Shitstorm

English translation: online firestorm

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Shitstorm
English translation:online firestorm
Entered by: Louise Mawbey

14:00 Mar 3, 2021
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Media / Multimedia / Social media
German term or phrase: Shitstorm
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?
Louise Mawbey
Germany
Local time: 22:49
online firestorm
Explanation:
Congrats to the asker for picking up on the Angela Merkel usage.
Selected response from:

Adrian MM.
Austria
Grading comment
Thanks. There were lots of good answers but I think this is the best match of all
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4online backlash
Sarah Bessioud
4 +1provoke a surge of indignation // unleash a storm of disagreement
Barbara Schmidt, M.A. (X)
2 +3online firestorm
Adrian MM.
4 +1[a storm of] [social] opprobrium
Lancashireman
4 +1social media firestorm
Cillie Swart
3 +1(public relations) disaster
Brent Sørensen
3 +1complete communication fiasco/PR debacle
Andreea Sepi, MCIL (X)
3 +1viral outrage
Eric Zink
3malicious attacks / malicious content
Peter Ward


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(public relations) disaster


Explanation:

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...

Brent Sørensen
Germany
Local time: 22:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Simon Vigneault
2 hrs
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
provoke a surge of indignation // unleash a storm of disagreement


Explanation:
would be my suggestion

or of

unleash a storm

Barbara Schmidt, M.A. (X)
Germany
Local time: 22:49
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Eleanore Strauss: this is correct but imo too long
4 hrs
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
complete communication fiasco/PR debacle


Explanation:
just an idea


    Reference: http://powerthesaurus.org
Andreea Sepi, MCIL (X)
Germany
Local time: 22:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RomanianRomanian, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
malicious attacks / malicious content


Explanation:
Plenty of malicious stuff on social media (unfortunately)

Peter Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
viral outrage


Explanation:
As I understand it, a "Shitstorm" has two components: people are angry, and that anger is widespread.

Eric Zink
Local time: 22:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
online backlash


Explanation:
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






Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 22:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
online firestorm


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

Example sentence(s):
  • "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-shits...
Adrian MM.
Austria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks. There were lots of good answers but I think this is the best match of all

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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'.
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
[a storm of] [social] opprobrium


Explanation:
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)
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If the policy extends beyond [online] social media, you might like to consider negative headlines.

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  thefastshow: I do like "sh*tstorms" ! - not literally though :))
20 hrs
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
social media firestorm


Explanation:
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-definit...
Cillie Swart
South Africa
Local time: 23:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  thefastshow
1 hr
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