Huckleberries Online

A Word That Literally Kills Him

Posted by DFO

Feb. 10, 2009 3:31 p.m. • 85 comments

Literally means figuratively in today’s backward culture, a mistake propelled by celebrities and television personalities. For example, pop star Beyoncé Knowles told fans at a fundraising concert that it was imperative to “literally give the clothes off your back” for those in developing nations. To the great disappointment of many male fans, the diva never personally followed through with her call to action. Perhaps this once literary term is condemned to the cellar-dwelling ranks of seriously, totally or like, words that once properly signified veracity and now point only to emphasis. Seriously folks, I’m like so totally tired of these words, literally/Rusty Shellhorn, WSU Daily Evergreen. More here.

Question: Are you annoyed by the misuse of a word in our culture? What is it?

85 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

toadman on February 10 at 3:51 p.m.
The misuse of the word “random” is disconcerting. It’s use has become so random, you know?
MikeK on February 10 at 4:12 p.m.
Kage, you’ve now proven to me that I was correct in my personal observations about you based on your comments here and on the CdA Press website. Your 4:04 comment on this thread is unseemly, bigoted and just flat wrong. It says more about your outlook on the world than anything else you write could. You should be ashamed of yourself, but I’m guessing that you don’t have that capacity.
Sisyphus on February 10 at 4:23 p.m.
Where is Marmite when you need her. Actually I think faggot is held to be very derogatory akin to the “n” word Kage used by the ignorant and unintelligent to denote another as less than human. Demnization is a common tactic of a bigot. For me it speaks more of the user than of the target of the word. Very odious.
toadman on February 10 at 4:29 p.m.
Sisy - just ask marmie about all those American tourists talking about their “fanny packs” when touring England. You’ll get a laugh about what the term means over there.

;-)

While you’re assertion that the term Gay has had a meaning shift over the years is true, I also think the way you’ve used the term faggot is hateful. If you’re talking about a bundle of fire wood however, I’ll give it a pass. The context seems to indicate that you are not talking about fuel for a fire, however.
trishgannon on February 10 at 4:34 p.m.
Till. It’s something you store money in or something you do to a field, but if you mean it as a contraction of until, it should be spelled ‘til.

that one drives me nuts
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 4:35 p.m.
MikeK- everytime you sit down in a CDA city council meeting you should be ashamed of yourself.Wow,I’m being attacked by liberals.I just made an observation,that’s all.Why turn it into something,so you can attack me?
Joker on February 10 at 4:38 p.m.
For shame Kage,

When you use words like that, you give the impression that you’re an ignorant, inbred hillbilly with missing teeth. That’s a bad word and you should know better. And don’t give me, I was just trying to prove a point about language and how it evolves.
Sisyphus on February 10 at 4:38 p.m.
Trish, I always thought that as well till I found it in the dictionary.
Sisyphus on February 10 at 4:39 p.m.
In answer to the question “irregardless”.
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 4:43 p.m.
Why, be a hypocrit? You called me a racist and DFO promptly,
deleted your nonsense.I’m waiting for an apology.

BTW- I couldn’t think of another word at the time to describe being gay, to explain myself.Sorry,If I offended the sensitive people.
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 4:45 p.m.
That last post was for Sis.
Joker on February 10 at 4:48 p.m.
Kage add these to your 150 word dictionary: homosexual and lesbian.
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 4:55 p.m.
Look Joker, I messed up.Lets not be condescending. I thought you were a republican, maybe I’m wrong. I was on your side with your go-around with Bob, now I’m not. If you want another go around, you’ve picked the wrong person
JeanieSpokane on February 10 at 5:00 p.m.
Boy this thread is ironic: Are you annoyed by the misuse of a word in our culture? I would say people are MORE than just annoyed. It’ strange that annoying words will turn a thread into a yelling match. DFO - I’d just delete the whole dang thread.
Joker on February 10 at 5:04 p.m.
Sorry Kage, I did come down on you like a sledgehammer. I was way too harsh. Forgive me..

BTW: I am not a Republican or Democrat….
OrangeTV on February 10 at 5:36 p.m.
“Now, it’s being perverted to mean being
a faggot.”

Yes, that’s me. A big ‘ol perverted nelly queer swish faggotty homo. In the sky with diamonds. Yawn.
sibulsky on February 10 at 5:40 p.m.
misused words…wow!

The media is a huge offender….

“Now” is a word that refers to a moment in time…but it’s become a crutch word, leading off every sentence for some TV talking heads.

“would like to”…as in “I’d like to thank …” I’d like to, but I won’t! Just say I thank!
Arpie on February 10 at 5:59 p.m.
“I just want to say…” Instead, say it.
Bob on February 10 at 6:15 p.m.
Kage caught himself in his own little troll trap and now he’s scrambling around like a inbred cat in a litterbox covering up his crap.

Kage, why don’t you listen to me? Turn the dial down. You’re most effective when you don’t troll with with a “Kick me, I’m stoopid” sign stuck on your back.
EagleKeeper44 on February 10 at 7:18 p.m.
In answer to the question.

Ok, maybe not just one word but two.
Everytime I hear an interview by one of Televisions finest talking heads and every sentence contains the two words..

“You Know”

I want to break something………
Cindy_H on February 10 at 7:26 p.m.
EagleKeeper: I hope you’ll make blogfest. I’d like to thank you in person for your wisdom regarding co-signing for my oldest son’s apartment. Your advice was the tipping point and was proved to be correct. I am very thankful!
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 7:32 p.m.
Bobby, I’ve been told you are using HBO as your own litterbox.
Your the troll king these past 5 years and quite a legend in your own mind.

Sis, I think your a bigot against my people. Your condescension and arrogance knows no bounds. Why must you call people names?
Bob on February 10 at 7:39 p.m.
Kage Mann, try to crank it up a little higher than “I know you are but what am I”

It brings back memories of Pee Wee’s Playhouse on Saturday morning. It’s not that those aren’t fond memories it’s just that you tend to mostly remind me of the later Paul Reubens. The one who liked to go to movies by himself.
Escapee on February 10 at 7:44 p.m.
Weatherpeople…they always say “We DO have rain in the forecast…” Seems like “DO” is the favorite crutch-word of meteriologists nationwide.
Sisyphus on February 10 at 7:51 p.m.
Your people? I have nothing against the smiley faced. Some of my best friends are smiley faced people. You have a very nice smiley faced family Kage. Your kind are welcome around any tme.

I’m not sure about your music though.
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 8:06 p.m.
My neighbor and his roomate are homosexual. I’ve done some work for him and enjoy talking to him.That’s my music.Two of my sisters-in-law are polynesian and they love me.That’s my music.I know you politically correct libs, have to have it your way or no way.Remember you guys got quite the tongue lashing from DFO and quite a few deletions.

And judging from that I’m not too sure about your music. ;-(
Sisyphus on February 10 at 8:07 p.m.
And ya’ll look alike.
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 8:15 p.m.
I’m sad you have to be surrounded by republicans down there. Maybe, you can give Larry LaRocco a hug.LMAO
Bob on February 10 at 8:18 p.m.
“Kage_Mann on February 10 at 8:06 p.m.

My neighbor and his roomate are homosexual. I’ve done some work for him and enjoy talking to him.That’s my music.Two of my sisters-in-law are polynesian and they love me.That’s my music.I know you politically correct libs, have to have it your way or no way.Remember you guys got quite the tongue lashing from DFO and quite a few deletions.”

Meow. Skritch, skritch, skritch.
Bob on February 10 at 8:25 p.m.
However, it fits for “political party”

Welcome back Mr. George!
Sisyphus on February 10 at 8:25 p.m.
Dude, where have you been!?
MikeK on February 10 at 8:40 p.m.
I’ve typed three different posts here in the last five minutes and deleted every one of them before posting in a massive display of blogging self-restraint. I’m going back to trying to make small people go to sleep without some form of pharmacological assistance. Or a rubber mallet. Oh, yea, welcome back ThomG.
MikeK on February 10 at 8:44 p.m.
“but an overabundance of stupid called me back”

Hey! If you don’t want a call back, then don’t phone in the first place.
Sisyphus on February 10 at 8:50 p.m.
There’s twelve steps? Whoa. That explains sumthin.
Bob on February 10 at 9:04 p.m.
I used to struggle with OCD until I joined a 12,000 step program.

(rimshot)

I’ll be here all week folks. Try the veal! Tip your waitress.
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 9:11 p.m.
ThomG, are you nuts? There is a reason your comments get deleted, because your rhetoric doesn’t resonate with people anymore.It’s too hate filled.I did read your two comments that
got deleted.Why act that way? I never called you that.Why are liberals more vicious? ;-(
Bent on February 10 at 9:40 p.m.
Man, I am a little ticked off. I have been jonesin’ for a good thread on HBO for a couple of weeks now, and the best we’ve seen lately has been around 20-30 comments on a thread with MAYBE two thirds of those comments on topic.

Now I’m in a time zone where I can’t sync up with your west coast conversations and you have nearly 100 comments on one thread and 40 on another.

Dang, all I have to say is good night. It’s 12:30 here and I just spent the last hour and half helping my 13-year-old with a civics paper… Then I open this thread to see Kage bashing the gay community and posting the comment below that seems to insinuate that I might not know DFO as well as I thought I did (not that there is anything wrong with that Dave)…

“…you guys got quite the tongue lashing from DFO …” — Kage
Kage_Mann on February 10 at 9:41 p.m.
ThomG, sadly it’s the same rhetoric that got you deleted before.
Can’t have a discussion because, it’s the same condescending comments. Why are you more vicious?
Bent on February 10 at 9:43 p.m.
Dang it Thom, I have to go to sleep. DFO, can you wait to delete this stuff until read it tomorrow. Anytime after 4 a.m your time is fine…
Nick_Adams on February 10 at 10:09 p.m.
Holy moly! I step away for a few hours and everything goes berzerk. I cannot believe that even a poster (poseur) as dense as Kage would use a word that offensive.

Like I’ve said before, I hope the Kage Mans of the world keep leading the charge for “conservatives”. It may play in the squirrel-eating hinterlands (re: Idaho, Utah, Mississippi, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Texas), but thank God the rest of country has moved beyond it.

Go Kage, go!
thomg57 on February 10 at 10:14 p.m.
dave, staying up late? ;)
Cindy_H on February 10 at 11:07 p.m.
Holy Cow! Pace yourself Thom, pace yourself.
marmitetoasty on February 11 at 12:18 a.m.
Cripes……… my lads eat faggots in this house at least once a fortnight……. the word is never used in any other context then ‘I love me some faggots’ usually with sweet potatoe mash and crisp brocolli…… :)

http://artiewayne.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/faggots.jpg

I will admit these are probably the only things I buy that I aint made meself………

*giggling still at Toadie and him remembering all the fuss I first had on Dingleberries from a certain ‘young man’ when I first came here and the ‘fanny pack cronicles’ :)

x
thawtfulreader on February 11 at 12:53 a.m.
Another round, then check, please.

(Side note to Bob, in invisible ink: Dude, this troll ain’t worth a word of your retorting power. I’m sorry to break it to ya, but it’s beyond even your highly advanced level of mockery. It does not comprehend.)
OrangeTV on February 11 at 2:05 a.m.
Like Samantha Stevens, I’m wiggling my nose in a mad fury trying to make Kage Mann go away from Huckleberries for good. If he doesn’t, I probably will.
thawtfulreader on February 11 at 2:30 a.m.
Don’t go, Patrick. Crazy Aunt Clara said no way. Stay!

Just had to go and show me up, eh Bob, with your masterful trickery, err, I mean mocking of the troll. Nicely done. I just… seems like such as waste. There’s so few of the hep cats who will get it.

dopeamine
dopeamine
dopeamine
mmmmmmmmmmm
Bob on February 11 at 5:36 a.m.
Wow Kage. Drive off a few more valued and treasured HBO commenters? Funny how your trollishness does that. Maybe you need to go clomp away to your lair where you can pick at your troll zits and figure out how to potty train yourself before you return. I think you are the most despised commenter here right now. Is that what you actually wanted?

Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out, troll.
Kage_Mann on February 11 at 6:23 a.m.
How do you solve a problem like Bobby,who runs people off for a hobby.Ya’can’t run me off trollboy or is it Nature Boy.I think you’ve run plenty away from here and you’re a coward.
Bob on February 11 at 6:33 a.m.
Kage, I can’t keep explaining to you how immature and ineffectual the Pee Wee’s Playhouse defense is when you get your pin head poked. I’m really trying to help you be the best troll you can be. Yet, you don’t listen to me. You have potential but you always get bored and end up tossing a flaming crapbomb on the tea party then whimpering your troll whimper and squatting and picking your big troll nose and looking quite pathetic as you try to figure out why the cool kids don’t like you.

I actually don’t want you to run off, I want you to *improve.* But if you can’t and it seems you can’t, then maybe you should take one for the team, y’know?

Go fix your waffles and think about it, Kagerius the Mannish Troll Bunny.
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 7:25 a.m.
Remind me again why I can’t call Bryan Fischer a fascist wingnut, but Kage_Mann can yell “faggot”? Is there a double standard here? You can make anti-homosexual slurs, but not anti-evangelical fundamentalist slurs?
Sparky on February 11 at 7:26 a.m.
One little headache and I miss the fun. Dane it. Why doesn’t someone call me when action happens. I am now a little sad.

BTW or By the way is a phrase used too much.
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 7:31 a.m.
Let me try this one: I hate it when people call Bryan Fischer gay, when the proper term is “faggot.”

So, does that give me Kage_Mann-style immunity? Or does it not count because it’s directed at a certain person?

I expect you to delete this - it’s offensive, and inappropriate. But I’m trying to make a point.
Bob on February 11 at 7:32 a.m.
I think you knew the answer to that question before you asked it.

I think being pro-Evangelical by nature of their belief systems leads one to be anti-homosexual.

So yeah, it’s a big time double standard. But hey, who said the evangelical trip to the loving bosom of the Invisible Bearded Sky Giant was paved with any sort of consistency.

Abortion - BOO
Death Penalty - YAY
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 7:33 a.m.
Let’s see if this one has Kage_Mann immunity:

I hate it, when people
refer to Spanish-speaking, people
as Hispanics, when the proper,
term is “spick.”
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 7:34 a.m.
Faggot. Handjob. Blowjob. Bryan Fischer. Sodomy.
Bob on February 11 at 7:48 a.m.
Two more days until Friday the 13th!
scootermom on February 11 at 7:51 a.m.
Why is Kage_Mann’s comment still there? It’s offensive.

Wow, I thought DFO did a fairly decent job. Not anymore. His bias is showing.
thomg57 on February 11 at 7:51 a.m.
“You can make anti-homosexual slurs, but not anti-evangelical fundamentalist slurs?”—mm

That would appear to be the case.
Bob on February 11 at 7:52 a.m.
MM, you’re going about the test wrong.

Here’s how to test the DFO filter, type one (1) sentence per post. Make the sentence identical except use biblical terms in one, then alternate with the more common street names.

For example:

I am afraid I must reject your request for an act of sodomy with me.

Then post:

I am afraid I must reject your request for an act of buttsex with me.

Then just work the list on down. See what remains. Then you know what gets through the filter!

I should save these up and do a G00kin style “Bugging DFO for Dummies” manual.
Sisyphus on February 11 at 7:55 a.m.
“Why must you call people names?”—Can someone make this up into an award for blogfest as the most hypocritical quote in a single thread.
Kage_Mann on February 11 at 8:06 a.m.
Where was the outrage when Sisy called me a racist? Double standard. Why are you being hypocritical?
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 8:11 a.m.
The last time I checked, calling someone a racist, jerk, idiot, or moron was NOT the same as calling someone a faggot, a spick, or a n****er. The only double standard is that DFO allowed you to use faggot in the first place.
thomg57 on February 11 at 8:20 a.m.
Where was the outrage when Sisy called me a racist?

If the shoe fits. ;)
DFO on February 11 at 8:24 a.m.
Kage Mann’s post has been taken down. I left it up b/c I didn’t see it until hours afterward — and only after several of you had put him in his place. If I erred in judgment, it was my decision to allow it to stand so others could let him know what you thought of his post. However, a couple of you took it too far and were deleted. I apologize for my miscalculation.
thomg57 on February 11 at 8:32 a.m.
Funny how you missed kman’s inflammatory and hateful post but were johnny on the spot (what was it 6, 7 deletions?) to protect him when he was called to task. Sad. really, really sad.
nic on February 11 at 8:35 a.m.
Kage_Mann on February 11 at 8:06 a.m.
Where was the outrage when Sisy called me a racist? Double standard. Why are you being hypocritical?

The comment has been deleted, Kage… but if I remember correctly, he called you a bigot, not a racist.
nic on February 11 at 8:36 a.m.
Bob on February 11 at 7:32 a.m.
I think being pro-Evangelical by nature of their belief systems leads one to be anti-homosexual.

Sorry Bob, I’m “pro-Evangelical” but I’m not “anti-homosexual.” But, then again… I’m weird.
Cabbage Boy on February 11 at 8:39 a.m.
Thom,
Have you ever been a referee for a basketball game? People are flying around, lots of contact and elbows being thrown. It is easy to miss some really dirty play in the traffic. But usually the ref will catch all the retaliation because it isn’t so hidden in the traffic. Especially when there is the pack mentality. That tends to draw attention.

If you haven’t refereed a game, your criticism are pretty ignorant in reality.

I know the left bank is just dying to catch Dave in a trap to expose his imagined bigotry. But that is all it is. Imagined.
DFO on February 11 at 8:48 a.m.
ThomG; you were deleted b/c you used terms like “moron” and “stupid.” Etc. Other posts remained b/c they were able to take Kage Mann to task in an acceptable manner. Yeah, Kage misstepped. Got schooled by individuals who showed their outrage in intelligently.
Kage_Mann on February 11 at 9:05 a.m.
No, Nic he called me both. Let there be no mistake, I’ve been called things far worse by the left, than anything I ever could have said.

MM-stop it. Your hypocrisy is unbelievable.
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 9:25 a.m.
Kage_

Sometimes my unbelievable hypocrisy is masked by my incomprehensible ignorance. Care to be more specific, so I can learn my lesson?
toadman on February 11 at 9:25 a.m.
Wow. This place is getting toxic.
Cabbage Boy on February 11 at 9:28 a.m.
Yeah Toad. Someone forgot to flush. Yesterday’s crap is still floating in the bowl.
moscow_minidoka on February 11 at 9:32 a.m.
Sorry for prolonging the toxicity… I missed the thread yesterday, woke up to it this morning. I’ll go away for the rest of the day. Bye.
Sisyphus on February 11 at 9:32 a.m.
I didn’t call you a racist to be pejorative Kage, I simply made an observation based upon your comment that the race of certain people was their motivation for acting as they did. As Thom noted, If the shoe fits…. There’s some other terms that could apply to this situation as well and bigotry is one of them. I didn’t notice if that got deleted. I stand by both comments in the context in which they were utilized.

As a result I was fine with leaving Kage’s comment up. Otherwise someone else might actually fall for his wounded bird ruse.
Kage_Mann on February 11 at 9:46 a.m.
I call them as I see them, Sis and my observation is:your a bigot. Your condescension knows no bounds.And when your party is done ruining America, they will be run out of town for another 12 years, just like in the 80’s.

I’d like an apology, but I know you don’t have it in you.
Dennis on February 11 at 10:02 a.m.
You know Sis, I was thinking the same thing about the blogfest awards.

Biggest On-Line Biggot- The award should be a miniature scarecrow dressed in a KKK outfit.

It would be safe to assume who would win that award.
nic on February 11 at 10:20 a.m.
“they will be run out of town for another 12 years, just like in the 80’s.”

I think I am now less intelligent for reading that comment.

PS, Kage… the 80’s only lasted 10 years.
nic on February 11 at 10:22 a.m.
<invisible ink=”“>Kage is calling people names</invisible>
Sisyphus on February 11 at 11:01 a.m.
I’m deeply sorry Kage that I ever thought that our efforts here would disclose to you the harm that negative stereotyping causes people unjustifiably. It now seems like a wasted effort.
thawtfulreader on February 11 at 11:26 a.m.
“Sisyphus on February 11 at 11:01 a.m.

I’m deeply sorry Kage that I ever thought that our efforts here would disclose to you the harm that negative stereotyping causes people unjustifiably.

***It now seems like a wasted effort.***”

DING DING DING!!!
Bob on February 11 at 12:12 p.m.
This thread might have been legendary for HBO if it had been left unedited. Oh well. There’s always next time. ;-)
OrangeTV on February 11 at 1:43 p.m.
“What a maroon.”- Bugs Bunny, 1947
Bent on February 11 at 2:56 p.m.
Come on, Bob…I just read it, and its still a classic.

/Note to self, nominate Bob for most creative biblical reference…(that amazingly lasted this long).

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.