Getting Ahead of the E-Mails

Yes, yes. I know “Whatever” was chosen as the most annoying word this year. Again. As it is many years, apparently. You don’t need to tell me.

For clarity’s sake I will note yet again that “Whatever” in the the context of this blog is used as “I write about whatever I want to write about here,” as opposed to the dismissive “Whatever,” that is what people get annoyed with. Either way, I don’t need to be informed about the existence of this poll and its results. I know. Trust me, I know.

30 Comments on “Getting Ahead of the E-Mails”

  1. Incidentally, if you think you’re going to be clever and post a comment with some variation of the “whatever” expression, well. WHATEVER, man. There, I did for you.

  2. Like, you know, did you ever think that when you created this site that it would be, like, you know, your daughter’s favorite word? At least it has been my son’s favorite for the last 10 years. :)

  3. .
    I’m not certain of the cognitive and conative distinctions between saying “WHATever” versus “whatEVER.” Or, in Valley Speak, “whatEVER?” with a tonal swoop at the end. Need to consult the paper by Mrs. William Gibson on the linguistics of the Canadain “eh?” Really, she did write such a paper.

  4. I don’t understand how “trending”, “double down” and “perfect storm” failed to make the list. Those three make me want to reach out through my tv screen and throttle whichever offending commentator is opening his/her piehole.

  5. So, no FedEx style rebranding to “Wev” in the offing, then…

    Jonathan Vos Post: You should actually consult comedian Howard Mohr’s book (and/or PBS special) “How To Talk Minnesotan”, from the mid-’90s. Goes into great detail on the cases and proper pronunciation of “Whatever.” (Also “That’s different” and “You bet.”)

  6. Really? (Yes that was deliberate) I can think of several much more annoying words ca. 2012. “Awesome” is overused (IMO), and don’t get me started on “so….”, as in, “I don’t want to go to the store, so….” The speaker never finishes the sentence!

  7. Just recently heard the word (which I am not usually a fan of) employed by a three-and-a-half-year-old.
    “Hey, do you want a baby brother or baby sister next month?”
    *shrug* “Whatever.”
    (IT WAS SO CUTE.)

  8. I agree with catfriend: double down is a terrible phrase. I’d also add fiscal cliff and moist. If I never hear any of these words again, I would be okay with it.

  9. I fail to see how “whatever” made the top billing in a year where actual candidates for POTUS were using “Romnesia” and “Obamaloney” in their talking points.

  10. However, a TIME Magazine poll is currently suggesting that the term which should be banished is YOLO, which I think we can all get behind as way more annoying.

  11. I had to look up YOLO. Which, as it turns out, bothers me less than you might think – because this means I’m not spending valuable time around people who’d use it.

    (I know what LOL means, but many years of reading Herb Caen still makes my brain translate it to Little Old Lady now and again…)

  12. In the future, newscasters will have little social prompters. Audience “members” will hit either a little 👍 or 👎 on their contemporary mobile device and the presenters, reporters, entertainers can bask in the instantly aggregated wave of love or hate from their lobotomized audiences. Extra ratings/views if the aggregated group-think is reinforced by showing the results to the sheep…er, I mean viewers.

  13. Whatever.. in other news.. The United States of Bacon! FOR-Fuckin’_E-VAR!!!!111!!!eleventy oneses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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