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by ok_dad 1344 days ago
I used to say, "in case I fall off a cliff," and then in a previous job a colleague went mountain climbing and literally fell to his death off a cliff. Now I just say, "for when I'm not around."
2 comments

Similar here. 2000/2001(?), I was talking about the bus factor with a client, indicating that I'd brought on a couple more folks on my team - one part time, one full time, to avoid the bus factor.

"what do you mean?"

"oh, in case I get hit by a bus"

Silence.

Someone in their company had been hit by a bus and died a couple weeks earlier. Not in their department - it wasn't a direct friend/colleague - but it was... awkward enough that I didn't use that phrase again for a long time. And even when I do, I tend to catch myself before and rephrase it.

Holy crap!