Calling all word-smiths

[Dirty Hippie]

Doing a Web site for a local Dem candidate. One of his issue statements contains the sentence:

"Our neighborhoods are the incubators of X County’s families."

I find the use of the word incubator a bit weird and thought I would suggest different phrasing.

However, I cannot think of a better way to convey the exact idea.

I've searched the dictionary/thesaurus to no avail.

Help me, I'm brain dead.

[Phillycat]

1. Maybe "Our neighborhoods nurture the families of X County."

?

[Dirty Hippie]

6. Good one - (can't believe I did not think of it)

[Redstone]

22. It's perfect. Use it.

Redstone

[taterguy]

2. While I think of something

Check other websites of people running for similar offices. It's not plagiarism, it's an homage :)

[NashVegas]

3. Incubator Is Fine, IMO

Unless you are looking to dumb it down.

[Phillycat]

4. Incubator makes me think of alien pods and preemie babies

I agree with the OP that there is something sinister connoted there, although I can't think why.

[Dirty Hippie]

7. You hit the nail on the head.

Exactly why I did not like it.

[JVS]

9. Well the statement is kind of stupid anyway

Our neighborhoods are the homes of X county's families. NO FUCKING SHIT!

[Phillycat]

11. Well, I don't think your sentence has exactly the same meaning

"Home" does not mean "incubator". I think what the candidate might be trying to convey (clumsily) is that having tight-knit neighborhoods is good for children and families because people look out for each other and their kids.

But I agree it's a bit of a weird statement without further clarification. Perhaps it makes more sense in context?

[Dirty Hippie]

13. Not much context yet

Neighborhood Preservation
Our neighborhoods are the incubators of X County’s families. Find out why X X has been their strongest advocate for the past 12 years.


An issue statement will follow, I just don't have it yet.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. training grounds? Breeding grounds? Germination point? Stockyards?

Pasture?

Okay, the last two were flippant.

[JVS]

8. Our neighborhoods are the nests/ hives/ stomping grounds/ domains...

/ cradles/ killing fields/ forges/ crucibles/ cauldrons/ sacrificial altars/ sanctuaries/ tabernacles/ testing grounds/ warehouses/ dens/ dustbins/ rubble heaps

[Dirty Hippie]

10. Thanks for the laugh

I needed it.

I'm juggling 3 sites, 2 with deadlines.

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. 'It takes an incubator'

:rofl:

[khashka]

14. Go with janesez

It's nonsense but most politics is.

But it sounds good.

"Incubator" is a little too cold, clinical, mad scientist.

Definitely go with nurture.....

Khash.

[Dirty Hippie]

15. I think I will.

Thanks everyone.

You guys are great.

[deucemagnet]

16. "Our neighborhoods are the nurseries of X County's families."

Whaddya think? :shrug:

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. 'Our neighbourhoods are the soil that nourishes our families'

Or

'Our neighbourhoods are the soil from which our families grow'

[anarch]

20. "Our neighborhoods are the manure-pile that nourishes..."

No, wait. "Our neighborhoods are the Petri dishes in which the bacteria that are our families..." No, that's no good either. "Our neighborhoods are the sweatshops in which our families are sewn together." Jeez this is hard.

"Our neighborhoods are the charnel houses..." OK no that's just wrong already.

[Spider Jerusalem]

21. 'Our neighbourhoods are festering wounds...

infested with countless little maggots...and that's why I'm going to work hard for the future of our children.'

:D

[JVS]

24. Our neighborhoods are the thousand wounds from which our families...

bleed.

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. "Our neighborhoods are the gardens"

But I agree with that other poster - it's a dumbass thing to say no matter how well it's said.

[MorningGlow]

19. Turn it around

It's kind of passive anyway.

Like..."X County's families grow and thrive in our vibrant neighborhoods."

Too purple, though?

[WCGreen]

23. The neighborhoods are where are families learn to be families...

On edit...

The neighborhoods are where are families become families

[antigone382]

25. Why not just say "the nests"?

I raise chickens, and that's basically what an incubator is--an artificial nest for keeping the eggs warm, moist, and turned regularly. I guess "nests" has its own creepy connotations, but maybe you could say "nesting ground" or maybe "warm and safe nests" or something...I don't know, just a thought.