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

That's a ruddy good trousering you have going on there

Thought of one the other day: the use of the word "journey" and its invasion into the most mundane aspects of marketing and everyday life. Like, sorry, switching a shampoo is not part of a "hair journey," nor do I have "hair goals." Whoever the fuck decided this language was a good idea is a monster.

Yep

"Piece" is the new one around here

Everything is the x "piece" now

xxp - oh totally! It's also kinda insidious from a critical theory / anti-capitalist philosophy perspective. In multiple ways, actually. You have the substitution of actual liberation and self-determination with consumer products that do little to change the structural factors which would impel you to go "on a journey" ... also the extension of the professional to the personal, in the sense that one must have goals for everything.

Eventually there will be some "radical" personal care product brand that will use phrases like "hair derive" and the "psychogeography of skin care" ... and it will be kinda LOL but mostly sad

oh, Aesop has already used Baudrillard in their ad copy

I think I became annoyed with it first during my cancer time, "the word 'cancer journey'" being such euphemistic bullshit for "the hardest and most painful and boring medical procedures you will ever endure"

"optionality"

"viking"

that reminds me, in season 1 of the Wire, after doing a caper to get money to buy drugs, Johnny says to Bubbles, "We're Vikings, holmes!" -- did he mean that their caper was excellent or that they are literally vikings?

or maybe I'm misremembering -- here is a clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph3ESERrdMU

it me

In this Ohio town, times have been tough. First, they shut down the steel mill. Then Amazon and the big boxes killed off the downtown. Then the opioids hit. But there's one thing that bothers residents here more than any of that: people misusing the phrase "begs the question".

— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) September 30, 2021

"Instaworthy"

^^ Oh god yes, can't stand it

you *know* they planned it

I heard a radio spot encouraging people to come out to Modesto, one of the more dismal towns in California, to see the almond blossoms in bloom... and I think they used this term. Or at least implied it.

(I guess all blossoms are in bloom, right?)

the almond blossoms in bloom
are like perfume
BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP
deep in the heart, of modesto!

Modesto is a pit, tho almond blossoms are lovely.

would you say they're instaworthy?

An orchard selfie could cost you $1,000, Solano County Sheriff says

If you're on private property without permission, it doesn't matter how cool your photo is because you're trespassing.

"As alluring and as picturesque as an almond orchard in bloom may be to a dedicated selfie seeker, farmers in Solano County are asking ALL visitors and community members to 'PLEASE' respect their property when they’re trying to snap that perfect shot," the sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook.

Deputy Currie reminds those interested in taking those perfect social media photos that they're not only trespassing, they're encouraging others to trespass by creating beautiful images they'll want to copy...

Modesto isn't in Solano County ftr

I saw a review blurb that described the Many Saints of Newark as "Positively Cinematic!" That's an awfully low bar for a movie.

Relatedly, I've always hated when people say "it was like something out of a movie." Movies can be about literally any-fucking-thing. Many of them are based on real life.

It was like something out of a documentary!

Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Enfuckingagement

Apologies to anyone who’s recently got engaged – that’s fine.

"populous" for "populace" really makes my skin crawl.

Also "lawmaker". We had a perfectly good word for that already.

"It can't be understated..."

Of course "can't be overstated" is also more often than not not literally true but hyperbole is the point. Can't be understated just sounds like you're telling me not to.

“man flu”

can we fucking put this one to bed lads

never heard that phrase here in the states but it sure sounds like it is adjacent to this thread

What’s a man flu?

the idea that men suffer more than women from colds and flu, the angle being "they're more whiny than women who just tough it out" but also sometimes "men feel viruses more intensely than women because [insert science here] so we should bring them lumberjack soup and various man sprays"

A cold. men supposedly exagerrate their maladies so what we/they say is flu is actually just a cold, hence the mocking term 'man flu'.

xp

wait I want lumberjack soup, I think I'm coming down with something

Never thought this was a thing- but whenever I would get a head cold or sinus infection, I would make the spiciest broth/soup I could, with hot sauce, Tabasco, you name it, the hotter the better. And that would help. Maybe that was lumberjack soup?

What’s a man flu?

Somewhat amazed this is not also a thing in the US!

Is the annoyance that it under or overstates the condition

It's annoyingly overused imo but what's buggin' Tracer Hand about it will have to wait I suppose.

"various man sprays"

"various man sprays"

"various man sprays"

"various man sprays"

originally funny now just overused, it’s 2021 people

man spray u

Man Spray U

My old roommate would get sick for a day or two every time she had a new sexual partner and called it penis flu but I imagine man flu is something different.

The only usage of "man flu" I'm familiar has been from exasperated partners, and is usually accompanied by an eye-roll and/or sigh of resignation.

When grown men call their trucks/speedboats/ATVs/etc. "toys"

what, this bad boy?

big bad boy toys

oh yeah and fuck 'man cave' while we're at it, though I'm certain it's already been listed