I continue to marvel at the way the word "stakeholder" has changed meaning in recent years. Gamblers used to want a trustworthy person, who was NOT involved in the game, to hold their stakes while they finished playing. I don't know when "stakeholders" started meaning "everyone with an interest in the outcome." It doesn't have exactly the same stock market connotations as "shareholders," but it's much closer to that than what "stakeholder" used to mean.

We have "stakeholders' meetings" all the time where I work...sometimes it seemed like the term was being used in Patrick's sense.

I always thought a stakeholder is the guy who helps you put up a tent...

The guy with the purple, swollen fingers who helped you put up your tent.

Exactly, Chuck! He carries a spear the next day.

Adrian,

Probably some redundant executive writing one of those "How to become a zillionaire by stomping on your secretary for 10 minutes each morning" books had heard the word but had never held a hand of cards in his life. Happens all the time - look what became of poor old "indifferent".

I'm going with Patrick's version from now on. Can't wait to use it in a report.

ok. i am clearly still sleepy from the DCCC's trip to Kentucky... I didn't even catch the "vampire" "stake" thing.

very clever!