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Words "viral" and "epic" consigned to college trash
Reuters ^ | 12/31/2010 | Ros Krasny

Posted on 01/02/2011 6:47:58 AM PST by speciallybland

This story might be epic, and could even go viral, but not if Lake Superior State University has anything to do with it. Just sayin.'

The small college in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, released on Friday its annual list of "banished words" -- terms so overused, misused and hackneyed they deserve to be sent to a permanent linguistic trash can in the year ahead.

"Viral," often used to describe the rapid spreading of videos or other content over the Internet, leads the list for 2011.

"This linguistic disease of a term must be quarantined," Kuahmel Allah of Los Angeles said in making a nomination.

Runners-up included "epic" and "fail," often twinned to describe a blunder of monumental proportions.

A total of 14 words were on the list.

Cliched terms such as "wow factor," "a-ha moment," "back story" and "BFF" (Best Friends Forever) rated highly. The very au courant use of "Facebook" and "Google" as verbs got a thumbs down as well.

As usual, election-cycle zingers and catchwords quickly look as worn out as last year's campaign posters.

In that vein, voters suggested the banning of "Mama Grizzlies," used to describe right-wing female politicians in the mold of Sarah Palin, and "man up," famously used by Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharon Angle in a testy debate with Democrat Harry Reid and a favorite Palin expression as well.

"A stupid phrase when directed at men. Even more stupid when directed at a woman, as in 'Alexis, you need to man up and join that Pilates class!'" said Sherry Edwards of Clarkston, Michigan.

Previous winners and nominees include the terms "shovel ready" for 2010, "battleground states" for 2005, "24/7" for 2000 and "family values" for 1995.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: epic; fail; viral; words
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1 posted on 01/02/2011 6:48:02 AM PST by speciallybland
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To: speciallybland
I vote for "really?" delivered with that smarmy lilt.

Annoying.

2 posted on 01/02/2011 6:51:24 AM PST by Glenn (iamtheresistance.org)
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To: speciallybland

They say that the phrase “American people” needs to be trashed also. Welcome to our American education system.


3 posted on 01/02/2011 6:54:00 AM PST by RC2
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To: speciallybland

I do have words on my list that annoy me, but I was listening to this on Fox and Friends this morning and it occurred to me; what sort of group or people decide for the rest of us what words should be banned? Seems the height of self importance to decide that because they are tired of a word of phrase it is worthy of the trash heap.
For instance, I think the use of sammy for sandwich is infantile. On the other hand, when I hear an adult use it, it also tells me something useful about them. :)


4 posted on 01/02/2011 6:59:58 AM PST by brytlea
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To: speciallybland

“progressive”.

when they’re going backwards,

it’s hard to imagine progress in the making.


5 posted on 01/02/2011 7:04:16 AM PST by ken21 (gop = stupid party, dems = evil party.)
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To: brytlea
For instance, I think the use of sammy for sandwich is infantile. On the other hand, when I hear an adult use it, it also tells me something useful about them. :)

I've never heard "sammy" used for "sandwich". However, I have heard "sammich" which is equally annoying.
6 posted on 01/02/2011 7:06:22 AM PST by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: speciallybland

I nominate “sustainable” and “climate change.”


7 posted on 01/02/2011 7:07:29 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Glenn

What will happen to Epic Bearded Man?


8 posted on 01/02/2011 7:08:07 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: ken21

Letting Leftists Limit Language
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/09/letting_leftists_limit_languag.html


9 posted on 01/02/2011 7:10:31 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: speciallybland
If Kuahmel Allah wants censorship he should go back to whereever his namesake resides...we have a first amendment clause here.

This message should to VIRAL in EPIC proportions....LOL
10 posted on 01/02/2011 7:12:47 AM PST by FrankR (The Evil Are Powerless If The Good Are Unafraid! - R. Reagan)
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To: speciallybland

Sometimes bastardizing the English language to make a point is effective. For instance, I like the contraction of the word government (gub’ment) when speaking of people who have become dependent upon taxpayer money to meet their basic needs.


11 posted on 01/02/2011 7:13:55 AM PST by SamAdams76
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To: Jack Hydrazine

How about “green”. Every time I hear that, I want to vomit green.


12 posted on 01/02/2011 7:14:17 AM PST by Mouton
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To: Glenn
"Hopefully"

"at the end of the day"

"focus like a laser"

13 posted on 01/02/2011 7:26:04 AM PST by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know .F Trp 8th Cav)
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To: Mouton

How about “empower” and “liberal”?


14 posted on 01/02/2011 7:26:17 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: speciallybland

10 Words I’m tired of Hearing
http://blog.pappastax.com/index.php/2010/12/10/ten-words-im-tired-of-hearing/


15 posted on 01/02/2011 7:27:38 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: speciallybland

The word most in need of being consigned to the trash heap is “diversity”. But if that happened, these academic sorts would be unable to speak for more than fifteen seconds without becoming confounded and tongue-tied.


16 posted on 01/02/2011 7:27:52 AM PST by Will88
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To: brytlea

How Liberals Use Words to Hide Their True Intent
http://floridapundit.com/2010/09/how-liberals-use-words-to-hide-their-true-intent/


17 posted on 01/02/2011 7:29:18 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: speciallybland
Progressive. Regressing back to governmental control and tyranny is hardly "progressive". Although I do love to make the comparison of progressive politics to progressive diseases like cancer that keeps on getting worse and worse until it kills you.
18 posted on 01/02/2011 7:38:22 AM PST by KarlInOhio (All monopolies are detestable, but the worst of all is the monopoly of education. -Frederic Bastiat)
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To: SamAdams76
word government (gub’ment)

As a child I noticed some folks very dear to me, used the pronounciation "gub'ment". They also said "ink-em tax".

I remember noticing my own sense of fondness and appreciation for President Reagan when I heard him use the same while he was Governor.

I don't think I had much use for politicians before that.

19 posted on 01/02/2011 7:41:31 AM PST by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know .F Trp 8th Cav)
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To: speciallybland

How about ¨moderate muslim¨?


20 posted on 01/02/2011 8:04:41 AM PST by onedoug
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