A surgeon responds to Andrea Javor's WSJ op-ed on corporate jargon, sharing a humorous anecdote from their early training days in Boston. The author recalls assisting the chief of surgery as an intern, expecting praise, only to be told they had "10 thumbs" — a memorable piece of surgical jargon that shaped their professional development. The piece joins a broader conversation about the role of specialized language in workplace culture, exploring how buzzwords can both unite and divide professionals.

Javor had argued that corporate jargon "saved her self-esteem," while this response offers a more nuanced view of how technical language functions as both a learning tool and a form of professional ribbing.