You don't actually have to turn your head sideways, you know.
Lake Superior State University in Michigan released their annual list of words that should be banned from use. I enjoy lists like these because they make me chuckle. Chuckling is not something I do often - I'm more of an outright laugher - so I enjoy feeling like I should be sitting in an armchair in front of a fire with a pipe and smoking jacket whilst reading the latest escapades of Lord Wimsey.
So we're all sick of words like green, maverick, and staycation (a word I have personally never used, I chuckle).
But the heart emoticon? Are we to rid ourselves of the smiley face one as well? Oh, of course, we should banish all emoticons because they're not actually words (which makes me wonder why it is on a list of words, but that is beside the point).
We're supposed to just use the word.
So instead of :D, I should say LAUGHING!
Or, HAPPY NOW, instead of :)
Do you know why I use the smiley emoticon? Because I cannot actually smile at you, but I am smiling. I know some people are fond of using them to take the sting out of words that may read harsh. But I use :D because I am laughing at something you said and nothing else conveys that so well.
And when I do this: <3, it means I am feeling something akin to warm mushy feelings. The words 'I love you' are thrown out all over the place on the internet. I use them too, so I am self-pointing here. Because when I hear them? Unless it is from someone who knows me very well, I don't believe them. The <3 emoticon, in its own weird way, feels less hypocritical. You're not actually using the word, so I don't have to doubt if you really really mean it. And I can use it and not worry I am freaking you out with my overly sensitive mushiness.
And really? Who are these yahoos at Lake Superior U. in Michigan to decide for us what words to stop using?
So we're all sick of words like green, maverick, and staycation (a word I have personally never used, I chuckle).
But the heart emoticon? Are we to rid ourselves of the smiley face one as well? Oh, of course, we should banish all emoticons because they're not actually words (which makes me wonder why it is on a list of words, but that is beside the point).
We're supposed to just use the word.
So instead of :D, I should say LAUGHING!
Or, HAPPY NOW, instead of :)
Do you know why I use the smiley emoticon? Because I cannot actually smile at you, but I am smiling. I know some people are fond of using them to take the sting out of words that may read harsh. But I use :D because I am laughing at something you said and nothing else conveys that so well.
And when I do this: <3, it means I am feeling something akin to warm mushy feelings. The words 'I love you' are thrown out all over the place on the internet. I use them too, so I am self-pointing here. Because when I hear them? Unless it is from someone who knows me very well, I don't believe them. The <3 emoticon, in its own weird way, feels less hypocritical. You're not actually using the word, so I don't have to doubt if you really really mean it. And I can use it and not worry I am freaking you out with my overly sensitive mushiness.
And really? Who are these yahoos at Lake Superior U. in Michigan to decide for us what words to stop using?