[logicallee]

>I wish we would stop using "poaching" to refer to the (legal) hiring of a person already employed at another company

But that's what it means...? Or do you mean like in the literal sense, like is your comment about illegally hunting wild animals? (which nobody would ever confuse for a second.)

If you are talking about the same thing everyone else is (hiring) then what do you mean by "actual poaching is illegal"? I am trying to really give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you know what you're talking about, but I just can't make heads or tails of your comment...

[bmm6o]

Of course I don't think Facebook shot the guy, and I don't deny that there is a widely accepted meaning that is specific to an employee changing jobs. It's more of a cranky rant that it's a terrible metaphor that I wish would fall out of fashion.

One reason that I think it's so inapt is that the longer-standing definition of poaching refers to an illegal activity. Not only is it illegal, but the illegality is a fundamental part of the meaning of the term. Also it places an odd emphasis on the company that the person is leaving (i.e. this was against their wishes), when they are the third most important entity in this transaction.