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Planning versus scheming

Scheming is more successful.

I thought that it was that anybody can legitimately scheme, but only a pinko-commie who lives off being a worthless government employee can plan. :) That's what I heard, anyway.
 
Whats the difference between "planning" and "scheming"?

Planning is a more transparent process. For textbook scheming one must meet the following critieria:
1) The deal should be conducted in poorly illuminated location (most community development departments are too well lit for proper scheming)
2) Smoke needs to be involved. With so many states changing their smoking laws in public places this is becoming increasingly difficult, but the requirement is still on the books all the same.
3) After the business portion of the deal is concluded, a ham-handed segue to personal matters should be made (e.g. "say hello to the missus for me")
4) During negotiations one should avoid plainly read or open expressions on one's face. Instead, leer, snicker, and furtively dart one's eyes in a shifty manner.

Moderator note:

split from RTDNTOTO6
 
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Whats the difference between "planning" and "scheming"?

If you live in the UK, none. I was always thrown off by this because, with my American sensibilities, it DOES sound sinister.

British Land to finance town centre scheme
British Land, the UK’s second-largest property company, has agreed to finance a big retail scheme in Hereford town centre.
.

It seems to me, if you are scheming, you shouldn't be telling anyone about it...
 
Don't they scheme in Canada, too?

They do both in Australia.

However, in Canada, they don't have laws. They have bylaws.

The American English definition of "scheme" implies something less than savory. From Webster's:

": a plan or program of action; especially : a crafty or secret one "

Here's what Webster's considers synonyms to scheme:

"Synonyms: artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, trick, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, wile"
 
I plan when working on a product, from staff reviews to comp plans. I often scheme to get products through the process.
 
"Synonyms: artifice, device, dodge, fetch, flimflam, gambit, gimmick, jig, juggle, knack, play, ploy, trick, shenanigan, sleight, stratagem, wile"

I can't resist: Parliament announced a flimflam today to spend 100 million pounds in a gambit to juggle a ....
 
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