Monday, August 4, 2008

Got More Talking to Do (AKA Part Deux)




There is a talk radio station in Raleigh (not the attempted murder NPR) that has a definite conservative bent to it. The host that is on at 4:00 makes me crazy so when I'm in a particularly punchy mood, I put on his show and see how long I can last.


Mainly his topics are what bother me. There is NO variety. He (gar-un-tee you) will be talking about illegal immigration (and of course the callers lose the differentiation btw illegal immigrants and south americans in record time) or education (and of course teachers are leaches on society for hoping to earn a wage they can live on).


You can see how I, being a teacher married to a LEGAL south american immigrant would be digging my nails into the steering wheel. But, annoying topics aside, Bill Lamay (that's this creative thinker's name-- although I'm almost positive that's not how you spell it) comes up with some fabulous examples of MORE phrases I'm done hearing. Ready? Here we go:


1. It is what it is. This is an example of saying words that mean absolutely NOTHING. Seriously, just don't even make my ears do the work of listening to that crap. It's one of those "I have an opinion but this topic is so obvious I'm not going to waste my time verbalizing it" phrases. Quit it!


2. Gift it. Since when did we decide to lazily make nouns into verbs to cut down on the number of words we say? If you can the time to say "it is what it is" you have the time to say "give it as a gift". I don't want to hear about people "gifting" the free IPod they got. Enough!


3. Awesome. Now, this one I might need to defend a little. There are some things that are really awesome like a huge wave or a hard thunderstorm... but a page run off on the photocopier? Hardly. Kind maybe, but certainly not awesome. So, stop!


4. Really? . I first heard this on the Office (the Holy Grail of funny) but like "not so much" the yuppy-look-at-me's have latched onto replying "really?" to something that they might normally reply "I can't believe you just said that". The extra-annoying part is the voice these look-at-me's affect when they say this word -- disappointed and exasperated. No more of this.


As I am around more people, I am sure that we'll have to go for part 3, but this is plenty to digest for now... word?

3 comments:

Ryan said...

Is that like 680 AM?

I wont use those phrases around you.

I listen to conservative talk radio when I am bored, mostly to not fall asleep (opposite of my wife).

ridgeandjenny said...

I see nothing wrong with using the word awesome excessively (see Barney on How I Met Your Mother). If it had no linguisticultural (I made that one up just now I think) in the 80's/early 90's I would give it less defense but it is a great word to say. Anyway, if we ever get together in the future, I will make sure to hit you up with the Appalach Town gang sign I learned on the streets. What, What!!

cheyney webb said...

I have never heard "Gift it". If I do, I may throw up a little in my mouth. Luckily, I will never hear that radio station as I have sworn off radio since my near fatal incident.