Words, usages, and phrases that annoy the shit out of you...

Also, "That being said," and all variations of it. IF YOU WEREN'T RIGHT OR DIDN'T MEAN THE FIRST BIT WHY DID YOU EVEN SAY IT YOU ASSHOLE?

I should get a job

Language witched up by human resource departments (ew) however, deserves its own special place in the fiery hereafter. I recently got an email at work that proudly held forth on our NEW AND IMPROVED orientation program for new employees...except, instead of boring old "orientation", they're launching the new term "on-boarding". As in, getting someone ON BOARD. If you sat within 20 feet of me you'd have heard teeth grinding, I tells ya.

i take "that being said" to be an introduction to a follow-up statement, or a proviso. i appreciate the inverted-pyramid-style organization of thought here: lay down the most relevant information first, then start to put your own spin on things.

i'm sort of curious about the very english thing of diminutizing (infantilizing?) common nouns. "butty" and "sarnie" and "appie" and "footie" (although "footie" usually refers to aussie rules football, right?) and (to name a few where the diminutizations don't come with any shift in literal meaning) watching "telly," paying the "lecky" bill, getting a new "brolly" as a "pressie," etc.

i know i'm posting this on an "annoys the shit out of you" thread, but i have no problem with any of it!

-- caitlin oh no (caitx...), August 19th, 2005.

Well, actually, there's some truth to that. But it wasn't college kids repeating this meme, it was journalists. It was like "NOW THAT SOMETHING BAD HAS HAPPENED, CAN WE EVER NOT TAKE EVERYTHING TO BE SOMBER AND SERIOUS AGAIN???" Of course we can you sanctimonious fucks!

By the way...re words what annoy...the shit...out of...

------->"meme"

matos, once again i say YOU'RE A DOLL.

(i like "meme" too.)

i don't think american english does it so relentlessly though.

This is what I'm wondering. Trend? Fad? Archetype? Cultural development? Idea?

I do concede that maybe, just maybe, this is a case of a new word engendering new thoughts. A meme meme. If you will. As it were.

and any variations of same.

"Values Voter" (as if people vote on anything else)

why? why not American Security, U.S. Security, of just plain Security.

What are the cultural ramifications of this antiquated, underused, in the contxt of this country, phrase being given new life.

Homelands are where people come from, they are not the new, shiny America. But homelands are often under siege, is this why it must be Homeland Security, so we will realize the great importance of the endeavor. If it way US Security, would we not feel so comforted, protected.

That's exactly what the Homeland Security dept. is.

in other news...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/images/300-HSAS-Chart.jpg

That's why Ebonics proponents wanted the state to provide more funding to teach these students English just like it funds ESL programs for kids who speak only Spanish.