subject Matter Expert.

Subject Matter Expert: Sounds pretty impressive doesn’t it? You are an Expert in a Subject. People rely on you and your knowledge of the subject.

SME: Pronounced “smee.” Sounds like the cousin of a smurf doesn’t it? If you didn’t know what it stood for, would you like being called smee, or would you be offended? Belittled?

So why would anyone want to call sombody they rely on, by a term that belittles them? Why do high-school jocks pick on geeks in high-schools? Now I’m sure that doctoral thesis’ have been written on this subject by people much more knowledgeable on the topic than I. Someone who studied long hours, and truly cared about the topic. Dare I say an expert in their chosen field of study, or subject. Wouldn’t it be pretty crappy for me to refer to that person as a “smee?” So just my opinion here, but I think that when one person needs to put someone else down in order make themselves feel more important that’s pretty sad. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ll put someone down all day long just for entertainment value (this site is called Malignant Genius, not Nice Puppy Love), but even I wouldn’t put down someone who has knowledge I’m relying on. Torture until bend to my will maybe, but not put down.

Now I’m not sure where the term originated or how it evolved into “smee.” While I’ve seen references to it in six sigma, the first time I came across it was from a project manager. Have no doubt that the way she said it was definitely to make you understand that, expert or not, you were her inferior. Sometimes she’d say “smee” so often in a meeting I thought she was going to ask me to acquire a shrubbery. My problem here is not with the definition or purpose of the original term, it’s with the way I feel it’s been perverted to keep keep my brother nerds enslaved to the frat boys and cheerleaders looking to still be at the top of the social pack.

So the next time someone calls you a “smee” ask to be called a Domain Expert instead. Or I suppose you could always demand a shrubbery of your own.