"Not everything is amazing."
January 9, 2023 9:49 AM Subscribe
"Does that make sense?" can definitely be overused and annoying, but I think people should pause and check for understanding more often, so I have mixed feelings about that one.
Otherwise it's an absolutely amazing list (GOAT!). It has its flaws but it is what is is, so irregardless, moving forward past this inflection point we should banish these words form Metafilter.
(I know it seems like I'm missing one of them, but I promise you I used quiet quitting already.)
posted by Garm at 10:02 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
Otherwise it's an absolutely amazing list (GOAT!). It has its flaws but it is what is is, so irregardless, moving forward past this inflection point we should banish these words form Metafilter.
(I know it seems like I'm missing one of them, but I promise you I used quiet quitting already.)
posted by Garm at 10:02 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
Missing “eviscerate”, I think, but maybe that was on a previous iteration.
posted by Going To Maine at 10:06 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Going To Maine at 10:06 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am so tired of hearing GOAT everywhere. Glad they led with that one.
posted by Slinga at 10:07 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Slinga at 10:07 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I see that they banished "Karen" back in 2021. It didn't work.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 10:09 AM on January 9, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 10:09 AM on January 9, 2023 [6 favorites]
I just had a Parisien that was GOLT*, and no egghead as LSSU can take that away from me.
*Greatest Of Lunch Time
posted by phooky at 10:09 AM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
*Greatest Of Lunch Time
posted by phooky at 10:09 AM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
The first time I heard "it is what it is" was Trump talking about the mismanagement of the COVID pandemic and, like "make whatever great again", since then I just assume that whenever I hear it, I'm hearing a fascist dogwhistle. If you could put a day on a calendar and say, after this day you will never hear these phrases again, I'd plan a party.
posted by mhoye at 10:09 AM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 10:09 AM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
I love irregardless, winds up a group of people self-selecting to be wound-up over it for reasons they are the most equipped to get over.
posted by GoblinHoney at 10:10 AM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by GoblinHoney at 10:10 AM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
Gaslighting is a good choice. Have you ever been in an argument that devolves into mutual accusations of gaslighting? It's tiring.
posted by goatdog at 10:13 AM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by goatdog at 10:13 AM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
"Amazing," "Absolutely" and "Irregardless" seem like filler. Are they really more irritating now than, say, 20 years ago? The other seven are good though.
posted by mono blanco at 10:15 AM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mono blanco at 10:15 AM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
If we are banishing phrases, can I nominate "Can you see my slides?" because yes, after nearly 3 full years of this, we all should be able to manage a zoom meeting without asking EVERY SINGLE TIME
posted by caution live frogs at 10:19 AM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by caution live frogs at 10:19 AM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
I work in a field where people who aren't always great at communication are tasked with communicating complex ideas. "Does that make sense?" is a powerful tool to invite the listener to admit that they don't understand.
Those misunderstandings can be costly and dangerous, and simply admitting "I don't get it" can have social costs (implying the listener is ignorant, the explainer is bad at explaining, etc). "Does that make sense?" and "Did I explain that well?" nudges the burden of bridging the understanding-gap to the explainer who has more resources to do-so than the listener.
"Let me be clear, judges opined: Always make sense; don’t think aloud or play games! Misuse, overuse, and uselessness."
What collection of self-important asses minted this rule?
posted by neuracnu at 10:19 AM on January 9, 2023 [21 favorites]
Those misunderstandings can be costly and dangerous, and simply admitting "I don't get it" can have social costs (implying the listener is ignorant, the explainer is bad at explaining, etc). "Does that make sense?" and "Did I explain that well?" nudges the burden of bridging the understanding-gap to the explainer who has more resources to do-so than the listener.
"Let me be clear, judges opined: Always make sense; don’t think aloud or play games! Misuse, overuse, and uselessness."
What collection of self-important asses minted this rule?
posted by neuracnu at 10:19 AM on January 9, 2023 [21 favorites]
caution live frogs, if only I could stop asking if people can see my screen. If only. Maybe somebody has bad internet. Maybe somebody doesn't know how to use Teams. Maybe somebody is checking facebook. Maybe somebody has their eyes closed. I don't know what the problem is each time. I only know that I still need to ask
posted by q*ben at 10:23 AM on January 9, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by q*ben at 10:23 AM on January 9, 2023 [10 favorites]
Amazing. Moving forward, I will absolutely avoid these words irregardless of the consequences.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:24 AM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:24 AM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
"Not everything is amazing; and when you think about it, very little is," one nominator noted
I absolutely disagree with this sentiment. How boring that this nominator isn't dazzled by much of anything. I'm constantly amazed over here by all the little things. All this talk of besmirching the meaning of the word amazing will not stop me from sitting here in dazzlement. It is what it is.
Does that make sense?
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 10:33 AM on January 9, 2023 [21 favorites]
I absolutely disagree with this sentiment. How boring that this nominator isn't dazzled by much of anything. I'm constantly amazed over here by all the little things. All this talk of besmirching the meaning of the word amazing will not stop me from sitting here in dazzlement. It is what it is.
Does that make sense?
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 10:33 AM on January 9, 2023 [21 favorites]
If we are banishing phrases, can I nominate "Can you see my slides?" because yes, after nearly 3 full years of this, we all should be able to manage a zoom meeting without asking EVERY SINGLE TIME
After a couple of years of us both working at home much of the time, I know the precise moment at which this question has been posed when I overhear only my husband's end of the conversation:
"Actually, I can't."
[pause]
"Because I'm blind."
Which is a true statement. Hilarity always ensues.
All of which is to say, sometimes it's a valid question!
I really like LSSU's fabulously nerdy history of the list:
The lighthearted Banished Words List began as a promotional ploy for little-known LSSU. The university was established in 1946 as a branch of Michigan College of Mining and Technology for returning World War II veterans. Lake Superior State College became autonomous in 1970 and developed into Lake Superior State University in 1987. Signature programs now include fisheries and wildlife management, engineering, nursing, criminal justice, business, robotics engineering, kinesiology, and fire science. In 2019, LSSU launched the first cannabis chemistry program in the nation. LSSU also was the first campus nationwide to offer an accredited four-year fire science program; it is one of three in the U.S. LSSU was the first campus nationwide to offer an accredited four-year robotics engineering technology program and is the only university nationwide to offer undergraduate education in industrial robotics.
The charm of the Banished Words List grew out of the enchantment of an earlier creation by Rabe: Unicorn Hunters. Upon arriving to LSSU in 1971, Rabe, who had earlier made a name for himself as a PR guru in Detroit, realized that the school was still largely thought of as an offshoot of Michigan Tech, if known at all. To help rectify that, he, along with English Department professors, founded a group who quested the legendary horned creatures. The Unicorn Hunters garnered all sorts of positive attention over the years from media and devotees alike until LSSU’s Unicorn Hunters retired with Rabe in 1987—although the university continues to grant unicorn hunting licenses to anyone who wants one through its singular Department of Natural Unicorns.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:34 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
After a couple of years of us both working at home much of the time, I know the precise moment at which this question has been posed when I overhear only my husband's end of the conversation:
"Actually, I can't."
[pause]
"Because I'm blind."
Which is a true statement. Hilarity always ensues.
All of which is to say, sometimes it's a valid question!
I really like LSSU's fabulously nerdy history of the list:
The lighthearted Banished Words List began as a promotional ploy for little-known LSSU. The university was established in 1946 as a branch of Michigan College of Mining and Technology for returning World War II veterans. Lake Superior State College became autonomous in 1970 and developed into Lake Superior State University in 1987. Signature programs now include fisheries and wildlife management, engineering, nursing, criminal justice, business, robotics engineering, kinesiology, and fire science. In 2019, LSSU launched the first cannabis chemistry program in the nation. LSSU also was the first campus nationwide to offer an accredited four-year fire science program; it is one of three in the U.S. LSSU was the first campus nationwide to offer an accredited four-year robotics engineering technology program and is the only university nationwide to offer undergraduate education in industrial robotics.
The charm of the Banished Words List grew out of the enchantment of an earlier creation by Rabe: Unicorn Hunters. Upon arriving to LSSU in 1971, Rabe, who had earlier made a name for himself as a PR guru in Detroit, realized that the school was still largely thought of as an offshoot of Michigan Tech, if known at all. To help rectify that, he, along with English Department professors, founded a group who quested the legendary horned creatures. The Unicorn Hunters garnered all sorts of positive attention over the years from media and devotees alike until LSSU’s Unicorn Hunters retired with Rabe in 1987—although the university continues to grant unicorn hunting licenses to anyone who wants one through its singular Department of Natural Unicorns.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:34 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
After reading the rationales for word banishment, it's clear that the problem the authors have is not so much with the with the words themselves, but with the way they are deployed in conversation by idiots. I would urge the authors to reflect upon why there are so many idiots in their lives.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
This list is LSSUssy, it itself is gaslussy, but it is what it'sussy
posted by Rumple at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Rumple at 10:48 AM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
For the record, my objection to the notion of banning words is pretty much absolute. It wreaks of proscriptivism, which I hate. Simply put, we have enough rules already, thanks, and who made you boss anyway, don't fucking tell me what to do.
But that said, I'm all in favour of vigorous discussion as to what is/isn't working in our efforts to successfully communicate with each other.
Have you ever been in an argument that devolves into mutual accusations of gaslighting?
no, but only because I bit my tongue. The worst gaslighter I know is also the first to accuse others of such. It's foolish and absurd and evidence of somebody in sore need of a little therapy ... but, of course, to suggest as much would be the worst kind of gaslighting.
posted by philip-random at 11:07 AM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
But that said, I'm all in favour of vigorous discussion as to what is/isn't working in our efforts to successfully communicate with each other.
Have you ever been in an argument that devolves into mutual accusations of gaslighting?
no, but only because I bit my tongue. The worst gaslighter I know is also the first to accuse others of such. It's foolish and absurd and evidence of somebody in sore need of a little therapy ... but, of course, to suggest as much would be the worst kind of gaslighting.
posted by philip-random at 11:07 AM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
Re: "Amazing"
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:07 AM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
“This glorious word should be reserved for that which is dazzling, moving, or awe-inspiring,” to paraphrase another, “like the divine face of a newborn.”Red, wrinkled, and resembling Winston Churchill is amazing?
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:07 AM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
These words and phrases can be shelved for the next 100 years, they have no value due to overuse and misuse:
"here's the thing", "literally", "woke", "white supremacy", hold space", and anything involving the word "bro" (just because it's so annoying) .
posted by Liquidwolf at 11:19 AM on January 9, 2023
"here's the thing", "literally", "woke", "white supremacy", hold space", and anything involving the word "bro" (just because it's so annoying) .
posted by Liquidwolf at 11:19 AM on January 9, 2023
I absolutely disagree with this sentiment. How boring that this nominator isn't dazzled by much of anything. I'm constantly amazed over here by all the little things.
Joe vs the Volcano quote:
"Patricia: My father says almost the whole world's asleep. Everybody you know, everybody you see, everybody you talk to. He says only a few people are awake. And they live in a state of constant, total amazement."
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:25 AM on January 9, 2023 [9 favorites]
Joe vs the Volcano quote:
"Patricia: My father says almost the whole world's asleep. Everybody you know, everybody you see, everybody you talk to. He says only a few people are awake. And they live in a state of constant, total amazement."
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:25 AM on January 9, 2023 [9 favorites]
These words and phrases can be shelved... "white supremacy"
What?
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:26 AM on January 9, 2023 [27 favorites]
What?
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:26 AM on January 9, 2023 [27 favorites]
"Always make sense" is ok advice for writing and async communications, it's silly for talking.
I agree with neuracnu 100% here. I'm guilty of asking "does that make sense?" with some regularity in work conversations, because I haven't come up with a better way to indicate that a) we are talking about something complex, b) I am talking off the cuff, which I'm less than stellar at, c) the way that I think about things may not map well onto how you think about things, and d) my goal is for us to understand each other and anything less than that means that there is still work to do here. Some people don't speak up when they don't understand, and whether that's cultural or a personal communications style, they just let you go on and on and then eventually you realize that you've been wasting your time. It seems a bit better to have checkpoints to ask people whether they need clarification.
I've considered "am I making sense?" to try and make it clear that I accept responsibility for the lack of sense being made, but haven't managed to make the switch in my head. "What do you think", IMO, kind of leapfrogs the question of whether my partners in the conversation understood what I said and may make them feel like they should have processed the information immediately and have something conclusive to say about it. "Any questions?" might be better, but makes it feel more like a presentation than a conversation to me.
This is getting into micro-optimizing your communications, but sometimes these things do make a difference.
posted by arxeef at 11:27 AM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
I agree with neuracnu 100% here. I'm guilty of asking "does that make sense?" with some regularity in work conversations, because I haven't come up with a better way to indicate that a) we are talking about something complex, b) I am talking off the cuff, which I'm less than stellar at, c) the way that I think about things may not map well onto how you think about things, and d) my goal is for us to understand each other and anything less than that means that there is still work to do here. Some people don't speak up when they don't understand, and whether that's cultural or a personal communications style, they just let you go on and on and then eventually you realize that you've been wasting your time. It seems a bit better to have checkpoints to ask people whether they need clarification.
I've considered "am I making sense?" to try and make it clear that I accept responsibility for the lack of sense being made, but haven't managed to make the switch in my head. "What do you think", IMO, kind of leapfrogs the question of whether my partners in the conversation understood what I said and may make them feel like they should have processed the information immediately and have something conclusive to say about it. "Any questions?" might be better, but makes it feel more like a presentation than a conversation to me.
This is getting into micro-optimizing your communications, but sometimes these things do make a difference.
posted by arxeef at 11:27 AM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have already used amazing twice today. One was watching the video my friend made, while cutting down a giant, dead tree. The other was a comment with regard to a very detailed and pleasing etching. I could've done better discussing the work.
posted by Oyéah at 11:41 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 11:41 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'll be fine with avoiding "Does this make sense?" in work talk. The same people who didn't understand are just going to say "yes" when prompted, either because they're afraid of admitting they don't know anything, or the complete opposite and they assume they can figure it out themselves without my help. I've had a few meetings where there were no questions at the end and everyone said they understood it all, followed by polite emails a week later that betrayed that nothing was understood.
The important part is that everyone understands that it's ultimately their responsibility to know the info, not my responsibility to teach it. I might be a terrible teacher, but this isn't school.
posted by meowzilla at 11:44 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
The important part is that everyone understands that it's ultimately their responsibility to know the info, not my responsibility to teach it. I might be a terrible teacher, but this isn't school.
posted by meowzilla at 11:44 AM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Along with "amazing," I offer "incredible." I see it so often that I now entertain myself by interpreting it as "not credible," intended meaning notwithstanding.
And one more: "folks." This is creeping into formal language and it drives me absolutely batty. I trace it to 9/11, when GWB bravely reassured America that "we're gonna get the folks that did this." Folks. That did this.
posted by scratch at 11:46 AM on January 9, 2023
And one more: "folks." This is creeping into formal language and it drives me absolutely batty. I trace it to 9/11, when GWB bravely reassured America that "we're gonna get the folks that did this." Folks. That did this.
posted by scratch at 11:46 AM on January 9, 2023
This is a good list but I don't understand "absolutely" being on there. I don't think I hear it overused but maybe I'm just not paying attention to it.
I had no idea GOAT was an initialism. Now I hate it even more. I thought it was a word like "based" that seems to have some meaning for a lot of people that I can't grasp and just figured I was too old to get it. Yes I've looked it up but there are many definitions and sometimes none of them seem to fit. I assume it's this generations "dude" or "word" that means everything and nothing at all times.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 11:48 AM on January 9, 2023
I had no idea GOAT was an initialism. Now I hate it even more. I thought it was a word like "based" that seems to have some meaning for a lot of people that I can't grasp and just figured I was too old to get it. Yes I've looked it up but there are many definitions and sometimes none of them seem to fit. I assume it's this generations "dude" or "word" that means everything and nothing at all times.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 11:48 AM on January 9, 2023
It is what it is
I'm surprised this didn't show up five years ago. Or maybe it did and folks just couldn't let it go. I particularly "enjoy" when it shows up right next to "at the end of the day". You hear it a lot in post game interviews. I do anyway.
"What happened out there, JB? Did you forget to use your brain?"
"At the end of the day, it is what it is."
(alternately)
"It is what it is, at the end of the day."
posted by philip-random at 11:54 AM on January 9, 2023
It is what it is
My late mother used to say that all the time and she's been gone for five years. She was neither a sports person nor a Trumpist (one of the last times she was admitted to the hospital, they asked her who was president and she couldn't recall his name, just said with utter contempt, "that orange guy").
posted by gentlyepigrams at 11:58 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
My late mother used to say that all the time and she's been gone for five years. She was neither a sports person nor a Trumpist (one of the last times she was admitted to the hospital, they asked her who was president and she couldn't recall his name, just said with utter contempt, "that orange guy").
posted by gentlyepigrams at 11:58 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]
The first time I heard "it is what it is" was Trump talking about the mismanagement of the COVID pandemic and, like "make whatever great again", since then I just assume that whenever I hear it, I'm hearing a fascist dogwhistle.
Sometimes people make bizarre assumptions about you based on the smallest things and you don't even know they're doing it. It is what it is. C'est la vie.
posted by geegollygosh at 12:01 PM on January 9, 2023 [14 favorites]
Sometimes people make bizarre assumptions about you based on the smallest things and you don't even know they're doing it. It is what it is. C'est la vie.
posted by geegollygosh at 12:01 PM on January 9, 2023 [14 favorites]
RE "folks": I don't love it either but there are places when a nongendered plural feels natural, and we don't have a ton of options that aren't awkward.
posted by metasarah at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2023 [12 favorites]
posted by metasarah at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2023 [12 favorites]
It is what it is [was] Banished in 2008 for overuse, misuse, and uselessness
I can't remember anyone using this phrase before 2016, but also, 2019 was ten years ago.
posted by meowzilla at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2023
I can't remember anyone using this phrase before 2016, but also, 2019 was ten years ago.
posted by meowzilla at 12:03 PM on January 9, 2023
It's probably a good thing I'm not in charge of this; I'd be banning a dozen words a month.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:06 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:06 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
It is what it is. C'est la vie.
Equally acceptable usages:
So it goes.
The way she goes. [NSFW]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:13 PM on January 9, 2023
Equally acceptable usages:
So it goes.
The way she goes. [NSFW]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:13 PM on January 9, 2023
The desire to ban “gaslighting” seems like a bit of a red flag, which I am sure is also a term they’d like to remove.
You want t a term misused to the point of worthlessness I’d suggest “woke”, which is not here - possibly also telling.
posted by Artw at 12:14 PM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
You want t a term misused to the point of worthlessness I’d suggest “woke”, which is not here - possibly also telling.
posted by Artw at 12:14 PM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
I'll be fine with avoiding "Does this make sense?" in work talk.... I've had a few meetings where there were no questions at the end and everyone said they understood it all, followed by polite emails a week later that betrayed that nothing was understood.
I think this is an argument for the use of 'does that make sense?'. If you've totally lost everyone early on, they won't have enough understanding to formulate a question at the end-- and it's not like they're going to ask you to just repeat the whole training. They're just going to shift uncomfortably in their chairs and hope that they can ask their colleague later on.
"Does that make sense" is the shorthand way of saying 'okay so before we continue, are you clear on that foundational concept or process before I spend the next twenty minutes expounding upon it.'
posted by geegollygosh at 12:15 PM on January 9, 2023
I think this is an argument for the use of 'does that make sense?'. If you've totally lost everyone early on, they won't have enough understanding to formulate a question at the end-- and it's not like they're going to ask you to just repeat the whole training. They're just going to shift uncomfortably in their chairs and hope that they can ask their colleague later on.
"Does that make sense" is the shorthand way of saying 'okay so before we continue, are you clear on that foundational concept or process before I spend the next twenty minutes expounding upon it.'
posted by geegollygosh at 12:15 PM on January 9, 2023
Over the past couple of years, I've noticed a trend of people saying, "Perfect!", when a perfectly good alternative (such as, "OK" or "Sure" – or, dare I say, "Yes") would have sufficed. I don't know exactly why, but I find this usage to be annoying.
posted by akk2014 at 12:18 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by akk2014 at 12:18 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
I’ve noticed an uptick in the use of “beg the question” when “raise the question” is meant, and I see it was on there back in 2001. We may have reached an inflection point where the misusage is so common that we just have to regard it as acceptable speech.
But this raises the question: can we find a new phrase for what “beg the question” used to mean?
posted by Jon_Evil at 12:21 PM on January 9, 2023
But this raises the question: can we find a new phrase for what “beg the question” used to mean?
posted by Jon_Evil at 12:21 PM on January 9, 2023
yeah when i was govt it helpdesk in the 1st Obama admin my pet peeve of phrases boiled down to "at the end of the day it is what it is. going forward, when it rears its ugly head, reach out to someone or put a pin in it."
posted by glonous keming at 12:22 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by glonous keming at 12:22 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
The desire to ban “gaslighting” seems like a bit of a red flag
It seems like it has devolved to just mean "lying" at this point so it might as well be retired.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:28 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
It seems like it has devolved to just mean "lying" at this point so it might as well be retired.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:28 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
I understand the English-teacherish impulse to push students to explore the entire language and write in their own voices, but reading between the lines, I think there must be a holdout on the committee from the Bush years for irregardless. The rest of them definitely see enough play to be banished.
posted by jy4m at 12:30 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by jy4m at 12:30 PM on January 9, 2023
The archives for the past years is here, in case you want to read about manspreading (2016), maverick (2009), or shock and awe (2004).
posted by meowzilla at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by meowzilla at 12:34 PM on January 9, 2023
(Someone posted a version of this list on MeFi back in 2002 and 2003.
Then, someone posted about the unicorn questing permits in 2014.
Then nothing, until 2022 marked the triumphant return of the Banished Words List to MetaFilter.)
posted by box at 12:43 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Then, someone posted about the unicorn questing permits in 2014.
Then nothing, until 2022 marked the triumphant return of the Banished Words List to MetaFilter.)
posted by box at 12:43 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I had no idea GOAT was an initialism. Now I hate it even more. I thought it was a word like "based" that seems to have some meaning for a lot of people that I can't grasp and just figured I was too old to get it.
It took me a while to realize what it meant, because I was used to the Charlie Brown cartoons in which he talked about being the HERO or the GOAT (always in Schulz's nice block capitals) of the baseball game. In those terms, GOAT is exactly the opposite of the current meaning.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:46 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
It took me a while to realize what it meant, because I was used to the Charlie Brown cartoons in which he talked about being the HERO or the GOAT (always in Schulz's nice block capitals) of the baseball game. In those terms, GOAT is exactly the opposite of the current meaning.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:46 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
And one more: "folks."
As above, I'm not sure I know another non-gendered English word for addressing a group that's not even more awkward.
Also, sorry not sorry, I'm ride-or-die for "it is what it is." I mean, I mostly use it to indicate that I'm done with a discussion and I wish my conversation partner would quit belaboring the point, but still. "Whatcha gonna do" sometimes invites more discussion.
Also also, this list is like, just humorless bullshit in the guise of humor. The lake isn't the only thing that thinks its superior here.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:49 PM on January 9, 2023 [18 favorites]
As above, I'm not sure I know another non-gendered English word for addressing a group that's not even more awkward.
Also, sorry not sorry, I'm ride-or-die for "it is what it is." I mean, I mostly use it to indicate that I'm done with a discussion and I wish my conversation partner would quit belaboring the point, but still. "Whatcha gonna do" sometimes invites more discussion.
Also also, this list is like, just humorless bullshit in the guise of humor. The lake isn't the only thing that thinks its superior here.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:49 PM on January 9, 2023 [18 favorites]
The many nominators didn’t have to be physicists or grammarians to determine the literal impossibility and technical vagueness of this wannabe superlative. Yet it’s bestowed on everyone from Olympic gold medalists to Jeopardy! champions, as one muckraker playfully deplored...The singularity of ‘greatest of all time’ cannot happen, no way, no how. And instead of being selectively administered, it’s readily conferred.
This is, actually, a terrible choice of examples because for Jeopardy!, a "greatest of all time" is easily determined. There was even an actual "GOAT" tournament run and won, perhaps unsurprisingly, by the GOAT in regular-season play, Ken Jennings.
posted by the sobsister at 12:51 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is, actually, a terrible choice of examples because for Jeopardy!, a "greatest of all time" is easily determined. There was even an actual "GOAT" tournament run and won, perhaps unsurprisingly, by the GOAT in regular-season play, Ken Jennings.
posted by the sobsister at 12:51 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
The desire to ban “gaslighting” seems like a bit of a red flag
It seems like it has devolved to just mean "lying" at this point so it might as well be retired.
It has a pretty clear meaning that they even go to the effort of defining. "dangerous psychological manipulation that causes victims to distrust their thoughts, feelings, memories, or perception of reality" - an by putting a name to that it's incredibly useful.
Do people use it in other ways? Possibly
Do people quibble the exact edges of the term? Absolutely and frequently
Is this a sufficient a problem that it's proper use is forgotten and it's to retire it? Nah, that sounds like bullshit.
Not you obviously, but I would suspect it more likely the people against the term is probably someone with psychopathic asshole tendencies who's upset their brand of psychopathic assholing got a name. This is an academic institution we are talking about.
posted by Artw at 12:52 PM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
It seems like it has devolved to just mean "lying" at this point so it might as well be retired.
It has a pretty clear meaning that they even go to the effort of defining. "dangerous psychological manipulation that causes victims to distrust their thoughts, feelings, memories, or perception of reality" - an by putting a name to that it's incredibly useful.
Do people use it in other ways? Possibly
Do people quibble the exact edges of the term? Absolutely and frequently
Is this a sufficient a problem that it's proper use is forgotten and it's to retire it? Nah, that sounds like bullshit.
Not you obviously, but I would suspect it more likely the people against the term is probably someone with psychopathic asshole tendencies who's upset their brand of psychopathic assholing got a name. This is an academic institution we are talking about.
posted by Artw at 12:52 PM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
Maybe you guys don't know enough annoying people. Over the past years I've seen gaslighting evolve from a specific technique of psychological abuse to another word for lying, or for disagreeing, or for just being frustrating. I think this development represents a collapse of our collective ability to resolve conflict like adults instead of identifying anyone we have a problem with as an ontologically evil toxic abuser.
posted by jy4m at 12:57 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by jy4m at 12:57 PM on January 9, 2023
Lotta ontologically evil toxic abuser about right now, maybe this should be on people’s minds.
posted by Artw at 1:01 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by Artw at 1:01 PM on January 9, 2023
Amazing.
Irregardless, moving forward it is what it is. Absolutely.
Does that make sense?
posted by straight at 1:01 PM on January 9, 2023
Irregardless, moving forward it is what it is. Absolutely.
Does that make sense?
posted by straight at 1:01 PM on January 9, 2023
ah, one of my least favorite types of pseudo-intellectual claptrap: language peevery with a .edu domain
honestly, it's the hypocrisy that gets me; people who consider themselves erudite engaging with language on the shallowest level - displaying their incuriosity about its actual workings proudly, so that they can just perform the academic's equivalent of gossiping about how gauche someone's outfit is. with the same deliberate ignorance and lack of self-reflection such gossipers generally employ
i tried to appreciate it as tongue-in-cheek but then i got to "irregardless" and sighed
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:05 PM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
honestly, it's the hypocrisy that gets me; people who consider themselves erudite engaging with language on the shallowest level - displaying their incuriosity about its actual workings proudly, so that they can just perform the academic's equivalent of gossiping about how gauche someone's outfit is. with the same deliberate ignorance and lack of self-reflection such gossipers generally employ
i tried to appreciate it as tongue-in-cheek but then i got to "irregardless" and sighed
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 1:05 PM on January 9, 2023 [7 favorites]
We kinda hit an inflection point where the majority of people using "gaslighting" were talking like it had always only ever been a synonym for being lied to.
posted by straight at 1:07 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by straight at 1:07 PM on January 9, 2023
Amazing. Moving forward, I will absolutely avoid these words irregardless of the consequences.
Let's put a pin in that and circle back in real time.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:07 PM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
Let's put a pin in that and circle back in real time.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:07 PM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
It is what it is
There are a few in here.
posted by the one second advantage at 1:10 PM on January 9, 2023
There are a few in here.
posted by the one second advantage at 1:10 PM on January 9, 2023
The one that would be hardest for me to give up is "does that make sense?" because the answer is very often "no."
posted by RobotHero at 1:12 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by RobotHero at 1:12 PM on January 9, 2023
It is what it is. C'est la vie.
Equally acceptable usages:
que sera sera, particularly when it comes from Sly and the Family Stone
posted by philip-random at 1:27 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Equally acceptable usages:
que sera sera, particularly when it comes from Sly and the Family Stone
posted by philip-random at 1:27 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Can we put "insane" and "insanely" on this list? Because, I'm sorry, that mountain over there is not "insanely" big. It did not lose its mind and become big.
posted by The Half Language Plant at 1:28 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by The Half Language Plant at 1:28 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
que sera sera,
though I suppose this is more future tense than shrugging off of present difficult reality
posted by philip-random at 1:29 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
I will continue to use "does that even make sense?"
And "be that as it may."
posted by bz at 1:36 PM on January 9, 2023
And "be that as it may."
posted by bz at 1:36 PM on January 9, 2023
As above, I'm not sure I know another non-gendered English word for addressing a group that's not even more awkward.
Yeah, I'm hit-or-miss when it comes to using gender-neutral second-person-plural phrases, but "folks" is one of my go-tos, along with "y'all."
But I gave up on using language well forever ago. I love adverbs too much to ever be taken seriously. And I find that, unless someone has a literal vocal tic of a phrase, I don't mind whatever vernacular individuals use. All language is an artificial construct intended to convey ideas and feelings; as long as someone can get me to understand what they're saying, I don't mind how they say it. I care far more about whether they themselves are irritating or banal, which is more-than-possible with someone whose grip on language is superb. (And all forced vocal tics make me cringe: I don't care if it's bro-y or political or a meme.)
My rule with "gaslighting," for the record, is that I find it's useful when friends and I are discussing experiences we've had with other people, and useless as a thing to flat-out accuse people of. Same with woke: if I know somebody else well enough that we both understand what we mean by it, then it's useful. There's nothing wrong with language growing broader and more flexible over time—you just need to know that it's happening, and adjust accordingly.
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 1:43 PM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I'm hit-or-miss when it comes to using gender-neutral second-person-plural phrases, but "folks" is one of my go-tos, along with "y'all."
But I gave up on using language well forever ago. I love adverbs too much to ever be taken seriously. And I find that, unless someone has a literal vocal tic of a phrase, I don't mind whatever vernacular individuals use. All language is an artificial construct intended to convey ideas and feelings; as long as someone can get me to understand what they're saying, I don't mind how they say it. I care far more about whether they themselves are irritating or banal, which is more-than-possible with someone whose grip on language is superb. (And all forced vocal tics make me cringe: I don't care if it's bro-y or political or a meme.)
My rule with "gaslighting," for the record, is that I find it's useful when friends and I are discussing experiences we've had with other people, and useless as a thing to flat-out accuse people of. Same with woke: if I know somebody else well enough that we both understand what we mean by it, then it's useful. There's nothing wrong with language growing broader and more flexible over time—you just need to know that it's happening, and adjust accordingly.
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 1:43 PM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
Really, the thing this list is missing is the set of all words not currently on this list.
I get that everyone has their peeves & beeves, and I get wanting to avoid hitting those. But look at what people have suggested in here so far & how they conflict and overlap.
Perhaps the "at least it's entertaining" version of this is that each person proposing a banished word/phrase can only do so if they avoid all previously proposed words.
Let's banish "dogwhistle" while we're at it. Self-defeating term as it's used. "Hey, this thing that I can definitely hear, and I'm pretty sure you can hear if I point it out." Using an active political slogan is hardly a dogwhistle.
posted by CrystalDave at 1:47 PM on January 9, 2023
I get that everyone has their peeves & beeves, and I get wanting to avoid hitting those. But look at what people have suggested in here so far & how they conflict and overlap.
Perhaps the "at least it's entertaining" version of this is that each person proposing a banished word/phrase can only do so if they avoid all previously proposed words.
Let's banish "dogwhistle" while we're at it. Self-defeating term as it's used. "Hey, this thing that I can definitely hear, and I'm pretty sure you can hear if I point it out." Using an active political slogan is hardly a dogwhistle.
posted by CrystalDave at 1:47 PM on January 9, 2023
METAFILTER: I love adverbs too much to ever be taken seriously
posted by philip-random at 2:04 PM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 2:04 PM on January 9, 2023 [4 favorites]
"It is what it is." Are people still saying this?
I remember being really pissed off by this phrase twenty years ago, because it was my boss (the high school principal) using it at staff meetings to respond to any disagreement or dissatisfaction on the part of one of us teachers.
So, yeah, that one is triggering. The others I really don't run across too much because I'm retired from Life as We Know It, happy to play piano and read books and hang out with other old people who are also far away from places where they say "Does that make sense?"
posted by kozad at 2:28 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
I remember being really pissed off by this phrase twenty years ago, because it was my boss (the high school principal) using it at staff meetings to respond to any disagreement or dissatisfaction on the part of one of us teachers.
So, yeah, that one is triggering. The others I really don't run across too much because I'm retired from Life as We Know It, happy to play piano and read books and hang out with other old people who are also far away from places where they say "Does that make sense?"
posted by kozad at 2:28 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
any topic related to opinions about language usage (or better yet, the way so many people are just "wrong about words") is positively the red meat for some of you piranhas
and me. also me.
I end many sentences with "is that clear" or "does that make sense" every week, talking to students. It's a sincere question, I honestly care a lot about whether I'm communicating effectively.
posted by elkevelvet at 2:49 PM on January 9, 2023
and me. also me.
I end many sentences with "is that clear" or "does that make sense" every week, talking to students. It's a sincere question, I honestly care a lot about whether I'm communicating effectively.
posted by elkevelvet at 2:49 PM on January 9, 2023
Gaslighting doesn't exist. You made it up 'cause you're fucking crazy
posted by Phanx at 2:49 PM on January 9, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by Phanx at 2:49 PM on January 9, 2023 [10 favorites]
I don't know who needs to hear this...
...asking for a friend...
...just saying.
READ THAT AGAIN.
posted by davidmsc at 3:30 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
...asking for a friend...
...just saying.
READ THAT AGAIN.
posted by davidmsc at 3:30 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
“Listen…” (and “look” for the murderinos out there) could use a long pause.
i am here to defend ‘it is what it is’, due to its place in recovery circles. i’ve sat through many a meeting where i needed to hear exactly that, and not ‘it is what i wish it was’ or ‘it should be like this’ or add variant here. it’s a shame this one was co-opted.
posted by ovenmitt at 3:44 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
i am here to defend ‘it is what it is’, due to its place in recovery circles. i’ve sat through many a meeting where i needed to hear exactly that, and not ‘it is what i wish it was’ or ‘it should be like this’ or add variant here. it’s a shame this one was co-opted.
posted by ovenmitt at 3:44 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
GOAT is annoying, except for that one time someone posted a TikTok about Stevie Nicks and someone commented "she's the GOAT." I laughed and laughed.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:55 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:55 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
Growing up, "Is that clear?" was code for "Say yes and then get out of my sight or the beating won't stop," so it would be incredibly stressful to hear it very often in the workplace.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:07 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:07 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
I dislike the phrase 'It is what it is', but it was banished in 2008 and still seems to be going strong. What is this? A ban on language? A ban on human behaviour? The words and phrases we use are part of our culture. Some of them suck, in my opinion, but these are the words we use. Do we need a website to tell us what not to say? It is what it is... I guess.
posted by Elmore at 4:27 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Elmore at 4:27 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
after nearly 3 full years of this, we all should be able to manage a zoom meeting
Not all of us have been doing Zoom meetings for the past three years. There's a whole lot of us who worked in-person during quarantine. A few months ago I had to do a job interview by video call; it was the first time I'd used, or even heard of, Teams.
I won't mock the clumsy way you remove nitrile gloves if you don't tease me for not knowing how to share my screen on Zoom. We've all picked up different skills since 2020.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:56 PM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
Not all of us have been doing Zoom meetings for the past three years. There's a whole lot of us who worked in-person during quarantine. A few months ago I had to do a job interview by video call; it was the first time I'd used, or even heard of, Teams.
I won't mock the clumsy way you remove nitrile gloves if you don't tease me for not knowing how to share my screen on Zoom. We've all picked up different skills since 2020.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:56 PM on January 9, 2023 [5 favorites]
"It is what it is." Are people still saying this?
I remember being really pissed off by this phrase twenty years ago, because it was my boss (the high school principal) using it at staff meetings to respond to any disagreement or dissatisfaction on the part of one of us teachers.
So, yeah, that one is triggering.
It's what we say at work when something is never, ever, ever, ever, ever going to be changed or fixed. Which is 90% of all problems. All you can do is throw up your hands, accept it, and give up.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:17 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
I remember being really pissed off by this phrase twenty years ago, because it was my boss (the high school principal) using it at staff meetings to respond to any disagreement or dissatisfaction on the part of one of us teachers.
So, yeah, that one is triggering.
It's what we say at work when something is never, ever, ever, ever, ever going to be changed or fixed. Which is 90% of all problems. All you can do is throw up your hands, accept it, and give up.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:17 PM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
There was a lot of "it is what it is" in real estate (especially rentals) in the early 90s, in my experience.
It wreaks of proscriptivism, which I hate.
(did you do that on purpose)
posted by tzikeh at 6:59 PM on January 9, 2023
It wreaks of proscriptivism, which I hate.
(did you do that on purpose)
posted by tzikeh at 6:59 PM on January 9, 2023
proscriptive morality is focused on what we should not do.
Do I have that wrong?
posted by philip-random at 7:19 PM on January 9, 2023
Do I have that wrong?
posted by philip-random at 7:19 PM on January 9, 2023
Do I have that wrong?
Not at all - it was that you said you hate proscriptivism but used "wreaks" when you meant "reeks" and I thought it was a clever way to say "don't correct me"
I may be overthinking this but then I was given to understand that MetaFilter is a magnet for that sort of thing
posted by tzikeh at 7:25 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Not at all - it was that you said you hate proscriptivism but used "wreaks" when you meant "reeks" and I thought it was a clever way to say "don't correct me"
I may be overthinking this but then I was given to understand that MetaFilter is a magnet for that sort of thing
posted by tzikeh at 7:25 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
This whole topic reeks havoc with my word choices.
posted by philip-random at 7:35 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by philip-random at 7:35 PM on January 9, 2023
This is a good list but I don't understand "absolutely" being on there. I don't think I hear it overused but maybe I'm just not paying attention to it.
You clearly don’t listen to a lot of interviews on NPR.
posted by wondermouse at 7:52 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
You clearly don’t listen to a lot of interviews on NPR.
posted by wondermouse at 7:52 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also, any time someone at work has said “Does that make sense?” it’s always after they said something that obviously makes sense, to the point where I feel like they’re insulting me by asking. I don’t know if that’s a common reaction to that question or not.
posted by wondermouse at 7:57 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by wondermouse at 7:57 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also also, this list is like, just humorless bullshit in the guise of humor. The lake isn't the only thing that thinks its superior here.
The G.L.O.A.T. would never concede that title.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:40 PM on January 9, 2023
The G.L.O.A.T. would never concede that title.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:40 PM on January 9, 2023
If it is what it is, then it also isn't what it never was.
posted by perhapses at 8:47 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by perhapses at 8:47 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]
yes brief follow, "it is what it is" was the polite way of saying "it sucks and there's nothing we can do about it"
posted by glonous keming at 9:00 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by glonous keming at 9:00 PM on January 9, 2023
I would like to have a corresponding list of excellent words that should be used more often. My favorite comes from a Finnish colleague who used a contraction to say “most probably.” For instance, if he caught you about to make a mistake, he might say, “mostably you have to little think what it is you are doing.”
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 9:12 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by fantabulous timewaster at 9:12 PM on January 9, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'd be happy to see GOAT retired, at least from (association) football discussion. Mostly because of the tediousness of the arguments between the Leo/CR7 fans, interrupted only by Pele dying so everyone who hadn't already weighed in could explain that he was the real GOAT. That said, it did spawn a recurring motif in David Squires' cartoons that I quite enjoyed, see here and here
posted by Pink Frost at 10:47 PM on January 9, 2023
posted by Pink Frost at 10:47 PM on January 9, 2023
I almost never hear white men saying this.
That members of a social category characterized by relatively little need to take others' needs and feelings into consideration often use communication patterns that don't take others' needs or feelings into consideration isn't really an argument for adopting those patterns, though - it's really more of an argument for members of said group to start doing the emotional and social labor everyone else is.
(I know, it's not that simple, language is communication and when you use the language of the dominant group you convey that you too are dominant and can dominate others and therefore shouldn't be treated as someone to be dominated. But that's a deeply messed up system that rewards all the wrong things and I think anyone with enough social capital should spend some on rewarding and raising the status of more cooperative and empathetic communication styles.)
... also I checked their historical list and there's no "tremendous"?
posted by trig at 12:18 AM on January 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
That members of a social category characterized by relatively little need to take others' needs and feelings into consideration often use communication patterns that don't take others' needs or feelings into consideration isn't really an argument for adopting those patterns, though - it's really more of an argument for members of said group to start doing the emotional and social labor everyone else is.
(I know, it's not that simple, language is communication and when you use the language of the dominant group you convey that you too are dominant and can dominate others and therefore shouldn't be treated as someone to be dominated. But that's a deeply messed up system that rewards all the wrong things and I think anyone with enough social capital should spend some on rewarding and raising the status of more cooperative and empathetic communication styles.)
... also I checked their historical list and there's no "tremendous"?
posted by trig at 12:18 AM on January 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am sooo feelin' ya, user Akk2014
A short, crisp "perfect" is bad enough, but there's a specific type of annoying person who, when on the phone or over the counter, will intone "perrrrfect" which, in turn, makes me want to reach out and slap them.
Even worse is the expression I/we "would like to reach out". This one makes me livid. Just ASK already!
Don't urge. Invite is suspect. Call upon is just wrong.
I'd like to urge our employees to wear pants today.
Can I invite you to take out the garbage?
We call upon you to park between the fucking lines.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:37 AM on January 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
A short, crisp "perfect" is bad enough, but there's a specific type of annoying person who, when on the phone or over the counter, will intone "perrrrfect" which, in turn, makes me want to reach out and slap them.
Even worse is the expression I/we "would like to reach out". This one makes me livid. Just ASK already!
Don't urge. Invite is suspect. Call upon is just wrong.
I'd like to urge our employees to wear pants today.
Can I invite you to take out the garbage?
We call upon you to park between the fucking lines.
posted by BlueHorse at 12:37 AM on January 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
My wife constantly say “does that make sense” at even the simplest statements. “I’m taking the dog for a walk. Does that make sense?” Then again, she teaches undergraduate chemistry so I can understand why she needs to say it.
posted by slogger at 5:38 AM on January 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by slogger at 5:38 AM on January 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
I end many sentences with "is that clear" or "does that make sense" every week
I end many sentences with "alles klar, Herr Kommissar?" but I am Falco.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:55 PM on January 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
I end many sentences with "alles klar, Herr Kommissar?" but I am Falco.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:55 PM on January 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
"C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:57 PM on January 10, 2023
posted by kirkaracha at 12:57 PM on January 10, 2023
Well, I hung up the non-sequiter, Amazing, yesterday. You're gonna be sorry, it makes me verboser, even more verboser, than I have been histrionically, I mean, histerically, no, historically. Yes, that particular word overs a lot of dead air, and is ultimately, dishonest most of the time it is used / misused. For instance, when is the last time you were "Amazed," out for coffee, or in your work day? (NASA employees excluded.) Was somebody's new hoodie really "Amazing," or their t-shirt, or their hair cut? Anyway, this place is great for the daily collection of reads and comments, so many clever writers here.
posted by Oyéah at 1:40 PM on January 10, 2023
posted by Oyéah at 1:40 PM on January 10, 2023
"Imaginary," used as a noun - generally within lit-crit and other circles of academia - tops my list.
posted by Bob Regular at 5:33 PM on January 15, 2023
posted by Bob Regular at 5:33 PM on January 15, 2023
« Older The DIY Scientist, the Olympian, and the Mutated... | #OpenDnD Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by lookoutbelow at 10:01 AM on January 9, 2023 [8 favorites]