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Virulenz

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Shitstorm

English translation:

online firestorm

Added to glossary by Louise Mawbey
Mar 3, 2021 14:00
3 yrs ago
74 viewers *
German term

Shitstorm

German to English Bus/Financial Media / Multimedia Social media
I'm translating a corporate social media policy. The German text uses the word Shitstorm. They monitor social media channels carefully to fend off "Shitstorms".

I don't think it is appropriate to use the word shitstorm in a corporate document in English - the tone does not seem right. Cambridge online dictionary describes it as "offensive very informal" and lots of eyebrows were raised in the UK/USA when Angela Merkel used it. What do others think? And what would be a better way to phrase it?
Proposed translations (English)
2 +3 online firestorm
3 +4 online backlash
4 +1 provoke a surge of indignation // unleash a storm of disagreement
4 +1 [a storm of] [social] opprobrium
4 +1 social media firestorm
3 +1 (public relations) disaster
3 +1 complete communication fiasco/PR debacle
3 +1 viral outrage
3 malicious attacks / malicious content
Change log

Mar 5, 2021 08:12: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Bus/Financial"

Discussion

Catriona C. Mar 3, 2021:
the second half is perfectly acceptable A 'social media storm' is widely understood:
https://bis.lexisnexis.co.uk/blog/categories/media-intellige...
so I would just remove the offending part of the word! 'Social media crisis' or 'backlash' also work but I think 'storm' is good because it doesn't attribute blame to any party, it is just something (like any change in the weather) that companies have to prepare for.
Kirsten Bodart Mar 3, 2021:
😂 Seriously now. It's barely acceptable in German in such a document, surely. Or I'm out of touch.

What about 'putting out fires'?

Proposed translations

+3
1 hr
Selected

online firestorm

Congrats to the asker for picking up on the Angela Merkel usage.
Example sentence:

"So, its meaning corresponds to the English 'online firestorm,' and it does not have the vulgar meaning and associations that 'shitstorm' has in English," Melanie Kunkel, an editor at Duden, told CNN.

Reference:

http://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/06/europe/angela-merkel-shitstorm-scli-intl-grm/index.html

Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : Maybe shitstorm is a bit strong...
7 mins
Thanks, Phil. You may well be right, but - 'centrifugally' speaking when it hits the fan - it's two words and not one..
agree Eleanore Strauss : this is pretty close.. my second choice
3 hrs
Thanks, Eleanore. Methinks the Duden 'editress' ought to take the credit as it's her English turn of phrase, even if tactical voters go for another answer.
agree thefastshow : (Not sure if a reference to operation Gomorrha is neccessarily better than a shitstorm, but hey, shall the Allies have it their way here. ;))) // Ha,ha my parents and grandparents were bombed out.. it s vital to misbehave at times.I m in for a pint though
19 hrs
Thanks and Danke, the fast show > three words and not one - and, no, the Allies haven't always had it *all* their own way in Angela M's place of birth of Hamburg or Mönchengladbach: 'Dear British soldiers. You can enter this pub if you behave yourselves'.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks. There were lots of good answers but I think this is the best match of all"
+1
6 mins

(public relations) disaster


Handle a crisis promptly and professionally, you can fend off a public relations disaster and might even gain new customers.

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3196122/8-ways-to-manage-a...
Peer comment(s):
agree Simon Vigneault
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
7 mins

provoke a surge of indignation // unleash a storm of disagreement

would be my suggestion

or of

unleash a storm
Peer comment(s):
agree Eleanore Strauss : this is correct but imo too long
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
9 mins

complete communication fiasco/PR debacle

just an idea
Reference:

http://powerthesaurus.org

Peer comment(s):
agree Brent Sørensen
37 mins
Thanks, Brent!
neutral Eleanore Strauss : not really... a communications (the word should be plural) fiasco could be anything
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
12 mins

malicious attacks / malicious content

Plenty of malicious stuff on social media (unfortunately)
Peer comment(s):
agree Petrus Maritz : fend off....
18 mins
disagree philgoddard : There are lots of possible answers here, but this is not one. A shitstorm is when things go wrong, and the attacks might be perfectly justified.
27 mins
neutral Eleanore Strauss : This is not about malicious attacks. And btw, Phil, attacks on social media are NEVER justified.
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
17 mins

viral outrage

As I understand it, a "Shitstorm" has two components: people are angry, and that anger is widespread.
Peer comment(s):
agree Michael Martin, MA : Exactly: "In many cases, the social media posts that are met with viral outrage were never intended to be seen by people outside of the poster’s social circle. Someone doesn’t even need to be on social media in order for their actions to go viral.”
55 mins
Something went wrong...
+4
35 mins

online backlash

I would use 'online backlash' in a corporate social media policy, although in other contexts, I may be inclined to keep the shitstorm, as Phil suggests.
Backlash puts over the idea of an 'attack' well, I feel. There are plenty examples of this expression online:

https://www.newsweek.com/kayleigh-mcenany-faces-online-backl...
Kayleigh McEnany Faces Online Backlash for Mocking Biden's 'Love Kids Better than People' Remark

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/10/chinese-writer...
Chinese writer faces online backlash over Wuhan lockdown diary

https://www.rlyl.com/de/brand-management-social-media-3/
Brand management: avoiding an online backlash




Peer comment(s):
agree Lancashireman
2 mins
agree Eleanore Strauss : imo this is the best solution and covers it nicely
4 hrs
agree writeaway
22 hrs
agree Melanie Meyer
1 day 1 hr
Something went wrong...
+1
32 mins

[a storm of] [social] opprobrium

97 examples here: https://www.google.com/search?q="a storm of opprobrium"&oq="...

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/opprobri...

OR "sh*tstorms"
If quoting direct from a senior executive. The use of quote marks (single or double according to preference) and asterisk absolves the author of profanity.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2021-03-03 19:02:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If the policy extends beyond [online] social media, you might like to consider negative headlines.
Peer comment(s):
agree thefastshow : I do like "sh*tstorms" ! - not literally though :))
20 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
19 hrs

social media firestorm

This seems to be the common English term for this. The key words are vast and abnormal. "A Social Media Firestorm is a process, in which users adapt or initiate the behavior of storming and occupying an official social media profile. The attacked social media profile is official, virtual property of a specific person, organization or brand. The firestormers occupy the social media profile due to a perceived performance or value related failure. During the time of the social media firestorm, the attacked profile is overrun with a vast and abnormal number of criticizing and aggressive comments. The number of comments can be considered to be vast, if it overshoots a certain natural level, which is usually realized on the social media profile. With the numerous postings, the users seek to scrutinize, criticize and controversially discuss the behavior of the target. Additionally, they want to build up pressure by publicizing the failure and negatively influencing the targets’ image.

Reference:

http://www.socialmediafacts.net/firestorms/firestorm-definition

Peer comment(s):
agree thefastshow
1 hr
Something went wrong...
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