Localization是潮流，无可阻挡，也是好事，但一些不好的转变令人难以下咽。前天在一个研讨会上听到一位外企老大姐发言，总结了近几年外企“堕落”的十大表现，当场折服，以为天人。

Here is what she summarized:

1. 开会不再有agenda，也不再守时。老板兴头上来，closing能讲两个钟头。

Meetings
no longer have agendas, and punctuality is dead. When the boss gets on a
roll, even the “closing remarks” can easily drag on for two solid
hours.

2. 拍照、吃饭开始排座位了 

Seating is now strictly arranged by rank and status for group photos and meals.

3. 过去二十年五任老板都没换过的老板司机、秘书都换了。

The boss’s driver and secretary who survived five different bosses over twenty years—have both been replaced.

4. 休假需要提前“请示”了

Taking annual leave now requires “seeking approval” in advance.

5. 老板讲话有人开始“记笔记”了

People have started “taking notes” whenever the boss speaks.

6. 老板语录开始有人quote了

The boss’s quotes are now being quoted by people whenever possible.

7. 老板经常推荐“书单”，从过去的HBR文章变成了社媒热帖，甚至有网络小说

The boss’s reading recommendations have gone from HBR articles to viral social media posts and even web novels.

8. 开始有人“主动”加班了，有些人故意（定时）半夜发邮件

“Voluntary” overtime has become a fashion, with some smart asses strategically (conspicuously) sending emails at midnight.

9. 会议越来越长了，过去英语表达不透，说完工作就结束了，现在换成母语了，如黄河泛滥滔滔江水

Meetings
get longer and longer. In the past when the meeting language was 
English, everyone would talk shop and shut up. Now that
everybody speaks Mandarin, many talkers are like the Yellow River
bursting its banks—an endless torrent of words.

10. 开大会有人专门负责“筛选”员工提问、开始“删帖”了，且不以为耻反以为荣。

At
townhalls, dedicated “censors” are tasked with “screening” employees’
questions and “deleting posts.” No shame is felt; they’re proud of it.

大姐说，本土化是好事，但不应该等于“土鳖化”。全场掌声雷动，经久不息。我乃默默记下她的字字珠玑，并译为英文以做保留与纪念。