Testings.1.2.3.. are we recording?

It almost sounds like a bad joke without the Englishmen, Irishmen and Scotsmen. Ponty Python may have enjoyed the scenario as well.

A group of journalists are in a room, talking 'off-the-record' about their experiences in the industry when it becomes apparent that someone is actually recording the session.

The situation becomes slightly tense when the person is revealed and questioned on What didn't they understand about what 'off-the-record' means?

The fellow proclaims that he wasn't sure if it was a serious request - I'll concur that in this post-post-modernist irony-filled world it can be hard to tell what is true blue and what is ironic - if he had been expected to honour it.

The conversation continues and the journalists go back-and-forth osculating between respecting the speakers discretion, the reality of asking a room full of journalists to not report on what they hear, and whether idealistically journalists should be asked not to report on what they share with each other.

The debate evolves into a discussion on what 'off-the-record' actually means, its limitations and the conduct that surrounds it.

It appears that no one really knows or is able to achieve any consensus as to the limits and application of the term... in a room FULL of journalists.

I am left feeling that perhaps asking everyone upon entry to the event to recite aloud, like an oath, "Loose Lips Sink Ships", may have been a more effective method and have avoided the confusion.

Then again if everything is off-the-record can I even write about the off-the-record discussion? So that would be on-the-record of off-the-record?

To make it even better, some quick research failed to bring up a consistent answer for the exact use and the origin of the term must be 'off-the-record' somewhere.

I think my record is broken!