Year Zero
A publisher attempts to raise staff morale.
PUBLISHER:
…so I know we've had our problems. I know that the recent redundancies have caused insecurity, as has the speculation about the ownership of the title, but I want you…or rather I want us all to now put that all behind us and concentrate on building a future for ourselves and the magazine. Today is year zero. Nothing that happened before today matters. All disputes are forgiven and forgotten. Clear slates all around and that includes from the nay sayers too. I want a better attitude, a more positive attitude. No more grumbling in corners. If you've got something to say you can come and say it to me direct. I won't hold it against you. Remember - year zero alright? Okay let's go to lunch.
SUB EDITOR: (quietly)
Er, wasn't year zero the process of systematic slaughter of innocent people by an insane dictator?
STAFF WRITER:
Yup. Business as usual then.