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w00t is 3rd Favorite Non-Dictionary Word

Jay writes "The word has been getting out apparently. No longer just a word for gamers, 'woot' now appears as #3 in Merriam-Webster's What's Your Favorite Word (That's Not in the Dictionary)? contest. It was beaten out by ginormous and confuzzled."

422 comments

  1. Cromulent by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 5, Funny

    All of those words in the list look perfectly cromulent to me.

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    1. Re:Cromulent by Andy+Gardner · · Score: 1

      I feel i must undertake a velocitous extramuralisation of your company
      Good day to you Sir.

    2. Re:Cromulent by sd_diamond · · Score: 0

      All of those words in the list look perfectly cromulent to me.

      "It was... scrumtrillescent!"

    3. Re:Cromulent by mikeage · · Score: 2, Funny

      All of those words in the list look perfectly cromulent to me.
      Are you trying to embiggen our language?

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      -- Is "Sig" copyrighted by www.sig.com?
    4. Re:Cromulent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, it's because their servers are ghood. If they weren't they might have just discovered the term as the story was posted and its usage would be increased ginormously.

    5. Re:Cromulent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mod up the parent! I browsed this thread with the plan of making exactly this joke. Every "cromulent" joke deserves an "embiggen" joke.

  2. woohoo! by rogabean · · Score: 3, Funny

    W00t!!!!

    --
    "why don't you just slip into something more comfortable...like a coma!"
    1. Re:woohoo! by goodie3shoes · · Score: 5, Funny

      And all along, I thought that "w00t" was an Elmer-Fudism: "Wats. I have to wog in as w00t."

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  3. my favourite is by Festering+Leper · · Score: 1

    smeprini

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    1. Re:my favourite is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      We apologize to Slashdot readers. The parties responsible for the parent post have been sacked.

    2. Re:my favourite is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      We're sorry for the interruption. The parties responsible for the sacking have also been sacked.

    3. Re:my favourite is by Meagermanx · · Score: 1

      and bagged.

  4. W007 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    First post!

    1. Re:W007 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      sorry but you lose.

  5. Shinatz by FidelCatsro · · Score: 0

    Tharts hella lame d00d ,pwnz pwnz w00t.
    Welp , Anyh00 more powAh to em eh eh

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    1. Re:Shinatz by KillerDeathRobot · · Score: 0

      /\/\4/\/, u r 7312121813 4+ 13375P34|{

      --
      Thinkin' Lincoln - a web comic of presidential proportions
    2. Re:Shinatz by FidelCatsro · · Score: 1

      I think it was helped by my near heroic input of whisky tonight , somehow when i reduce my IQ via Whisky i seem to have a supernatural understanding of 1337 sp3ak. ;) i think i just found of a corelation

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    3. Re:Shinatz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He said, "Man, you are terrible at leet speak."

      So apparently your whiskey isn't helping you that much.

    4. Re:Shinatz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What you say!! TEH IMPOSTARZ!!!111seven!!

      yuo==teh fake. and suxx0rz. BURNINATE teh witch until all his base are pwnzed by us!!!11!!one!!

    5. Re:Shinatz by glassjaw+rocks · · Score: 1

      IIRC, |2 represents R, as opposed to 12.

      --
      -gjr
  6. what a story... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what a story...

    w00t!

  7. Confuzzled? by TomHandy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've heard w00t of course, and ginormous, but where are people using the term "confuzzled"?

    1. Re:Confuzzled? by rogabean · · Score: 4, Funny

      So you're saying that you are confuzzled by the use of the word confuzzle?

      --
      "why don't you just slip into something more comfortable...like a coma!"
    2. Re:Confuzzled? by FidelCatsro · · Score: 1

      Your guess is as good as my guestimate(, im confuzzeld over the cromulance though i feel embigand having the bestest grasp of the situsation

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    3. Re:Confuzzled? by TomHandy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Exactly...:)

    4. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahem. That'd be "cromulence" and "embiggened".

    5. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Dude i don't think you can critiment the spolling of non existant werdz

    6. Re:Confuzzled? by UserGoogol · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's a perfectly cromulent word.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    7. Re:Confuzzled? by Crazieeman · · Score: 3, Informative

      Confuzzled is heavily used in the Central US. Its not generally used seriously either, just a cute term for puzzled confusion mostly among good friends.

    8. Re:Confuzzled? by Mold · · Score: 1

      I've heard confuzzled for as long as I can remember.

      Honestly, I had the same reaction with "ginormous" before. That was new to me.

    9. Re:Confuzzled? by saigon_from_europe · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Is 'u' in 'confuzzled pronounced like in 'confused' or like in 'puzzled'?

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      No sig today.
    10. Re:Confuzzled? by Neoncow · · Score: 1
      I'd say it like puzzled. Dunno, it sounds cuter that way.

      Ah, I think I know why. It sounds like fuzz. As in fuzzy.

    11. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Disney's Winnie the Pooh & the Blustery Day (1968) features the song Heffalump and Woozles by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, in which the word "confoozle" appears...

    12. Re:Confuzzled? by beeplet · · Score: 1

      I use the word confuzzled all the time... Mostly in reference to my cats, though, since they're often puzzled or confused, and always fuzzy - hence "confuzzled".

    13. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Disney's Winnie the Pooh ...

      Disney? DISNEY?
      A.A. Milne is rotating in his grave, and I feel like throwing up.

      No, that mindless generic cartoon with a yellow bear you see on TV is not Winnie the Pooh. It's just yet another soulless Disney franchise, yawn. If you have kids, teach them what's what, and don't deny them the wonderful experience of having their mom/dad read Milne's remarkable books for them.

    14. Re:Confuzzled? by kryptkpr · · Score: 1

      Like in puzzled. I've always felt the "fuzz" part in the middle of the word is the most important, and it should be pronounced properly.

      --
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    15. Re:Confuzzled? by SPY_jmr1 · · Score: 1

      Just in case any non native english speaker (amd maybe some natives too) are wondering how you pronounce the word "Confuzzled", it is (at least in Missouri) said "Con-FUSE-elde"... But IANAG (I am not a Grammarist), so if anyone has a better phonitic transcription of it, please jump in.

    16. Re:Confuzzled? by mjh · · Score: 1

      Right. And I take little comfort in w00t getting 3rd considering that I've never ever - not even once - heard anyone say "confuzzled".

      Somehow to me, this seems like placing 3rd in a 1 person race.

      --
      Key to financial independence: Spend less than you earn. Save and invest the difference. Do it for a long time.
    17. Re:Confuzzled? by Crazieeman · · Score: 2, Informative

      The 'fuzzled' part is indeed pronounced like 'puzzled'.

    18. Re:Confuzzled? by tylernt · · Score: 1

      "No, that mindless generic cartoon with a yellow bear you see on TV is not Winnie the Pooh"

      I agree, the original books are way better. Although the first Pooh movie was decent... it's the more recent material that is nothing but mindless drivel. But since we are talking about Disney, there was no need for me to be redundant.

      --
      DRM 'manages access' in the same way that a prison 'manages freedom'
    19. Re:Confuzzled? by Xyrus · · Score: 1

      What about some others that I occasionally use?

      Engorgeous: Adj. Someone so hot that you get instantly aroused.

      Orafucked: Verb. When someone screws you over so bad that it feels like they raped your every orifice.

      ~X~

      --
      ~X~
    20. Re:Confuzzled? by Skye16 · · Score: 3, Funny

      This lady at work keeps using ginormous in meetings and everytime she does, I have to remind myself that stabbing her in the face probably isn't the best way to handle my rage.

      I fucking hate that word...

    21. Re:Confuzzled? by Mold · · Score: 1

      Yeah, that's how I've always heard it, too, although others have stated it as con-FUZ-eld.

      But then, I'm from Missouri too.

    22. Re:Confuzzled? by SPY_jmr1 · · Score: 1

      yea, well... They think missouri has an A in it too. :P

    23. Re:Confuzzled? by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      Orafucked: Verb. When someone screws you over so bad that it feels like they raped your every orifice.

      Isn't that when the Oracle database goes down and you're the DBA?

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    24. Re:Confuzzled? by nacturation · · Score: 1

      The two Z's would indicate that it's pronounced like "uh", not "yew".

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    25. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, Missouri... the "you show me yours, I'll show you mine" state.

    26. Re:Confuzzled? by Mold · · Score: 1

      Depends on what part. In most of Missouri, it isn't pronounced that way.

      I hear it with the A far more from others, from out of state.

    27. Re:Confuzzled? by pilgrim23 · · Score: 1

      I need a quick exit from this thread
      xyzzy

      --
      - Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
    28. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    29. Re:Confuzzled? by Confuzzled · · Score: 1

      I know I am.

    30. Re:Confuzzled? by IdleTime · · Score: 1

      No, when an Oracle database goes down, you call my name! I have never met a database I couldn't get data out of and I have worked on all versions from 4 to 10g!

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    31. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Save me Superman!

    32. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hear confuzzled all the time. Mostly from cute girls. They frequently express their confuzzlement prior to the "eww u perv" ->blocks me on aim routine. It sounds like fuzzy because it's cute and feminine, which is why it's nearly unheard of on slashdot.

    33. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's because you weirdos from the midwest and south pronounce everything really strangely. It's confuzzled as in puzzled, and the concept is fuzzy. Go drink some "pop" or whatever it's called down there.

    34. Re:Confuzzled? by macsuibhne · · Score: 1

      Nothing happens.

      --
      -- "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" -- Juvenal
    35. Re:Confuzzled? by Alsee · · Score: 2, Informative

      Google 67,500 hits.

      Apparantly most people pronounce it like 'puzzled' just swapping the 'p' for a 'con', but I always pronounced it as confoozled. For what it's worth I'm from New York. Seems to be mostly a US usage.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    36. Re:Confuzzled? by gumpish · · Score: 1

      But IANAG (I am not a Grammarist)

      Grammar has nothing to do with the origin or pronunciation of words.

    37. Re:Confuzzled? by SPY_jmr1 · · Score: 1

      /me punches in the face

      You need to know where your soda is called what before making fun of it... You can get shot for that, I kid you not!

    38. Re:Confuzzled? by SPY_jmr1 · · Score: 1

      Curious; What is the correct IANA* then?

    39. Re:Confuzzled? by Lucractius · · Score: 1

      IANAL (I Am Not An Lexicologist ) IIRC

      --
      XML - A clever joke would be here if /. didn't mangle tag brackets.
    40. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but not just any knife, with an enorgantic knife.

    41. Re:Confuzzled? by Geoffreyerffoeg · · Score: 1

      Odd. I've heard "confuzzled" a lot, but I've never heard of "ginormous" before this article.

    42. Re:Confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      YYZ

    43. Re:Confuzzled? by Thenomain · · Score: 1

      The 'fuzzled' part is indeed pronounced like 'puzzled'.

      Huh. I've never heard it pronounced that way. I've always heard it as, "con-FUZE-led". As "con-FUZZ-led", I'd be worried that someone is doing something to a stuffed animal that they really shouldn't.

      I'd look it up to see what was proper but ... uh ...

      --
      This now concludes our broadcast day.
    44. Re:Confuzzled? by Weirdofreak · · Score: 1

      Orafucked: Verb. When someone screws you over so bad that it feels like they raped your every orifice.
      Orafuck, as a verb, would mean to screw somebody over so bad that they feel like you raped their every orifice. Orafucked, as a verb, would be the past tense of that. What you described was the adjective, in the state of having been recently orafucked.

  8. We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Well, like with white people speaking ebonicizzle, it's time for us geeks to get a new set of words.

    I mean, when your sister who can't do much more that AIM with her computer says w00t, its been "played out" too much.

    What do you suggest instead of w00t?

    1. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I suggest this in place of woot from here on out:

      OMGWTFR2D2BBQC3P0!

      or possibly OMGIFNPWNDUMF!

    2. Re:We need a new word now. by PsiPsiStar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Geeks have lots of words that noone else uses. "Stereochemistry, Hexadecimal, Defrag"

      We don't need to make stuff up to be misunderstood.

      --

      ___
      It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
    3. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      What do you suggest instead of w00t?

      Maybe speaking fucking English?

    4. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OTIF(i mean 071|= )-other team is fucked

    5. Re:We need a new word now. by KillShill · · Score: 1

      it was played out the 1st time it was said.

      damn, get some self respect people.

      --
      Science : Proprietary , Knowledge : Open Source
    6. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      there is always pwnd, look maa, no vowells

    7. Re:We need a new word now. by falzer · · Score: 4, Funny

      Try these obscure new slang words on for size:

      w00t > Jubilation!
      thx > Gratitude!
      gj > Felicitations!

      Now you get to be different from the mainstream once again.

    8. Re:We need a new word now. by genrader · · Score: 1

      No, it's pwn3d.

    9. Re:We need a new word now. by zkn · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Gamers, not geeks(Though most gamers assume they are geeks because they are fat and greesy) need new words. w00t was never a geek word, from day one it was "hey misunderstand me please"-slang. Geeks use words simpelminded people don't know of. And the people whining about Aim'girl stealing their slang should shape up and come to the conclusion that playing CounterStrike 24/5 doesn't make you good at computers. And ofcause stop trying to impress all the Aim'girlhotties(or fatties) with all their mighty geekslang.

    10. Re:We need a new word now. by liquidsin · · Score: 1

      I dunno. Most of the twelve year olds that use 'w00t' can't even AIM and need a bot to do it for them. Then they act like they're teh pwnz0r j00 anyways. Fucking campers.

      --
      do not read this line twice.
    11. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Geeks/nerds don't say w00t/woot, except as sarcasm.

      It's teenage gamer slang. Script kiddie talk. In short, it's used by kids who actually describe themselves as 31337, without a trace of sarcasm/self-irony. Oh yeah, and people who are desperate to appear "hip", such as journalists in mainstream media.

    12. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What the hell is that post? Did you let your cat walk on the keyboard? Because it makes no sense. I'm confuzzled.

    13. Re:We need a new word now. by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 1

      What do you suggest instead of w00t?

      I like pwned because I am pretty sure there is no way you can actually say it out loud.

      There is nothing worse than having a conversation with somebody and accidentally saying something like w00t or /me (slash me?) out loud.

    14. Re:We need a new word now. by lgw · · Score: 1

      Woot was invented by pencil-and-paper gamers, it wasn't originally oline speak. It's first use was a pleased exlamtion of "what?!?" through a mouthfull of Cheetos, and sort of caught on. Anyway, there are many kinds of geeks, and tech geeks are only one genus.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    15. Re:We need a new word now. by lgw · · Score: 1

      Pooned. This is well established. Pwnt is poont.

      When you start saying "ell oh ell" out loud, it's time to take a break.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    16. Re:We need a new word now. by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Geeks have lots of words that noone else uses. "Stereochemistry, Hexadecimal, Defrag"

      They also don't know how to spell fuck.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    17. Re:We need a new word now. by hplasm · · Score: 0

      Minkative, alt Minkquative; the meaning of the work Minkative, is in itself minkative; anyone who is more than slightly Minkative about the minquativity of the Minkativeness of the obviously Minkatively minkative work minkative, must be slightly Minkative, from a purely minkative standpoint. *note* Minkative is not in iself just a place-filler, qv Marklar but is more of an undeclared variable. Origin M.Rodgers- IBM via Gandalf by accident :)

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
    18. Re:We need a new word now. by hplasm · · Score: 0

      Who changed my 'd' and 'k' keys over!? Minquative sh1ts!!

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
    19. Re:We need a new word now. by Furry+Ice · · Score: 4, Funny

      You missed the ever important:

      bj > Fellatitations!

    20. Re:We need a new word now. by shellbeach · · Score: 3, Funny

      Woot was invented by pencil-and-paper gamers, it wasn't originally oline speak. It's first use was a pleased exlamtion of "what?!?" through a mouthfull of Cheetos, and sort of caught on.

      Eh? The Jargon File would disagree - see the entry for w00t :

      "An interjection similar to "Yay!", as in: "w00t!!! I just got a raise!" Often used for small victories the speaker dies not expect to be of special interest to anyone else. Some claim this is a bastardization of "root", the highest level of access to a system (particularly UNIX), originated by script kiddies as a 133tspeak equivalent of "root", and said as an exclamation upon gaining root access. Others claim it originated in the Everquest multiplayer game as an abbreviation of "wonderful loot". Still other claim it on originated on IRC as the "Ewok victory cheer"] Adj. w00table has the sense of "cool" or "nifty". This is one of the few leet-speak coinages to have crossed over into non-ironic use among hackers."

    21. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Geeks have lots of words that noone else uses. "Stereochemistry, Hexadecimal, Defrag"

      Yes, but we make up for it by dropping "Corsage, Cockring, Bridesmaid" from ours. Anyone not thinking about trading three for three?

    22. Re:We need a new word now. by lgw · · Score: 1

      I saw an interview with a group who "invenred" woot, but it's certainly possible it grew from multiple roots. The "root" explanation and any sort of acronym-based exoplanation are almost certainly urban legend - backronyms are extremely common in false "urban entymology". Almost no words came into English as acronyms, but people love to imagine such origins.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    23. Re:We need a new word now. by shellbeach · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The "root" explanation and any sort of acronym-based exoplanation are almost certainly urban legend

      I've always rather liked the "root" explanation - it fits with the hacker ethos rather nicely, and I can see how it would arise and spread throughout the community. I'm much more sceptical of any game based abreviation, but I can imagine that an exclamation like "woot!" is pretty easy to come up with for many different areas.

      Almost no words came into English as acronyms, but people love to imagine such origins.

      Don't know where words like scuba, nimby, Anzac, laser, led and wysiwyg came from, then ... :-)

    24. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The acronym thing is a bit touchy. Almost no words came from acronyms before the 20th century. The result is there are almost no acronyms that a reasonable well-spoken person isn't vaguely aware are acronyms.

      "Nimby? What the hell is a nimby?"
      "Oh, er, not... in my backyard. People who say that."

      This tends to be the transmission process. It's a long time before you get to

      "Laser? What's a laser?"
      "It's a really bright light. Sometimes they're so bright they can burn things."

      The rule of thumb is therefore "If you really didn't expect it to be an acronym, it probably isn't." That rule isn't going to last very long, obviously. We made enough acronyms during the 80s and 90s that two generations from now, the lumpenproletariat will have forgotten the origin of many more than just Laser, Scuba, and Radar.

    25. Re:We need a new word now. by trezor · · Score: 1

      "They also don't know how to spell fuck."

      WTF do you mean ?!?!

      --
      Not Buzzword 2.0 compliant. Please speak english.
    26. Re:We need a new word now. by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      As for yet another origin, I heard that "w00t" came from the sound Quake III makes when the player jumps (sounds a bit like "Hoot!").

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    27. Re:We need a new word now. by Jesus_666 · · Score: 1

      "Ell oh ell"? In Germany it's more common to hear "LOL" spoken as it is, either with a long or a short O. We even manage to pronounce "ROFL" ("roughle") and similar acronym... expression... thingies. Acrospressions.

      And yes, I do hear that every once in a while. Then again, I sometimes say things like "Semicolon Right Bracket". Colon Slash.

      --
      USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
    28. Re:We need a new word now. by zkn · · Score: 1

      woot as opposed to w00t.

      woot comes african amaricans dramaticing what. "Woot u talking about?"
      w00t comes from idiots replacing letters with numbers because that's sooooo c00l.
      Sorry to break it to you, but pen-and-paper players didn't really revolutinize the language, they just started using the same words as everyone else in their little closed environment.

    29. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd like to check your filesystem, honeypot. Once we establish a connection, I'll touch, unzip, finger, mount, fsck, uptime, more, yes, fsck, umount, sleep. Just don't count on a token ring.

    30. Re:We need a new word now. by Jim_Callahan · · Score: 1

      The origin story I'm familiar with is: Diablo 2, contraction of "woo! loot!"

      --
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    31. Re:We need a new word now. by Alsee · · Score: 1

      Defrag... isn't that when you get a kill online, but lag eats the packet and they undie?

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    32. Re:We need a new word now. by easychord · · Score: 1

      Yeah, what the fark is he talking about. The dirty fscker.

      Why would we start using riduculous versions perfectly good swear words.

    33. Re:We need a new word now. by A.M.+Woolsey · · Score: 1

      First time I heard "woot" was a long time before I ever saw it in text. Back in 1996/7, I began to hear people saying "woot!" and it seemed to be associated with or copied/imitated from the hooting in a popular hip-hop song at the time (since I didn't really care for the song at the time, I can't remember the name of the song off hand). In any case, the sound was basically associated with excitement or anticipation of excitement, and tons of people were using "woot!" in the city of Boston back in 1996/7. As we all know, this was well before Dibalo 2 was released and well before EQ was even in beta.

    34. Re:We need a new word now. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We were using it in EQ well before diablo 2 came out. Though i wont claim EQ as a source of it, though it definately aided in the spread of it's usage.

    35. Re:We need a new word now. by cecille · · Score: 1

      In my first year of university, the other streams of engineering had to take this basic computer class in C. We were in a differnet class doing java, so I don't really know HOW bad their class was, but rumour has it that despite the fact that some of these people had never even seen a programming language before, he never even bothered to explain what programming was or how it worked, or even really basic things like the difference between code and comments in his examples. At any rate, suffice it to say that the class did NOT go well and they spent a LONG time on really basic stuff. Well, this guy keeps going back to this one example of an if statement using a game. And he constantly used the two phrases "printf("I win);" and "printf("you lose");". Well...with the guy's accent it came out as "I ween" and "you loose". Became kind of a running joke. So now every time something goes really well, instead of giving 'er a w00t, it gets a "printf I win!"

      anyway, long story stort...I always now use the expression "printf something" in real life. Not as nerdy as spelling out the brackets, but close.

      --
      ...no two people are not on fire.
    36. Re:We need a new word now. by Cornflake917 · · Score: 1

      That reminds me of my Systems programming professor. I believed he was Korean and had a very strong accent. He also talked really fast so he was pretty hard to understand sometimes. Anyways, during one of the classes he was teaching us about the c function: putc(). When he said the name the function, it came out sounding EXACTLY like "pussy". He went on to explain this function in detail. About after saying "putc" about 8 times the whole class could not hold in their laughter. I had tears in my eyes from holding back the laughter(I was considering leaving the room cause I seroiusly was about to burst.) My professor didn't even have a clue. He thought he made a typo on the slide or something.

  9. Huh? by EvanED · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm confuzled as to how w00t didn't get first place. I don't see any of the other words -- combined -- as often as w00t, at least when I'm chillaxing with my friends. I think they mad a ginormous mistake.

    1. Re:Huh? by derfy · · Score: 1

      I first heard 'chillax' on Family Guy, and I thought they made it up. How idiotic.

      rsigjdd

    2. Re:Huh? by Seumas · · Score: 1

      I've _never_ heard the word "chillax". What the hell?!

      Sounds like something Snoop Dog would have come up with. I'm sorry, but just because you end everything with "izzle" or"azzle" doesn't make them new words. It doesn't even make them new *slang* words!

    3. Re:Huh? by pyro_dude · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I use the word to my father when he gets uppity and asks me too many insignificant questions about things during the day. "Chill, relax, chillax."

      --
      --pyro_dude
    4. Re:Huh? by Alkaiser · · Score: 1

      Most the other words on that list suck. Gription? Hey...how about "grip"? It means the same thing and it's less letters.

      The only ones I approved of were w00t, ginormous, and phonecrastinate.

      --
      Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
    5. Re:Huh? by krunk4ever · · Score: 1

      people hardly say w00t in real life. maybe we shoud get out more. it just reconfirms how geeky we are. i see w00t on instant messages all the time, but i don't think i've heard it more than once or twice in real life, while the other words like ginormous or confuzzle i can see people using it and saying, is this a real word?

    6. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Phonecrastinate is dumb, though. If you're waiting to pick up the phone to see the caller id, you're not procrastinating, you're screening calls. Phonecrastinate should be when you wait for someone else to pick up the phone instead.

    7. Re:Huh? by Raumkraut · · Score: 1

      I say "woot" at 23 minutes to 2pm every day.

      I thought everyone did?

    8. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True enough...but it was still better than the rest of the crap on that list that was unwootable.

    9. Re:Huh? by Rallion · · Score: 1

      Hah, "w00t" is my girlfriend's exclamation of choice. She even bought me the ThinkGeek w00t shirt.

      And I wear it, dammit.

    10. Re:Huh? by lgw · · Score: 1

      My tires don't just have grip, they have gription! Perfectly cromulent.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    11. Re:Huh? by ChiRaven · · Score: 1

      You have my deepest sympathy.

    12. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      She even bought me the ThinkGeek w00t shirt.And I wear it, dammit.

      That's because you desire the p00ntang.

    13. Re:Huh? by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      Sounds typical for that show. Someone might think it's funny and clever (after all it came back after being cancelled), but it ain't me.

      I prefer Futurama's slang... take a rage dump, mon.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    14. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because thousands of filthy slashdotters are currently thinking about what they'd want to do to make her say w00t.

    15. Re:Huh? by Alsee · · Score: 1

      I don't see any of the other words -- combined -- as often as w00t

      Yep, according to Google woot is about 7 times as common as confuzzled and ginormous combined.

      I'm confuzled as to how w00t didn't get first place.

      Easy, this was a 'favorites' contest. Woot may be more common, but it suxors.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    16. Re:Huh? by xerxesVII · · Score: 1

      Comrade!

      I thought I was the only one here who didn't like Family Guy.

      --
      "We shall grapple with the ineffable, and see if we may not eff it after all." - Douglas Adams
    17. Re:Huh? by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      You're not alone. I watched part of the new premiere, and yes, some of it was amusing, but mostly it's because the character of Peter is eassentially a carbon-copy of Homer Simpsons (and please people, spare me the empassioned expurgations of the subtle differences).

      The talking dog... the baby with a British accent... dull, predictable and lame.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    18. Re:Huh? by Tokah · · Score: 1

      I use it all the time, as do my housemates.

  10. But... by eurleif · · Score: 1

    What happened to "u", "r", "y", etc.?

  11. Other common Words by jerichohol · · Score: 0

    What about Fark and Slashdot?

    1. Re:Other common Words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      or stile?

      as in "That chick's ass is so stile!"

  12. If w00t made the list then... by bryan8m · · Score: 5, Insightful

    n00b should too!

    1. Re:If w00t made the list then... by jakosc · · Score: 5, Funny

      n00b should too!

      Nah. n00b hasn't been around long enough...

    2. Re:If w00t made the list then... by Mahou · · Score: 2, Informative

      n00b is just an "encrypted" version of newb which is short for newbie which is of course an actual word that is in fact in the dictionary

      --
      if i'm not immortal, what's the point of living?
      ...te?
    3. Re:If w00t made the list then... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then, by that logic "fuxor" is disqualified as well.

    4. Re:If w00t made the list then... by RPoet · · Score: 1

      Be fair, you can't expect today's Counter-Strike kids to know that.

      --
      "Oppression and harassment is a small price to pay to live in the land of the free." -- Montgomery Burns.
    5. Re:If w00t made the list then... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry to burst your bubble, but no one uses n00b anymore. It's b00n now.

      B00n.

    6. Re:If w00t made the list then... by PaganRitual · · Score: 1

      dude thats the funniest thing on this page by a long shot. good work. how does this not have maximum funny points yet.

  13. Dictionary subject to trends? by Sv-Manowar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Obviously these words haven't been included in the mainline dictionary, but its an increasing trend for modern slang and shortened terms to enter the dictionary. Whether such words should be included in dictionaries, which are important reference works is subjective, but I feel there is a danger that as more words that are subject to current conditions are added, dictionaries will have to become more dynamic and possibly lead to faster evolution of the language.

    1. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by EvanED · · Score: 1

      ...its an increasing trend for modern slang and shortened terms to enter the dictionary

      Do you have any actual evidence that this is the case other than a feeling/speculation?

    2. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by forkazoo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      What do you mean "increasing?" Are you saying that dictionaries should only use Old English? You know, the dead language which used "thorn" as one of the letters. Ever try to read an original excerpt of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, for example? Language references must always grow and adapt with the language. Otherwise, they couldn't include a definition for computer which talked about a machine, or include the word "television." All words were new at some point. Some will fall out of use and stop being put in mainstream dictionaries. It's the circle of life, dude.

      Seriously, what is the official year after which new words can't be in dictionaries?

    3. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by poopdeville · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Uhhhh... dictionaries are historical records of words that have entered the lexicon. A word is added to the dictionary when it has shown its importance in the development of the lexicon. Of course slang should get into the dictionary -- at least once a slang word has shown its importance in culture. Slang is how the English language has developed through the centuries. Pick any English word you'd like -- it was slang at some point in history.

      So yes -- the dictionary is subject to trends. Because it records them.

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
    4. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by lgw · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Dictionaries, however, make a point of trying to avoid recording slang which is only used in one area, or that is abandonded without becoming part of the language long term. While many words in English were once slang, for every word in English there are probably 20 slang words which didn't enter the language.

      When slang becomes broadly adopted and looks like it will persist in the language, and not be merely a 1-generation fad, it makes sense to record it in a dictinary.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    5. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by donscarletti · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Way to miss the point dude. The grandparent was talking about the evolution of the language accelerating not just progressing. There quite obviously has to be a rate at which if language change becomes any faster, communication will become harder and harder. Human languages are very similar to computer standards in many ways. HTML for example has changed a fair bit, yet cannot change too fast otherwise browsers will become incompatible. Computers have an upgrade cycle of usually less than 4 years, humans have one of around 80 thus, languages spoken by people must change far slower. I often feel that it is hard to communicate with many older people since the language has changed so much between when I learned it and when they did. Also, people as little as a year younger than me use the word "random" in so many contexts that I don't know what the hell they are saying.

      I doubt that anyone advocates freezing the English language in its current state, but I think it is irresponsible for a dictionary publisher to give validity to new words before they have been used for long enough to prove that they are a valuable addition to the language. Encouraging the language to change without due consideration will lead to problems in English similar to "HTML 5.0" (sic.) this may cause problems conveying meaning between people and lead to a new era of misunderstanding between people because of a fractured vernacular and possibly more friction between generations.

      --
      When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
    6. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by arodland · · Score: 1

      Wouldn't words getting into the dictionary more quickly slow the evolution of language, by homogenizing it, and creating "standard usages" for words before they have a chance to really evolve?

    7. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by Sensible+Clod · · Score: 1

      What an inopportune moment for me to be caught without moderation points. My commendations to you.

      --

      The difference between spam and poop is that you don't have to dig through septic tanks looking for real food. -- Me
    8. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by digitalchinky · · Score: 1

      I think not, because we will, collectively, just invent new words that skirt or mock the existing ones.

      I'm still waiting for 'WTF' to get a listing. I use it often, wherever possible I try to incorporate it into end product sigint reports.

    9. Re:Dictionary subject to trends? by Kirkoff · · Score: 1

      That's totally BOSS!

      --
      There are exactly 42,935,718 letter sized sheets in a square mile.
  14. slashdot's favorite non-word by blue_adept · · Score: 1

    is "rediculous".

    Or at least one of the most commonly misspelled.

    BTW I was just judged "non-human" even though I typed in the correct letters, has this happened to anyone else?

    --

    "Is this just useless, or is it expensive as well?"
    1. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      "Seperate" and "defenetly" are close seconds. And don't even get me started on "loosing" a game. "It's" properties are poorly understood!

    2. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, I think "artical" is the favorite around here.

    3. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I had mod points, I'd mod you +1 rediculous.

    4. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think slashdot's favorite is "compatable". I seldom see "compatible" properly spelt.

    5. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by rokzy · · Score: 1

      >Or at least one of the most commonly misspelled.

      imo the most common is "insure" instead of "ensure", though I think that's technically retardedness not misspelling since even if they read their own posts they wouldn't spot it.

    6. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Ralph+Yarro · · Score: 1

      BTW I was just judged "non-human" even though I typed in the correct letters, has this happened to anyone else?

      I haven't even seen these letters everyone keeps talking about. Does it ask you every time you post?

      --

      The real Ralph Yarro posts as Anonymous Coward. Anyone else is an impostor.
    7. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      breasts ... no ?

    8. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Log out and then try and post a reply. Because you'd be an AC it puts up an image with some letters in it and asks you what they are before you can post. It just to stop AC's crap flooding the place.

    9. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some of the letters look very similar to eachother.

      I mistakenly saw a 'c' as an 'e' the first time I got /.'s new requirement. Fortunately they use the same font each time, so once you know it really is a c, you're set for next time :)

    10. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      You're English is definately not compatable with the loosers posting on Slashdot.


      The sad thing is that they won't see what's wrong with this post, and they're supposed to be native English speakers. To us dang foreigners, their posts are eyesores. Well, some of us get confused and start emulating the errors ourselves. "It looks wrong, but they should know, so OK then..."

    11. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your a lier. Americans spell better then foreigners.

    12. Re:slashdot's favorite non-word by hplasm · · Score: 0

      did you mean to misspell smell...?

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
  15. W00t! by NightWulf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Woot, While I was chillaxing with my peeps, avoiding eating the snirt. We were phoncrastinating until my buddy John called. So I pwned him by hanging up after discussing the fact that i'm so confuzzled about the ginormous lack of english comprehension!

    1. Re:W00t! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, snap!

  16. What about Fugly by multi-flavor-geek · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Fugly, (Fuh-glee): adj The inherant nature of someone to be F*cking Ugly. Usage, generally at bars, after a few drinks, but before the beer-goggles kick in.

    My other favorite is Gigantor, that being a person (there was someone in particular) who s so huge that they have developed a Godzilla like reputation, and the ablity to block sunlight. Or in the case of this person break concrete steps while walking up them.

    --
    Like arts? Like cheesy little Indie mags? Check out www.artwerkmag.com, and don't laugh at the bad coding please.
    1. Re:What about Fugly by Reverend528 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Gigantor is actually the name of a manga (and subsequent anime tv series) about a giant robot.

    2. Re:What about Fugly by orangepeel · · Score: 1

      Interesting. Never heard about that origin before. Way back in 1958, too.

      The first time I noticed it start to turn up was when Speed hit the theaters (circa 1994). But either way, I can't say I've ever heard signs that it's become a commonplace term.

      --
      Whoever designed level 61 in Frozen Bubble is a sadistic bastard.
    3. Re:What about Fugly by NotFugly · · Score: 1

      Thank you for increasing my vocabulary! My new favorite word for describing, please forgive me, the customers that I see at Wal-Mart. This replaces "behemoth" which does not accurately describe...

    4. Re:What about Fugly by hplasm · · Score: 0

      Gigantor- wasn't he a very early manga type giant robotfrom the 60's or thereabout?

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
    5. Re:What about Fugly by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I remeber Gigantor as a cartoon series when I was a kid (60's) but I prefered Prince Planet.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    6. Re:What about Fugly by shellbeach · · Score: 1

      Fugly, (Fuh-glee): adj The inherant nature of someone to be F*cking Ugly.

      Except fugly is already in the dictionary, or at least the dictionary.com dictionary: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fugly

    7. Re:What about Fugly by zyskret · · Score: 1

      I hear the word Fugly all the time, but the people I hang out with don't use it to mean Fucking Ugly. When I'm talking to my friends Fugly means Fuckable Ugly. This is a person who is ugly, but you would still consider having sex with them. Here's a short example:

      Me: "Hey Joe, I didn't get a good look at the girl you were dancing with. Is she hot?"
      Joe: "She's got a great body, but she also has a few pimples and a nasty snaggle tooth. She's fugly."

      Fugly is usually used at bars after the beer goggles have kicked in.

    8. Re:What about Fugly by Alsee · · Score: 1

      When I'm talking to my friends Fugly means Fuckable Ugly.

      That seems to be a unique usage.

      I, and four internet dictionaries, agree with the prior poster. Fugly is a merging of "fucking ugly". As I understand it is stronger than mere "fucking ugly" and is not used lightly.

      Fugly will not only shatter your beer googles, it will shatter them and proceed to gouge your eyes out. You can bar hop to a different place every night for a month and only run into a single True Fugly (unless you happen to live in a town of inbred mutants or something).

      Lets put it this way... a girl offered my buddy big bucks to give him a blowjob and he refused... that's fugly.

      It can also be used for anything that is beyond ugly... fugly babies, fugly art, fugly problems. "We need someone to handle fugly problem X, and we need someone to clean up the piss and puke in the bathroom; I'll take the bathroom."

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  17. Well thats just craptastic . . by code+shady · · Score: 4, Funny

    I use w00t way more then I use ginormous or confuzzled. In fact, I think that both of those other words are dumbpendous.

    --
    Look out honey cause I'm usin' technology
    Ain't got time to make no apologies
    1. Re:Well thats just craptastic . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aren't you confuzzled that w00t is used a ginormous amount more than those other two words?

  18. sniglets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    these are all just sniglets.

    sniglets were NOT FUNNY in the 80s and continue to not be funny today.

    plus, w00t! is spelled with zeros -- webster's should at least use the correct spelling.

    1. Re:sniglets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well if we are to believe microsoft, woot originated as an acronym for we own the other team. therefore all the l337 derivatives are mearly alternate l337 speak spellings

    2. Re:sniglets by niktemadur · · Score: 1

      http://www.ziplink.net/~wood/funny/snigglets.html

      Snigglets (words that should be in the dictionary but aren't) were invented by comedian Rich Hall. I believe he came up with the idea on the ABC comedy show Fridays (a sort of copycat SNL), then wrote a couple of books on the subject.

      I like the term he came up with for people who use the express lane at the supermarket, while carrying one or more items above the limit - expressholes.

      --
      Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
    3. Re:sniglets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe he came up with the idea on the ABC comedy show Fridays (a sort of copycat SNL), then wrote a couple of books on the subject.

      According to the back cover of the four nearly 20 year-old Sniglets books I have, it says they originated on HBO's "Not Necessarily the News."

    4. Re:sniglets by niktemadur · · Score: 1

      Not Necessarily the News!!! It's been over a decade since I forgot that I'd forgotten that show! Fridays is probably tattooed on my mind because of the Andy Kaufmann guest appearances, plus the fact that Rich Hall was also a member of the regular cast.

      Thanks for clearing that up.

      --
      Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
  19. Hmm... by triplej3000 · · Score: 1

    I am so confuzzled that w00t has such a ginormous following.

  20. Call me old fashioned by serutan · · Score: 1

    ... but I'm sticking with ginormous.

  21. When it gets corporate backing... by MacFury · · Score: 4, Interesting
    When it gets corporate backing, it will be in the dictionary.


    The proposal to create a "Name Change Task Force" originated with Peter Machno, manager of Seattle's sludge program, after protesters mobilized against his plan to spread sludge on local tree farms. "If I knocked on your door and said I've got this beneficial product called sludge, what are you going to say?" he asked. At Machno's suggestion, the Federation newsletter published a request for alternative names. Members sent in over 250 suggestions, including "all growth," "purenutri," "biolife," "bioslurp," "black gold," "geoslime," "sca-doo," "the end product," "humanure," "hu-doo," "organic residuals," "bioresidue," "urban biomass," "powergro," "organite," "recyclite," "nutri-cake" and "ROSE," short for "recycling of solids environmentally." [19] In June of 1991, the Name Change Task Force finally settled on "biosolids," which it defined as the "nutrient-rich, organic byproduct of the nation's wastewater treatment process." [20]

    The new name attracted sarcastic comment from the Doublespeak Quarterly Review, edited by Rutgers University professor William Lutz. "Does it still stink?" Lutz asked. He predicted that the new name "probably won't move into general usage. It's obviously coming from an engineering mentality. It does have one great virtue, though. You think of `biosolids' and your mind goes blank." [21]


    Toxic Sludge is good for you

    I am feeling bitter today

    1. Re:When it gets corporate backing... by remove+office · · Score: 1

      "When it gets corporate backing, it will be in the dictionary."until then, there's always urbandictionary.com

    2. Re:When it gets corporate backing... by Koiu+Lpoi · · Score: 1

      That's quite the disturbing article.

    3. Re:When it gets corporate backing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Corporate backing? How about Microsoft! see also

      "w00t" or the smiley character \o/: An acronym that usually means "We Own the Other Team," used to celebrate victory in a video game.

  22. Re:Confuzzled? THATS OLD!! by gorim · · Score: 1

    I was hearing confuzzled way back in 1995. Isn't there anything new ? :)

  23. Presented definition of squinching incorrect! by forkazoo · · Score: 1
    see http://oemagazine.com/newscast/012401_showdaily03. html

    It is pretty sad when the dictionary people don't know the real meaning of a word. They say in their introduction that it is merely to fit into a small space. That is not squinching. Dag nabbit. Also, the definition of w00t mis-spells the word, and gives no explanation. It is subtler than what they claim. more useful, and intriguing.

    1. Re:Presented definition of squinching incorrect! by Bonker · · Score: 1

      Woot is correct when spelled with letter Os and not Zer0es. Adding Zeroes is a l33t-ization of the word, which was adopted from the MMORPG acronym.

      "Uber sword of Gnoll-slaying! It's got plus 8 bane damage to gnolls!"

      "Woot!" (Want One Of Those)

      --
      The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
  24. Obligatory Critic Quote by MagicDude · · Score: 5, Funny

    (Duke, Marty, and Jay are playing scrabble)

    Duke - Kwizibyck.

    Marty - That's not a word.

    Duke - Get Webster on the phone. Noah, how ya doing? It's Duke. How much would it cost to make kwizibyck a word? I don't know what it means. Uhh, how about a big problem? Great. How 'bout that other word I invented, Dukelicious? No one's using it? What a Duketastrophy!

    1. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny


      [playing scrabble game]

      Bart : Kwijybo. I win, I'm outta here.
      Homer: Wait a minute, you little cheater. You're not going anywhere 'til you tell me what a Kwijybo is.
      Bart : Kwijybo. A big dumb balding North American ape. With no chin.
      Marge: And a short temper.
      Homer: I'll show you a big, dumb balding ape.

    2. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    3. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by dtungsten · · Score: 5, Funny

      Let us not forget the Red Dwarf one:

      In one episode, Cat uses the word 'Jozxyqk' in a Scrabble game, claiming it to be a cat word meaning, "the sound you get when you get your sexual organs trapped in something."

    4. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Koiu+Lpoi · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Calvin: Ha! I've got a great word and it's on a Double word score box!
      Hobbes: ZQFMGB isn't a word! It doesn't even have a vowel!
      Calvin: It is so a word! It's a worm found in New Guinea! Everyone knows that!

    5. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      It's a cat word! It's a sound you make when you get your genitals caught in something.

      Is it in the dictionary?

      Well it could be, if you're reding in the nude and you close the book too fast. *SLam* Jaycksk!!

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    6. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Anthony+Coward · · Score: 1

      What happened to Jay?

      --
      This .sig is the short tail.
    7. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Kwizibyck.

      That sounds like Polish.

    8. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      Here's some interesting scrabble pictures.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    9. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Koiu+Lpoi · · Score: 1

      Damn, I sure am redundant. Almost like somebody already said what I said. Wait, no they didn't.

    10. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Like when you're reading in the nude and you close the book too fast"

    11. Re:Obligatory Critic Quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      No no no

      "Is it in the dictionary?"

      "Well I guess it could be, if you were reading in the nude and you close the book too fast"

      Probably still not 100% accurate, but much better.

  25. Back in my day... by Garrett+Combs · · Score: 2, Funny

    I remember when l33t sp34k was underground. Damn you Webster.

    --
    Insert witty Slashdot sig here.
  26. The nature of dictionaries by Capt'n+Hector · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Dictionaries are supposed to be descriptive and not proscriptive, so if these words are used so much, why are they NOT in the dictionary? A recent example of this would be the alternate pronounciaton of nuclear as "nookyoulure." Stupid as hell, yes, but it's in the dictionary.

    --
    Quid festinatio swallonis est aetherfuga inonusti?
    Africus aut Europaeus?
    1. Re:The nature of dictionaries by UserGoogol · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, although dictionaries are descriptive, there's always the question of how much they are supposed to describe. Are dictionaries supposed to describe ever niggly bit of the language, (which could be time consuming, because slang can evolve rather quickly) or should they only describe the parts of the language which are considered acceptable in formal writing?

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    2. Re:The nature of dictionaries by chromasia · · Score: 3, Insightful

      While "proscriptive" is a word, it doesn't mean what you think is means and propably isn't the word you were intending to use!

    3. Re:The nature of dictionaries by Babbster · · Score: 1

      Unless dictionaries are to be designated the domain of only those with college degrees, they should probably be the former. It would seem that someone with the capability of writing "formally" would be someone who can choose their words to best serve their immediate purpose...someone who doesn't need to worry about accidentally using a word like "woot" (or "w00t") in important business correspondence just because it appears in a dictionary.

    4. Re:The nature of dictionaries by poopdeville · · Score: 3, Informative

      Neither. They're supposed to describe the bits of language that are actually used by large populations. Slang and jargon are covered in slang and jargon dictionaries unless they reach critical mass and enter the popular lexicon. Most dictionaries screen for historicity also, so that if a word newly coined word is incredibly popular for a week but fades into oblivion, it doesn't enter. This is a good reference -- note the menu on the right of the page.

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
    5. Re:The nature of dictionaries by Capt'n+Hector · · Score: 1

      hahaha yeah you're right. per is the prefix I'm looking for. *hangs head in shame*

      --
      Quid festinatio swallonis est aetherfuga inonusti?
      Africus aut Europaeus?
    6. Re:The nature of dictionaries by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is an alternate pronunciation of nuclear stupid as hell?

    7. Re:The nature of dictionaries by saltydogdesign · · Score: 1

      There's no law that says dictionaries have to be one and not the other. It's up to the editors at the major dictionary companies which way they want to lean.

      --
      // This is not a sig.
    8. Re:The nature of dictionaries by Darby · · Score: 1

      Why is an alternate pronunciation of nuclear stupid as hell?

      Because there is no way to get to that pronounciation from the way that the word is spelled. That demonstrates ignorance on the part of the person pronouncing it "nukuler".

      This is totally different than the whole po tay toe
      po tah toe thing since both are possible pronounciations given the spelling although one or the other will probably sound dumb to you depending on how you say it.

    9. Re:The nature of dictionaries by m50d · · Score: 1

      Maybe the purpose of lists like this is to suggest common words for the dictionaries to consider adding? IIRC Mirriam-Webster ran the thing

      --
      I am trolling
    10. Re:The nature of dictionaries by porcupine8 · · Score: 1
      Well, there's, y'know, a tiny little chance that the sample of people voting in an online contest might not be *exactly* representative of the English-speaking population as a whole.

      How words are added to the dictionary - oddly enough, they have a specific process they go through. Also, note that the process is very focused on the use of the word in print (real print or online); if a word is entrenched enough to not be a fad, it will likely be used in more than just speech.

      --
      Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
    11. Re:The nature of dictionaries by laslo2 · · Score: 1

      ...historicity...? That sounds like something George W. Bush would come up with.

      --
      Karma only matters to me now and zen.
  27. Whatever happened to by idonthack · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "pwnt", "noob", "frood", and "haxor"?

    --
    Why is it that when you believe something it's an opinion, but when I believe something it's a manifesto?
    1. Re:Whatever happened to by Durinthal · · Score: 1

      pwnt > owned
      noob > newbie
      frood > looking in the wrong book.
      haxor > hack (v.), hacker (n.)

  28. A few favorites by miyako · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Just thought I'd list a few of my favorite non-words, in no particular order.
    • Frienemy
    • Asshat
    • Sexcapade
    • teh
    • borked
    • burninate
    • pwned
    • pathetisad
    • craptastic
    --
    Famous Last Words: "hmm...wikipedia says it's edible"
    1. Re:A few favorites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you forgot "assmonkey"

    2. Re:A few favorites by swb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      We used sexcapade in college in the mid-80s, it's been around for a while.

      The only one missing from your list is automagic.

    3. Re:A few favorites by interstellar_donkey · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Odd, your list contains far more words that I know, and even have used with some frequency (asshat and burninate being two I've been known to utter), then this other list. In fact, the only word I reconized there was "Woot" (and yes, I use that quite often, but oddly enough only in text format. I don't think I've ever said it out loud).

      A few more I'd like to see:

      - Broked (as in "They done broked me"
      - Fucktard (excuse the profanity)
      - Interweb (a purposly missspoken word used when talking as someone who thinks the Internet and the Web are one in the same)
      - Gaysexual (meant to be a 'non-offensive' slang word for homosexuals)

      It actually surprises me sexcapade isn't in the dictionary. That's been around for a long time.

      Also, I've noticed far more usage of "craptacular" then "craptastic", but then again, I've never heard anyone use the word "Phonecrastinat"

      --
      The Internet is generally stupid
    4. Re:A few favorites by Fragglebabe · · Score: 1

      That's a really good list, I love a good few of the ones on that list, craptastic, asshat and sexcapade being my favourites. I use them a surprising amount really! I'd like to add a couple to your list:

      - Shoogle (meaning to shake gently) - Freakazoid (meaning a big or unusual freak)

      The first word was introduced to me by a friend, and the last one i introduced to a few of my friends, but i'm sure it's been around for many years. I love using unusual words that aren't in the dictionary, i think it makes language more colourful and interesting.

      --
      Insane people are always sure they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.
    5. Re:A few favorites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Automagically

    6. Re:A few favorites by RichardX · · Score: 1

      Good list...
      Can I also throw in:

      Assclown
      Craptacular
      Fucktard
      OMFG*
      and of course, Cromulent

      *Yes, as a word. the OMF! part is easily enough prnounced, then just throw the G of "grape" on the end to get omf'g.. or "omfug" with a semi-silent 'u' for more clear pronounciation. Either way, it make a great exclamation.

      --
      Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
    7. Re:A few favorites by rinkjustice · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Good list miyako. I'll add a few of my own.
      • spork: a spoon and fork combined
      • feh: a variation of meh, I guess
      • assclown: insult derived from WWF wrestling
      • j00: leetspeak for you. Yeah it's old, but it cracks me up. "I pwn j00!"
      • out-creature: to outdo someone eles, especially in respects to appearance
      • bank: "ebonics" for money (ebonics... hehe)


    8. Re:A few favorites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone who says "Woot" out loud should be hanged.

    9. Re:A few favorites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hate "burninate". It reminds me of the last time I had a urinary tract infection. Very painful...

    10. Re:A few favorites by lgw · · Score: 1

      'meh' is the least positive reaction to an idea or suggestion that's still positive. 'feh' is the least negative reaction that's still negative. :)

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    11. Re:A few favorites by Mattintosh · · Score: 1

      Just one more:

      Stuponfucious.

      Yeah, I'm a PA whore.

    12. Re:A few favorites by Cowclops · · Score: 1

      pwned? chown? CHPWNED!

    13. Re:A few favorites by agentkhaki · · Score: 1

      Funny... I was just thinking about adding a comment for the ever-so-wonderful 'fucktard,' but you beat me to it. Kudos.

      --
      Ack!
    14. Re:A few favorites by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 1

      Spork is actually the trademark name for the device you're referring to. Sorta like most people call "facial tissues" Kleenex.

    15. Re:A few favorites by 3770 · · Score: 1


      Are you telling me that noone has trademarked "foon" yet?

      --
      The Internet is full. Go Away!!!
    16. Re:A few favorites by rocca · · Score: 1

      They really should have schooched a few more entries in the list.

    17. Re:A few favorites by nacturation · · Score: 1

      Or the age-old "negatory" -- btw, anyone know what two words this represents? Negative is one, what's the "-ory" part?

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    18. Re:A few favorites by freeweed · · Score: 1

      Asshat

      Funny, I've always thought we had an emoticon for this word:

      3

      No one else finds it as funny on IRC as I do, though :)

      --
      Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
    19. Re:A few favorites by Vryl · · Score: 1

      Craptacular is a goody too, a bit like your 'craptastic'.

      Scary thing is that I have been *saying* W00t! for ages now.

    20. Re:A few favorites by robogymnast · · Score: 1

      It actually surprises me sexcapade isn't in the dictionary. That's been around for a long time.

      And what about sexile:(v.) The act of removing ones roommate for the night so that one may be alone with their partner for some sweet sweet lovin'.

      ... oh wait, this is slashdot :P

      --
      unzip ; strip ; touch ; grep ; find ; finger ; mount ; fsck ; more ; yes ; fsck ; umount ; sleep
    21. Re:A few favorites by Omestes · · Score: 1

      don't forget "Fucktard"
      By far my favorite word ever. It just sums up some people so damn well.

      --
      A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
    22. Re:A few favorites by Strandman · · Score: 1

      I like the word "of coursely"

      It's so self explaining

    23. Re:A few favorites by Alsee · · Score: 1

      Are you telling me that noone has trademarked "foon" yet?

      I just checked the US Patent and Trademark Office and the answer is yes someone has, but they abandonded it. I'd link to it, but the USPTO uses stupid expiring search links.

      Word Mark FOON
      Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: shoes, clothing, headwear
      Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
      Serial Number 78331125
      Filing Date November 20, 2003
      Current Filing Basis 1B
      Original Filing Basis 1B
      Owner (APPLICANT) CLEANERCORP LIMITED CORPORATION HONG KONG 26th Floor AT Tower 180 Tower Electric RD North Point Hong Kong
      Attorney of Record Grace L. Pan
      Type of Mark TRADEMARK
      Register PRINCIPAL
      Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
      Abandonment Date December 27, 2004

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    24. Re:A few favorites by Lucractius · · Score: 1

      I always thought asshat was better emoticoned by

      3>

      or ascii arted with /\
      / \
      ( ( )

      argh my ascii art 5k1ll5 r dead at 3 am

      (WTF is going on with the anti script stuff? )

      --
      XML - A clever joke would be here if /. didn't mangle tag brackets.
  29. Hellamass by Outthere057 · · Score: 1

    a word that has been used by me and my friends for years. If there is alot more of something than there should be

    --
    "Drive Fast Kill Slow"
  30. Ok.. Ok. by rogabean · · Score: 1

    I made my funny little comments in here. But what honestly frightens about all this woot, confuzzled, OMGWTFR2D2BBQ, LOL crap is that it's come to the point where I find myself actually saying this crap in real life talking to people.

    Especially the word "woot". "LOL" being the scariest one I use in real life sometimes in place of actually... oh I dunno... *gasp* laughing!

    It's all very confuzzling.

    --
    "why don't you just slip into something more comfortable...like a coma!"
    1. Re:Ok.. Ok. by Gibsnag · · Score: 2, Funny

      W00t is acceptable to say in real life conversations imo... However saying "lol" in real life is possibly the most embarrasing thing ever. Especially since everyone actually knows what it means, so you can't fob it off as just a random noise anymore.

    2. Re:Ok.. Ok. by SlashdotMeNow · · Score: 1

      This guy would disagree: http://www.purepwnage.com/

  31. How about... by Stormwatch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...automagically?

    1. Re:How about... by Teja · · Score: 1

      Haven't heard that one yet, you mean like this?. If it's in Wikipedia, it is probably used quite a bit.

      --
      - Teja
    2. Re:How about... by Neoncow · · Score: 1
      To both parent and GP:

      My guess as to why it isn't up there is because it's often used in the context of someone who understands how something works to describe something to someone who doesn't.

      Remember, people who know/care about how things work are a minority. :P

    3. Re:How about... by GebsBeard · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Man I *knew* that term sounded familiar. For all youngsters out there you should get familiar with the Hacker's Dictionary. God forbid you start "inventing" slang that's been around since before you were born. http://www.tf.hut.fi/cgi-bin/jargon?search=automag ically

    4. Re:How about... by kosmicki · · Score: 1

      Hmm, I always used it to describe an automated process I thought was rather nifty. Or just in place of the term automatic sometimes. And I know durn good 'n well what it is doing and how it works.

      (Curses 'No really, I'm not a script' box)

    5. Re:How about... by centipetalforce · · Score: 1

      For some reason that word makes me want to kill evertything In sight.

    6. Re:How about... by RichardX · · Score: 3, Informative

      I've always been quite fond of 'automagically'. It makes a great shorthand for "This happens automatically by a process that's complicated enough that it probably wouldn't be worth your while to try and understand it, hence you can just assume it happens by magic" - basically any process that looks like magic due to various hidden complicated processes taking place in the background.

      --
      Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
    7. Re:How about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Personally, my least favorite is "guesstimate." It's come to the point where people think that is the actual word! Ugh.

    8. Re:How about... by SeanAhern · · Score: 1

      But would you do so automagically?

    9. Re:How about... by miyako · · Score: 1

      Ah yes, how could I have forgotten "Automagically", it is actually probably the most useful of all the listed words, because you can use it when your talking to someone with little computing experience, and they tend to understand what you are trying to say.

      --
      Famous Last Words: "hmm...wikipedia says it's edible"
    10. Re:How about... by Neoncow · · Score: 1

      Exactly, the people who understand it (that's you) use 'automagically' to dumb down/shorten an explanation because the other person doesn't have the patience/desire to hear you out.

  32. what about n00b? by espergreen · · Score: 1

    noob beats woot anyday of the week

  33. Essays! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    could you ACTUALLY imagine writing a dissertation using the words "ginormous", "woot" and "confuzzled"?

  34. What's funnier than all of these fake words.... by p_trekkie · · Score: 1

    ...is the number of slashdot users who make spelling errors trying to use the fake words in an attempt at a humorous sentence.

    1. Re:What's funnier than all of these fake words.... by interstellar_donkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, because nothing's more unforgivable then misspelling a fake word.

      --
      The Internet is generally stupid
    2. Re:What's funnier than all of these fake words.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      fux0r Y3W asshat!

  35. "Buttload" quantifies things by theurge14 · · Score: 0

    I say it a buttload of times. Maybe my use of this word says something about me that I am unaware of. w00t?

  36. Never heard of Chav then? by plusser · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The non-dictionary word of the moment in the UK is Chav - or at least it isn't in the Oxford Dictionary yet, although it might be tomorrow.

    1. Re:Never heard of Chav then? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Burberry and Hackett all the way, baby!

    2. Re:Never heard of Chav then? by bodrell · · Score: 1
      Mind giving us a clue what it means, for those of us not in the UK?

      Thanks.

      --
      Si la vida me da palo, yo la voy a soportar Si la vida me da palo, yo la voy a espabilar
    3. Re:Never heard of Chav then? by morbuz · · Score: 1
      From Wikipedia:

      "Chav is a derogatory slang term in popular usage throughout the UK. It refers to a subculture stereotype of a person who is uneducated, uncultured and prone to antisocial or immoral behavior. The label is typically, though not exclusively, applied to teenagers and young adults of white working-class or lower-middle class origin."

      --
      CAPS LOCK IS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL!
  37. I think there's only one valid response... by TooMuchEspressoGuy · · Score: 1
    ...to this article:

    OMG t3h r0xx0r!

    --
    Many Bothans died to bring you this sig.
  38. Re:Confuzzled? THATS OLD!! by Guy+LeDouche · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bush'd

  39. What about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    ..the War on Terrah?

    1. Re:What about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure that "nucular" isn't in, either.

    2. Re:What about... by r_cerq · · Score: 1

      Maybe because "Über" _is_ a word. It's german for "over" (as in overlord :-D)

  40. Gynormous by bobetov · · Score: 1

    They missed a great chance with ginormous. I think this is much better:

    gynormous (adj): Carting around a whole lot of junk in the trunk while female. An extra helping of woman.

    "Yeah, she's cute, but the chick she's with is gynormous!"

    --
    Looking for a Rails developer in Chapel Hill?
  41. Slashdot by bsquizzato · · Score: 2, Funny

    Slashdotted is definitely my least favorite verb. Who would ever want such a horrendous thing occur to them :o

  42. Woohoo by killa62 · · Score: 1

    w00t!111111111one!!!oneEXCLIMATION MARK!1111

    (not redundant)

    1. Re:Woohoo by EvilFrog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You're right, it isn't redundant.

      Unfortunately it isn't funny either.

    2. Re:Woohoo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Your manuscript is both good and original. But the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good." - unattributed

  43. Obscure reference, but... by VValdo · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Ginormous?" "ESPN-onage"?

    Rich Hall must be rolling in his grave right now. That is, if he's dead.

    If not, surely his career is rolling in its grave...

    W

    --
    -------------------
    This is my SIG. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  44. Pwn got pwned. by neongrey · · Score: 1

    Poor pwn. Nobody loves pwn. It is the finest verb that ever verbed a verb.

    1. Re:Pwn got pwned. by coopex · · Score: 1

      How ironic, pwn got pwn3d.

      --
      The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
  45. Does anybody even know by Helmut+Kool · · Score: 1

    ... where that word came from (and what it means)?

    1. Re:Does anybody even know by poopdeville · · Score: 1

      Team based deathmatch. "We pwn3d the other team."

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
    2. Re:Does anybody even know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      woohoo and hoot?

      "WOOHOO, WE HAD A HOOT OWNING THE OTHER TEAM"

      in other words:

      "W00T, WE PWN3D THE OTHER TEAM"

    3. Re:Does anybody even know by DarkEdgeX · · Score: 1

      I always thought it was just a different spelling of "whoo". :P

      --
      All I know about Bush is I had a good job when Clinton was president.
    4. Re:Does anybody even know by poopdeville · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I'm pretty sure the acronym was designed to sound like the "cheering woo." Makes sense, considering that it's a rallying call.

      --
      After all, I am strangely colored.
    5. Re:Does anybody even know by pocopoco · · Score: 1

      It's a mispelling of root. Originally said when you obtain the same on some server. ^^ Internet wise it spread from there.

      There are also idiot linguists around who claim it comes from Africa or some shit like that. Claiming a bit of internet slang that was around even back when the internet was entirely US based came from a foreign country is a bit far fetched, melting pot or not.

  46. How about "Prolly" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People say "prolly" when they probably mean "probably"

  47. Me and my friends always use by Adrilla · · Score: 1

    Frabernackle

    Which basically means beyond bullshit.
    "Did you see the frabernackle the MPAA is trying to pull with this broadcast flag proposal?"

    Then again, me and my friends say a lot of dumb things.

    --

    "Plans are for fools! Oglethorpe, the plutonian (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
  48. w00t! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    congratulations on being faggots!

  49. Meh! by Nick+Driver · · Score: 1

    Teh word "teh" is prolly teh most favorate misspelled non-word here becuase it;s used more often than any others. LMAO, w00r!

  50. wow, they spelled it wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what a ton of wasted mods on this article - so glad you http://shinyfeet.com/ mod'd up that w00t fp to a 5 or might not have seen it. But now, I am a much better person, friendly to both cats and dogs, and sure enough, I got my 15 IQ points back from sending email and smoking weed, I mean weezil

  51. On Language by natrius · · Score: 1

    I think this is a good time to point out how irrational some grammar nazis are, particularly the ones who always find it necessary to correct people when they "misuse" the word irony. When someone says a word and everyone understands what they're saying, guess what? That's what the word means. It's only a problem when the misuse of a word results in confusion, but if a particular incorrect use of a word is so common that everyone understands it, it's now a correct use of the word. That's the way language works.

    1. Re:On Language by syrinx · · Score: 1

      Yakka foob mog. Grub pubbawup zink watoom gazork. Chumble spuzz.

      Oh, or did you still want me to use the language rules that you approve of?

      --
      Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
    2. Re:On Language by natrius · · Score: 1

      Yakka foob mog. Grub pubbawup zink watoom gazork. Chumble spuzz.

      Oh, or did you still want me to use the language rules that you approve of?


      Now let's look at what I actually said: "When someone says a word and everyone understands what they're saying..."

      In some cases, using words incorrectly will make it harder for people to understand what you're saying, but if the usage is so common that everyone understands it, then it's proper usage.

    3. Re:On Language by lgw · · Score: 1

      The goal is not to write in such a way that maybe perhaps someone can understand what you're saying if they work hard enough (OK, maybe that *is* the goal of leet-speak, but not normal writing). If you want to accomplish anything by writing, it's best to write well, and that means following the standard.

      Slang and jargon are fine when writing for a crowd that understands it well, but simple misspelling or lack of understanding of basic grammar will never help your cause.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    4. Re:On Language by HalfFlat · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The point isn't just the success or failure to communicate an idea. Depending on the language chosen, outside from any 'factual content', there is also conveyed: the writer's opinion of the reader; the writer's opinion of themselves; ancillary flavour; and more besides.

      Text that is ungrammatical reads as sloppy thinking, or causes the reader to expend undue effort to decode the content, which can be irritating. It can gives the impression that the writer doesn't care at all about the reader, making the writer look careless, conceited or arrogant.

      Language use is also a social marker. Phrases such as 'could care less', and 'lol' in written text are shibboleths, just as much as using the word 'shibboleth' is.

      So if you wish to appear uneducated and arrogant, and annoy your readers, feel free to be slack with grammar.

      Why do people complain so about poor grammar use? I think mainly because they feel that these extra channels of communication, and the fine distinctions that precise grammar use can distinguish, are important parts of the language. People clamouring for the acceptance of sloppy writing are seen as barbarians massing at the gate, wanting to loot and sack the culture while blind to the things that make it worthwhile. It's not just the ignorance which is affronting, but the way that such ignorance is seen to be becoming acceptable, with the concomitant blurring of expressive power and subtlety. It's like being forced to use Windows 95, because it's "good enough for everyone else".

    5. Re:On Language by natrius · · Score: 1

      The point isn't just the success or failure to communicate an idea. Depending on the language chosen, outside from any 'factual content', there is also conveyed: the writer's opinion of the reader; the writer's opinion of themselves; ancillary flavour; and more besides.

      I agree. The problem is that when people correct things, they're not trying to help other people out, they're trying to point out how dumb the person who made the mistake is, and how smart they are for correcting it. It's the obnoxious grammar nazis that no one likes. I don't think sloppy writing should be accepted, but I do think the "irony" example I gave is a good example of something that should be let go. Sure, people use the word when they mean "coincidental", but enough people do it to where a majority of the population won't blink an eye when that mistake is made. If it's truly ignorance that these people are trying to combat, the solution is to educate, not to berate.

    6. Re:On Language by Fragglebabe · · Score: 1

      Well said. Quite frankly, I haven't heard a better argument for correct grammar use in a long time. A lot of people would tend to be patronising when making that argument, whereas you seem to realise that a lot of people do it through sheer laziness and that it is a choice, rather than a lack of education on the subject.

      Personally I think that misspellings and incorrect grammar are often the results of rushing to finish, or just pure laziness, as most of the population reads enough to realise what good grammar and spelling should look like. For my money, I always know when something looks wrong, and it's only when i'm rushing to miss a deadline that I don't go back and change it. I sometimes don't have time to check spelling and grammar in exams either. However, I think that if you do have time and what you've written does look wrong, there's no excuse but to look it up and change it. There are plenty of good grammar books around these days.

      --
      Insane people are always sure they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.
    7. Re:On Language by gfreeman · · Score: 1

      The problem is that when people correct things, they're not trying to help other people out, they're trying to point out how dumb the person who made the mistake is, and how smart they are for correcting it. It's the obnoxious grammar nazis that no one likes.

      You can add to the list - "those who generalise". Not everyone who corrects grammar is trying to point out how dumb the other person is.

      See, I wan't trying to make you out as dumb, even though you were. D'oh!

      --
      Ceci n'est pas un sig.
  52. oh noes!!!!11 by shop+S+Mart · · Score: 1

    unpossible

    --
    "all i wanted was a pepsi..."
  53. Ummm..... Ginormous by I+kan+Spl · · Score: 1

    Ginormous is a word: lookie

    --
    My UID is prime and so is this number: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0.
    1. Re:Ummm..... Ginormous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My UID is prime, is your's?

      My UID is ex-directory.

    2. Re:Ummm..... Ginormous by craXORjack · · Score: 1

      So there saying its been around for over 50 years. But how often is it used? I bet if Will Ferrell hadn't used it in that Elf movie that most people wouldn't even recognize it. They'd be trying to say it like they do giga instead of with a j sound even though they both come from the same root word.

      --
      Liberals call everyone Nazis yet they are the closest thing to it.
  54. ??? but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No pr0n ?

  55. confuzzled??? by brian0918 · · Score: 1

    Who the smeg says confuzzled???

    1. Re:confuzzled??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How the drokk would I know?

  56. woot == excitement? :-\ by ZeroExistenZ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    3. woot (interj): an exclamation of joy or excitement

    If I'm not mistaken woot is the abbrivation for We Own the Other Team, and was introduced with multiplayer games.

    --
    I think we can keep recursing like this until someone returns 1
    1. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by Eric119 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well, actually the origin of w00t is not known for sure. Wikipedia gives a number of ideas on where w00t came from.

      See the Wikipedia article.

    2. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 4, Funny

      If THAT was the origin, than it would be spelled "WPOT" for We Pwn the Other Team.

      --
      In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
    3. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by wolfgang_spangler · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You most likely are mistaken.
      It is interesting how people always assume that some word started somehow in the first context in which they encountered it.
      I know I have seen it used in NannyMUD since 1992 or so. I always assumed that it started there and was some Swedish slang. That is of course because I first encountered it there in 1992 :)

    4. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by Frogbert · · Score: 1

      Well I don't know about other parts of the world but saying Woot around here was an exclamation of excitement, its only since the internet age came about that people started substituting the o's with zero's.

    5. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by KanSer · · Score: 1

      w00t comes from hackers proclaiming "root!" when they had gained access to root on a system.

      As with most net-derived slang its current form is influenced by the second greatest word creator known to man: The Typo.

      w00t/teh/pwn/j00

      The best word maker has to be the Portmanteau.

      Smog/ginormous/brunch/animatronics/camcorder/chi ll ax/chortle/Engrish/gaydar

      and everyone's favorite: Crunk.

      --
      • MOD PARENT UP by Anonymous Coward Wednesday April 20, @4:20
    6. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by d474 · · Score: 0

      This conversation is a w00t.

      (Waste Of Our Time)

      --
      Authority questions you. Return the favor.
    7. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A waste of time? as in moot? a moot woot?

    8. Re:woot == excitement? :-\ by Thuktun · · Score: 1

      The best word maker has to be the Portmanteau.

      Smog/ginormous/brunch/animatronics/camcorder/chi ll ax/chortle/Engrish/gaydar


      "Engrish" isn't a portmanteau, it's a play on the Japanese r/l thing.

  57. Woot; the acronym. by Agilo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The word "woot" (also; "w00t") has been said to be an acronym, not just a word, meaning:
    We Own the Other Team

    --
    - Agilo
    1. Re:Woot; the acronym. by vagabond_gr · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually there are at least 10 different explanations about the origin of "w00t", ranging from Quake to Daffy Duck. I guess the truth will remain a mystery.

    2. Re:Woot; the acronym. by Rirath.com · · Score: 1

      Microsoft's slang page claims it's We Own the Other Team. That pretty much rules it out as being the one. Even if it was, which I doubt, it died that day.

    3. Re:Woot; the acronym. by freeweed · · Score: 1

      Seems funny to see all these explanations.

      People have been replacing letters with numbers in online conversation for decades.

      "Woo!" is a very well known exclamation of happiness (think Homer and woo-hoo!). From this we get w00. The t is gravy.

      It's interesting to see all these slang words suddenly get acronyms, though. I've never heard of "we own the other team" before 2 minutes ago, and I've been chatting and gaming online since the early 90s. Then again, there WAS the infamous Grunge Dictionary, entirely made up, back in 91, so maybe this is the same sort of thing. Finding meaning where there is none.

      --
      Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
    4. Re:Woot; the acronym. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's a backronym (acronym defined after the fact).

      It's hacker slang; originally the expression of joy derived from 0wning something; to root something... r00t then it branched into rewt and w00t, the first being specifically still that, and the second being a more general, less illegal exclamation of triumph and jubilation.

      Of course, as with most things in IRC, it's probably lost in the mists of time and all jumbled up with other stuff too, but it's definitely not originally WOOT, the o's are 0's, and it predates Quake. It's degenerated into woot for pronounciation; but it's a word to hooted, not merely said. The o's are a little bit more ooooo!! than normal ones. By all means get carried away; it's a fun word. Celebrate the pwnage!

  58. So quit using 'automagically' then by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's annoying.

  59. Finally! The recognition I deserve! by Da+w00t · · Score: 4, Funny

    (Just visualise it: all the packets on both Internets all come together to chant "Speech! Speech! Speech!&quot. Aaahhh.)

    I'd like to thank all the people who helped me get where I am today, all the script kiddies, my coworkers, O'Reilly & Associates, Linus Torvolds for making Linux, Bill Gates for making Windows, and all the really smart people out there at MIT for making X11.

    We've come along way from Athena widgets, nobody in their right mind uses Motif anymore, and everything is a beautiful drab KDE and Gnome gray. We've had SCO try to poison our spirits, but that which does not kill you only makes you stronger.

    Way to go folks. You've done well. (note to mods: this is funny, look at my uid)

    --

    da w00t. mtfnpy?
    1. Re:Finally! The recognition I deserve! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (note to mods: this is funny, look at my uid)

      It's not funny when you have to explain it.

    2. Re:Finally! The recognition I deserve! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was the joke, and now you killed it by explaining it.

    3. Re:Finally! The recognition I deserve! by evilviper · · Score: 1
      nobody in their right mind uses Motif anymore,

      xpdf switched to Motif not long ago...

      I still agree with you.
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  60. glaring omission by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No Fangorious?

  61. pr0n should be on the list, too by zerojoker · · Score: 1

    It's my favourite word, at least...

  62. Moof! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It needed to be said.

  63. They didn't accept Quizibuck? by Fortyseven · · Score: 1

    That's a Duketastrophy!

  64. Which language? by gallir · · Score: 1

    Sinevaseusariasky

    --
    sgis ddo ekil t'nod i
    1. Re:Which language? by multipartmixed · · Score: 1

      Is that when the doctor who is supposed to be performing your vasectomy accidentally makes a sinusoidal cut, making you sing sky-high arias?

      --

      Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
  65. What about... by Coolnat2004 · · Score: 1

    Über? or Überw00t!?

  66. Who the fuck uses confuzzled? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously, ive never heard confuzzled ever used...

  67. phonecrastinate by ArbitraryConstant · · Score: 1

    "phonecrastinate"

    You've got to be fucking kidding me. This is the first time I've ever seen that.

    --
    I rarely criticize things I don't care about.
  68. Yay! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That is double plus good!
    Now, don't forget kids: speak right is thoughtcrime.

  69. Conversate by mrmike37 · · Score: 1

    I would say 'conversate' seems to be the most popular non-word. Maybe it doesn't count because it's just an incorrect conjugation.

    --
    Really, I'm not trying to be clever with my signature.
  70. Re:Obligatory Critic Dupe by Fortyseven · · Score: 1

    I ended up making a small post with this quote as well (huge fan of the show), but I figured someone else would have before me.

    So I did the polite thing and searched the thread for the start of the quote...but I spelled it with a 'Q'. Quizibuck. Naturally I didn't see this post. It hadn't even occured to me that it could be spelled that way...

    Next time, I'll use 'Duketastrophy' to search. ;)

  71. Confoxed, not Confuzzled... by HermanAB · · Score: 1

    Never heard confuzzled, confoxed, yes.

    --
    Oh well, what the hell...
  72. Spelling - it is w00t, dumbass! by HermanAB · · Score: 1

    They are a dictionary and they can't even spell w00t - sad, really sad.

    --
    Oh well, what the hell...
  73. What about W's favorite word ... by SengirV · · Score: 1

    ... Strategory

    --

    Prof. Farnsworth - "Oh a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!"

    1. Re:What about W's favorite word ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought it was nucular...

    2. Re:What about W's favorite word ... by MagusSlurpy · · Score: 1

      It's spelled "StrategEry," yo.

      --
      My sister opened a computer store in Hawaii. She sells C shells by the seashore.
    3. Re:What about W's favorite word ... by starphish · · Score: 1

      He also likes "Nukuler".

      --
      Yeah, yeah, yeah. The story is a dupe, the topic is boring, the facts weren't checked. WE GET IT!!
    4. Re:What about W's favorite word ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget "Misunderestimate"

  74. BOOYAH! by Lord+Kano · · Score: 1

    I exclaim that whenever I win a big poker hand.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  75. microsoft's definition of w00t by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 3, Interesting

    http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/ kidtalk.mspx

    A parent's primer to computer slang ...

    Other common leet words: ...
    "w00t" or the smiley character \o/: An acronym that usually means "We Own the Other Team," used to celebrate victory in a video game. ...

    1. Re:microsoft's definition of w00t by Stauf · · Score: 1

      There are more then a few origins of the word floating around. And given that I first heard it on IRC at least 10 years ago, I doubt Microsoft's explaination is correct.

    2. Re:microsoft's definition of w00t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, and \o/ is the "yay!" smiley. Don't worry. You still have wooyay!

  76. Perhaps a more randomized audience is needed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Because I'm sure that the average speaker/reader is not a usual subscriber to Webster Online and chooses to participate in pointless surveys.

    "lingweenie?" You've got to be kidding me. I cannot think this is used by anybody but lingophiles, and even then, its usage must be sporadic. Webster can hardly use the basis of this "poll" to prove anything.

  77. What about misunderestimate? by Snaller · · Score: 1

    Surely its unpatriotic not to include it? ;)

    --
    If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
  78. but ginormous... by furorimpius · · Score: 1

    is in the dictionary (subscription required)

  79. I don't understand the meaning of ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    What is pornian?.

    open4free © & i'm a spanish man.

    1. Re:I don't understand the meaning of ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A pornian is a resident of the nation of Pornia.

  80. I do exclaim.. by Andy+Gardner · · Score: 1

    Interphrastically, Sausage.... Sssaauuusage!

  81. What about shart? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know, when you try to fart, but shit instead?

  82. Strange, no pr0n? by EtherAlchemist · · Score: 1


    My nominations

    - prolly
    - lesbohemian
    - saxamaphone
    - frinked (like macgyvered but better)
    - spombed (massive amounts of email from the same person in a relatively short period)

    --
    R(k)
    1. Re:Strange, no pr0n? by blackjackshellac · · Score: 1

      Saxamaphone, reminds me of avamacado; not sure if that's a Homerism or not ... it might have been a character on Coronation Street named Linda, some evil bint who was shacked up with Mike Baldwin for a while, but disappeared and as far as I know has never been found. I'll have to check that out.

      --
      Salut,

      Jacques

  83. w00p by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "w00p" was started by me and some buddies on IRC years ago.
    Next thing we knew, people were going "w00t"
    We just figured they were stupid.

  84. My favourites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My personal fave for some reason is 'teh'. Not sure why...

    For proof that 'lol' can be used as an actual word - check out Teh Pwnerer:
    http://www.purepwnage.com/

  85. Google says... by Tibe · · Score: 2, Informative

    Google says...

    1. woot 618,000
    2. ginormous 93,100 Did you mean: enormous
    3. confuzzled 65,400
    4. chillax 24,500
    5. snirt 7,900
    6. lingweenie 7,790
    7. gription 4,410
    8. slickery 772
    9. "cognitive displaysia" 254
    10. phonecrastinate 221

    Define...

    Definitions of woot on the Web:
    # The term w00t is a slang interjection used to express happiness or excitement, usually over the Internet. The expression is most popular on USENET posts, multiplayer computer games (especially first person shooters), IRC chats, and instant messages, though use on the World Wide Web in the form of weblogs or in forums is by no means uncommon.
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woot

    No definitions were found for confuzzled, cognitive displaysia, chillax, snirt, lingweenie, gription, slickery or phonecrastinate.

    1. Re:Google says... by Scarblac · · Score: 1

      And both pwned (195,000) and pwnage (93,500) could have been second on that list. Pwn itself is mostly used as an acronym so unfit to search for, but even "to pwn" gets 14,300 hits.

      Those words are my favourite non-dictionary words. Wonder how long it'll take before they're in actual paper dictionaries.

      --
      I believe posters are recognized by their sig. So I made one.
  86. Bowelful: having to void feces from ones bowels by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bowelful: The state of urgently having to void feces from ones bowels.

    "Despite being boweful, Monty continued to madly code his new awesomtastic p2p app."

    Invented (independently discovered?) about 6 months ago by myself and a friend. We are lobbying for proper wordhood.

  87. Frankensite by gmuslera · · Score: 1
    In some moment had to transmit the concept of websites made joining disparate parts, i.e. phpbb for forums, gallery for image galleries, phpwiki for wiki and so on, all with different user bases/permissions/look and feel/etc here (to compare with systems that have all those features well integrated) and the word seems to being accepted (even not being native english speaker myself).

    Of course, i doubt being the 1st or the only one that used it, but at least when the idea come to me i hadnt read before that word.

  88. Damn by robertgeller · · Score: 0

    And I thought I invented the word back when I started using it. :-(

  89. Ginormous by yourexhalekiss · · Score: 2

    Am I the only person that thinks of "enormous vagina" when I hear the word "ginormous?"

    I know better, but still it makes me cringe.

    1. Re:Ginormous by be-fan · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not anymore you arent...

      --
      A deep unwavering belief is a sure sign you're missing something...
    2. Re:Ginormous by purple_cobra · · Score: 1

      Heh, wouldn't 'vaginormous' be more accurate?

  90. what does woot mean? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not a native english speaker, I always thought it was a reference to the sound of a ship's horn. Is it?

  91. w00t??? by Khyber · · Score: 1

    *sighs*

    Sorry n00b t00b, looks like you're not gonna win this year, either.

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  92. strategery by gkbarr · · Score: 1

    as coined by 'W' (in SNL skits) - strategery is how we're going to win the War on Terror...
    or something like that

    --
    Sapere Aude - Homer
  93. OBLIG dna by MrCopilot · · Score: 1
    --
    OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
  94. Umhh how about.. by roberthhid · · Score: 1

    slashdotted?

  95. uhhh... scrumtralescent anyone? by TheHonestTruth · · Score: 1
    because that word pwns (as does ginormous and woot).

    -truth

    --

    I had a steady B+ in my AI class until I failed the Turing test...

  96. premature emailulation by jstoner · · Score: 1

    What happens when you hit the send button before you're done typing the email.

    I hear it happens to lots of guys.

    --

    'In knowledge is power, in wisdom humility.'
  97. Glurge by pipingguy · · Score: 1


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glurge

    The word is used mostly in a derogatory sense to describe a certain kind of feel-good story. The defining characteristic of glurge is that, while its purpose is to make the reader happy, the feel-good aspect is so overdone that it is more likely to nauseate rather than to inspire. Glurge often has a religious theme and is most commonly circulated via e-mail in the form of a chain letter.

  98. almost words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ESPN-onage (n): secretly viewing an all-sports network when your wife leaves the room

    polkadodge (n): the pseudo dance when two people attempt to pass each other, each moving in the same direction

    scrax (n): the waxy coating that must be scratched off an instant lottery ticket

    dunandunate (v): to overuse a word or phrase that has been recently added to one's vocabulary

    lexpionage (n): the sleuthing of new words and phrases

    whinese (n) a language spoken by children or spouses on long road trips

    slush turtle (n): the snow that collects on your mud flap

    spinter (n): the season between winter and spring where everything is drowning in a slush/mud mixture

    sprummer (n) when spring and summer can't decide which is going to come first--hot one day, cold the next

    headset jockey (n): a telephone call center worker at the other end of a toll-free number

    knitpicker (n): a person who selects your knitted sweaters. Beware the Christmas knitpicker or the put-the-family-in-the-same-sweater-for-the-photo knitpicker.

    stealth-geek (n): one that hides nerdy interests while maintaining a normal outward appearance

    fumb (n): the large toe

    jimberjaw (n): a protrusive chin

    wibble (n): a trembling of the lower lip just shy of actually crying

    asphinxiation (n): when you are sick to death of unanswerable riddles

    museum head (n): being mentally exhausted, and unable to take in anything more; usu. follows after a full day at the museum

    precuperate (v): prepare for the possibility of being ill

    shanghaIM (v): Instant Messaging somebody who's in the process of IM-ing somebody else, causing them to inadvertently type (and possibly send) their message to you

    vidiot (n): one inept at programming a VCR

    wurfing (v): the act of surfing the Internet at work and rationalizing that it is for work purposes

    detroitus (n): car parts found alongside the highway

    junkstaposition (n): when two or more immobile vehicles are parked next to each other

    pregreening (v): the tendency to creep forward while waiting for a red light to change

    onionate (v): to overwhelm with post-dining breath

    smushables (n): the groceries that must be packed at the top of the bag or separately to avoid being mangled by the time you get home

    spatulate (v): remove cake batter or other substances from the side of a mixing bowl with a spatula

    dringle (n): the ring-shaped stain on wood caused by condensation from a glass of liquid

    espacular (adj): especially spectacular

    furgle (v): to feel in a pocket or purse for a small object such as a coin or key

    hoyle (n): the point at which a genius transcends our reality and becomes a madman

    nudenda (n): a nudist's unhidden agenda

    optotoxical (adj): of or pertaining to poisonous looks that could kill, esp. from a spouse

    parrotise (n): a haven for exotic birds, esp. green ones

    quackmire (n): muddy edges of a duck pond

    sinspire (v): to compel one to be creatively wicked

    sprog (v): to go faster than a jog but slower than a sprint

  99. No slashdot reference? by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    Home come "being slashdotted" or something similar isn't there....here's the "dictionary" suggestions. Suggestions for slashdotted: 1. slaughtered 2. cell-mediated 3. slow-witted 4. Chalcedon 5. selected 6. Colchester 7. shell-shocked 8. solicited 9. sanctioned 10. selector

    1. Re:No slashdot reference? by GraemeDonaldson · · Score: 1

      Being slashdotted is really a 1-2 combo of 5. selected, and 1. slaughtered.

      sgnfycj

      --
      I think, therefore I am. I think?
  100. d00dz, don't miss w00t, the website (deal site) by Dave21212 · · Score: 1


    There are a number of sites I check daily, some are 'deal sites' such as SlickDeals..., but one of the more interesting has to be w00t !

    They have a new deal every day (except weekends), once they run out, that's it ! Don't miss their famous "Bag 'o Crap" specials, and always read the details and the photo (they have some of the most entertaining descriptions evar), and keep and eye out for bravewoman.

    I actually bought and actively use the RoboMower RL850 I saw there one day (love it, by the way).

    --
    "Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Benjamin Franklin
  101. (My bad, it's the RL500!) by Dave21212 · · Score: 1


    (Image)
    Friendly Robotics Robomower RL500
    The Rise of the Machines (into Landscaping Professions)
    $179.99 + $5 Shipping and Handling

    Herald of the Terminators, the Robomower RL500 crawls over your lawn like a worker ant, paring back the living grass, making our world more suitable for the robot masters that will ultimately enslave us.

    Yard by verdant yard, that which was once free, organic and wild is brought to heel under the RL500's durable, rust-free mowing deck. After your formerly luxuriant lawn is tamed, how long will it be before the Robomower turns its quintuple horsepower equivalent cutting system on you?

    (If the Robmower RL500 rises up against you or any member of your puny human community in less than 90 days, subdue it and return it--it's still under warranty.)

    --
    "Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Benjamin Franklin
  102. I liked it better when they were called Snigglets by Hohlraum · · Score: 1

    "Charp" noun. The green chip at the bottom of every bag of potatoe chips that no one will eat.

  103. Re:I liked it better when they were called Sniggle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of course, such potato chips are only racist if a white person names them.

  104. Plane by dark+grep · · Score: 1

    My favourite, or maybe most irksome, word of non-English commonly used is 'deplane' as in 'We expect you will be able to deplane on schedule at LAX'. Funny, I don't recall enplaning in Sydney, or maybe I just planed? What airline bureaucrat came up with that bit of doggerel I wonder.

  105. eejit by dark+grep · · Score: 1

    An Irish word, probably not in common use elswere, but one I like to use at work at lot is 'eejit', as in 'What a great eejit that [person who did something stupid] is'. There are four grades of eejits - eejit, great eejit, fecking eejit and fecking great eejit, as in 'Feck off, you fecking great eejit'. One can only say the English language is enriched by this gem of a contribution from our Feanian cousins.

  106. woop (father of woot) by Emetophobe · · Score: 1

    Back in my early internet days (mid 90s), I used to hang out in Undernet (IRC). Our little hacker community used various 1337 speak and we made up alot on the spot too, always trying to out do each other.

    We had our various kiddie words we used to amuse ourselves, such as unf, shnee, woop and jizm.

    We used to say woop alot, one day someone decided to say woot, I don't know if they read it elsewhere or made it up on the spot, but it caught on.

    I always figured it was derived from "woop", but I guess we'll never know (not like it really matters anyway)

  107. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  108. pnwt by CdotZinger · · Score: 1

    Step with the times, blackguard.

    --
    Your mouth is like Columbus Day.
  109. I have. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That was the day I became a killing machine.

  110. Hm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    I always hoped it meant "So big it's a vagina," which, while limiting the usefulness of the adjective to describing a hole or pocket that is expected to be smaller than a vagina, at least isn't as totally lame and pointless as its meaning "'enormous' said by an idiot."

    Words don't like me.

  111. Why w00t? by Rick+and+Roll · · Score: 1
    I would be surprised if giving this poll to /. readers didn't give similar results as were given to the whole world. I think that this headline should be "Ginormous is Favorite Non-Dictionary Word".

    And I've got nothing against w00t. But ginormous is a bit funnier IMO.

  112. Slickery? by munpfazy · · Score: 1

    From the article:

    slickery (adj): having a surface that is wet and icy

    So in other words, slickery means the same thing as slick? Yeah, that's a useful word. Right up there with confuzled on the list of neologisms don't actually add anything to the language.

    Mangling an existing word and then claiming that it means the same thing as the old word is just dumb when there are so many useful concepts out there for which words don't exist and so many interesting sounds that aren't already incorporated into words. Come on, pop-culture, you can do better!

    Woot isn't all that interesting either, come to think of it, but at least it's new.

    Now foo, on the other hand, is a neologism with some real substance.

    1. Re:Slickery? by megrims · · Score: 1
      Come on, pop-culture, you can do better!
      'Pop-culture' and 'better' rarely go together.
  113. to be belong to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as in
    all your base are belong to us

  114. gunt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One of my personal favourites is gunt. That is the where the c**t and gut become one, i.e. when a fat woman has her stretch pants pulled way up and half the gut is in the pants. Doesn't work well for guys usually because they wear there pants lower typically.

  115. Re:Confuzzled and ginormous? by antdude · · Score: 1

    I have not heard of "ginormous" and "confuzzled" terms before.

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  116. Omissions? by mike+at+smu · · Score: 1

    What about "schtooped" or "fricking?" Those asshats really borked that one. How pathetisad.

  117. Chillax? by GFLPraxis · · Score: 1

    One of the higher ranking words, just under woot, is Chillax.

    I have NEVER heard of this before...it sounds like "chill lax" or a chilled laxative...

    Does anyone know anyone who uses this word?

    1. Re:Chillax? by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      Never heard it, but sounds like chill and relax too me.

      I did not RTFA so if it is defined mod me down.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    2. Re:Chillax? by grrrl · · Score: 1

      yeah i've heard it

      its like chill out/relax mixed together

      when someone gets stressed out, you just tell them to chillax

    3. Re:Chillax? by jericho4.0 · · Score: 1
      It's used in a KitKat commercial. As in "What are you doing?", "Ahh, you know, chillaxin'"

      I use it to show how down I am with the kids these days. Word.

      --
      "A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming, is not worth knowing" - Alan Perlis
    4. Re:Chillax? by Meagermanx · · Score: 1

      ...And then you stab whoever used the word "chillax" in the eye. Hard.

    5. Re:Chillax? by TheEternalVortex · · Score: 1

      I had a friend who used it all the time. It got kind of annoying after a while, although I guess it has some usefulness.

    6. Re:Chillax? by gamesource · · Score: 1

      A lot of people use chillax where I live. Its simply easier to say than "chill out and relax". Although, we could just say "chill"....

  118. Stupid and biased by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is stupid, the results are totally slanted.

    The "fifth" most popular word (term) is:
    cognitive displaysia(n): the feeling you have before you even leave the house that you are going to forget something and not remember it until you're on the highway

    According to Google, there are only 250 usages of this term on the web.

    That's just crap, if you ask me. Besides ginormous and woot, many these terms are contrived. They're just theoretical neologisms, and most aren't in any real usage.

  119. Ob Blackadder III (from Ink & incapability) by ross.w · · Score: 1

    From Blackadder Hall:

    Dr. Johnson:
    This book, sir, contains every word in our beloved language.

    Edmund:
    Every word, sir?

    Dr. Johnson:
    Every word, sir.

    Edmund:
    Well, in that case, sir, I hope you will not object if I also offer the doctor my most enthusiastic contrafibularities.

    Dr. Johnson:
    What??

    Edmund:
    Contrafibularities, sir. It is a common word down our way.

    Dr. Johnson:
    Damn!

    Edmund:
    Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I'm anaspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericumbobulation.

    Edmund:
    Of course, sir. I shall return...interfrastically.

    --
    If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
  120. #3 ? by _pi-away · · Score: 1

    How is this beating "embiggen" and "cromulent" ?

    --

    "The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw."
  121. Re:santorum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Moderators: Please note that "twitter" is a known fanatical sycophant whose obnoxious offtopic rants are legend here on Slashdot. It doesn't matter what the topic is, he'll find a way to scrape in some pointless Microsoft bashing. While nobody expects us to love Microsoft in any way, his particularly tepid style of calling anyone he replies to "troll" or "liar" or "fanboy" because he happens to disagree with whatever they're saying is well documented and should not be rewarded. If anything, twitter is the type of person that should not be part of the open source/free software community. He is an anathema to all that is good about free software.

    I'm posting this so that you (the moderator) have some context to consider twitter and not mod him up whenever he posts his filler preformatted rants about installing Knoppix or Mepis or whatever that unfortunately get him karma every single time and allow him to continue posting his trademark toxic crap (read on) day in and day out. You may consider this a troll - I consider it community service. And I ain't kidding.

    If you're a /. subscriber, I invite you to look through some of his posting history. I guarantee that you'll be hard pressed to find someone that is more "out there" than twitter. You'll also probably notice he's got quite an AC following. Don't just read his posts, make sure you go through the replies.

    To get an idea of what I'm talking about, check this post out. This is an article about email disclaimers. The parent of the post is complaining about the ads in the linked page and so on, and twitter actually goes off on a rant to blame it on Microsoft and recommend Lynx, because "is teh free".

    Here's another. In this post twitter not only calls the OP a troll but attempts to "tell it like it is" while making some vague argument about "GNU". Yes, if you're confused, you're not alone. The reply (modded +4) proceeds to simply destroy his bogus argument. You will notice he did not reply. This is what some people call "drive-by advocacy". A sort of I'll just leave you with my thoughts here and move on to the next flamebait kind of deal. In fact, he almost never replies because he knows that his fanatical arguments simply do not hold up to any sort of discussion. It's not that he's chosen the wrong cause - he's just going at it in a completely wrong way.

    Here's that drive-by advocacy and FUD in motion: twitter goes on about some topic and then drops the usual "oh and M$ is teh evil" because "WMP phones home" or some such. Called on his FUD, he then claims that WMP stores every song and movie you've ever played in a file, somewhere. Pressed further, he just sort of slithers out of sight, his FUD-spreading complete. This is not about some Microsoft technology that nobody likes anyway; it's about lying for the sake of lying. Way too many of his posts are exactly like this one.

    More? Just read though this post and the subsequent replies. I guess this stands on its own. Or these two. Or this one. Or this one.

    Still not convinced? This is what twitter considers "humour" while going about his daily "M$" routine.

  122. n00b != newbie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    It's derived from newbie but it's a different word with different connotations.

    • Newbie is affectionate (one who is new at something).
    • N00b is disparaging (one who is, or acts like they are, new at something with no social skills and no effort to learn who expects to be spoonfed and for everything to just work).

    Newbies ask for help. N00bs demand it. Very different thing. :)

    1. Re:n00b != newbie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, I usually hear n00b used disparagingly just because people wanna be assholes to new folks.

    2. Re:n00b != newbie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      no those are just your(and some other people's) interpretations of the separate 'spellings', they mean the same thing but someone along the lines decided that it was less harsh to call someone newbie because i guess is sounds cuter...

  123. derivative of 'idiot'? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I like it much better -- especially when paired with FECKING.

    1. Re:derivative of 'idiot'? by dark+grep · · Score: 1

      I assume it means 'idiot', in that broad southern Irish accent. I picked up both words from the 'Father Ted' series. Fr Dougal says "Ah, what a great eejit I am Ted."

  124. w00t! Merriam-Webster fails the spelling test. by Sindri · · Score: 1

    Anyone typing "woot!" after fragging someone in a FPS would immediately be flagged as a n00b! It's spelt w00t weather or not you work for a dictionary publisher or not.

    PS. Where is n00b? It's at least as common as w00t.

  125. Portmanteaux by Ashtead · · Score: 1
    It is notable that of the 10 top words in the list in the original article, 8 of them are obviously portmanteaux or frankenwords:

    1. ginormous is from gigantic and enormous

    2. confuzzled from confused and puzzled.

    4. chillax from chill out and relax

    6. gription from grip and friction

    7. phonecrastinate from phone and procrastinate.

    8. slickery from slick and slippery

    9. snirt from snow and dirt

    10. lingweenie from linguist and weenie

    For several of these, Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, the meaning remains close to meaning of the original component words, as these already are synonyms of each other and the resulting portmanteau word. Nos. 7, 9, and 10 produce special cases of one of the words. Furthermore, except for number 9, which may provide a useful description of an unpleasant condition, most of these would likely be considered insufferable cute-ish and contrived by anyone overexposed to them.

    The "5. cognitive displaysia" seems to be derived from some kind of medical technical term, to make it seem more serious than it is. It still seems to be a nerdy way of saying that I'm bothered by forgetting which stuff I might have forgot before I leave, or something... Perhaps the more succinct term isn't such a waste after all.

    This leaves me with the conclusion that the word "woot" is the best of the lot, as it is the more rare, non-portmanteau new-word, that also actually has a distinct meaning.

    --
    SIGBUS @ NO-07.308
  126. Sprog travesty by nyjx · · Score: 1
    The "previous words" defines sprog as sprog (v): "to go faster than a jog but slower than a sprint". When clearly this word has a well established prior use:

    Sprog: child, kid, nipper, tiddler, youngster, tike, tyke, shaver, small fry, nestling, fry.... How else could we then use the wonderful phrase "dropping sprogs"?

    Furthermore, the absence of the red dwarf term smeg clearly shows which side of the atlantic the survey was compiled (or that its been sanitised....)

    --
    .sig
  127. Strange that "grok" is absent?? by haggar · · Score: 1

    I even use "grok" in my corporate correspondence... with select recipients. But really, it's a word that most people understand by now, and use rather frequently.

    Was it maybe added to some "official" dicgtionary while I wasn't watching?

    --
    Sigged!
  128. crunk on Conan O'Brien long ago by bodrell · · Score: 1

    On one of the first seasons of the show, Conan and Andy wanted to be able to curse without being censored, so they made up "crunk" as a vulgar exclamation, too vile to present an official definition. I don't know exactly how long they used it (sample usage: "That's a bunch of crunk!") but it certainly preceded the hip-hop use.

    --
    Si la vida me da palo, yo la voy a soportar Si la vida me da palo, yo la voy a espabilar
  129. W00t! by mattr · · Score: 1

    Anyone who still fails to understand should read the Megatokyo online strip. Preferably give yourself a night and a day with beer, start at the beginning and read to the end. You can also buy most as a book I believe! This will teach you w00t!, teh, j00 and other 133tsp34k and relieve you of all stress and extraneous heartbeats. Oh, and feh is Yiddish.

  130. Blackadder quote by ExKoopaTroopa · · Score: 1

    Dr. Johnson: (places two manuscripts on the table, but picks up the top one) Here it is, sir: the very cornerstone of English scholarship. This book, sir, contains every word in our beloved language.
    Prince George: Hmm.
    Edmund: Every single one, sir?
    Dr. Johnson: (confidently) Every single word, sir!
    Edmund: (to Prince) Oh, well, in that case, sir, I hope you will not object if I also offer the Doctor my most enthusiastic contrafribularities. (or maybe `contrafribblarities', coming from the word `fribble'. A closed-caption decoder would help here.)
    Dr. Johnson: What? Edmund: `Contrafribularites', sir? It is a common word down our way...
    Dr. Johnson: Damn! (writes in the book)
    Edmund: Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I'm anispeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericombobulation.
    Dr. Johnson: What? What? WHAT?
    Prince George: What are you on about, Blackadder? This is all beginning to sound a bit like dago talk to me.
    Edmund: I'm sorry, sir. I merely wished to congratulate the Doctor on not having left out a single word. (J sneers) Shall I fetch the tea, Your Highness?
    Prince George: Yes, yes! And get that damned fire up here, will you?
    Edmund: Certainly, sir. I shall return interfrastically. (exits) (J writes some more)

    --
    Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do!
  131. Votejacking? by Aadomm · · Score: 1

    Some of these words seem to hint strongly at a post on a very popular messageboard reading along the lines of:

    Hey Merriam-Webster have got this 'What's your favourite non-dictionary word' thing. Lets all submit 'cognitive displaysia' and see if we can get it in.

    Maybe its just me.

    --
    Mention the Lord of the Rings one more time and I'll more than likely kill you.
  132. Re:A few favorites -Frelled by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I see frelled used a lot now. But that just might be me.

  133. Re:santorum by twatter · · Score: 0
    hi twitter.

    I see you are back. And now you've become a hysterical troll. Interesting.

    Proof once again that I win and you lose.

    Go back to your cave.

  134. Which one? by TheTopher · · Score: 1

    "n00b"? "noob"? "newb"? "newbie"? no wonder the top non-dictionary word isn't on the list

  135. Goan and Smee by bobzieruncle · · Score: 1
  136. "con-FUZE-led" by Daetrin · · Score: 1

    I agree, i've always heard it pronounced "con-FUZE-led." I first started hearing it amongst my friends in college about eight or ten years ago, i hadn't realized it was that popular though.

    --
    This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  137. One second... by aLEczapKA · · Score: 0

    What no "sex" on the list? Wait a sec..

    --
    -- All Gods were immortal.
    -- S. Lem