Getting Ahead of the E-Mails
Posted on December 28, 2012 Posted by John Scalzi 30 Comments
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.
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.
When I first foiund this blog, I always thought of it as “whatever I want to write” rather than the dismissive “whatever”. It never occured me that people could see it the other way.
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. :)
In fact, Athena only rarely uses the word “whatever.” She did use “cool story, bro,” for a while.
Something, something, clever turn of phrase…whatever…something something.
I saw this great bacon thing on the net…….
Whatever.
Like, whatevs, broseph.
.
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.
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.
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.”)
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!
I hope I wasn’t one of *those people* who felt the need to draw your attention to the poll last year.
Wha teav er; … or wha tea ver. This is going to be a long thread.
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.)
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.
I agree with Beej… If everything is “awesome”, nothing is awesome.
Oh well. It’s “Whatever.” Nevermind.
Wh…oh
But…everything IS awesome! Wow, man.
@illmunkeys
But Moist is a GREAT word. Although my love for it mainly comes from Discworld…
Wait! . . . we can’t be clever?
Chesempre!
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.
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.
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…)
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.
I’m from New England and I thought it was “Whatevah”
My vote is still for “peeps” (as in people, not marshmallow ducks)! as most annoying
oh the irony
Whatever.. in other news.. The United States of Bacon! FOR-Fuckin’_E-VAR!!!!111!!!eleventy oneses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!