Althouse: Inadvisably brusque answer to a question actually given by me today.

September 22, 2005

Inadvisably brusque answer to a question actually given by me today.

"Duh."

Really, I'm sorry. That was so inappropriate. Yet apt.

22 comments:

Meade said...: What? No link?

Wait... let me answer that...; 9/22/05, 4:30 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Not to a student. A colleague.; 9/22/05, 4:36 PM
Harkonnendog said...: Me, from Hawaii, little confused, to a toll-booth attendant just outside of Boston:

"Hey, uh, we're going to New York..."

Him: "Good for you."

I couldn't be pissed because it was so funny.; 9/22/05, 4:43 PM
vbspurs said...: Ann, Ann, you're sensibilities are still so liberal.

I pride myself on my politeness IRL, but "duh" isn't rude. It's the new no sh*t, Sherlock.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/22/05, 6:05 PM
jeff said...: Oh could it be that I could do the same to some of my customers who are especially on the clueless side (I do internet tech support).; 9/22/05, 6:09 PM
XWL said...: How easily people forget that politeness is the lubricant for social intercourse

(and really, aren't all forms of intercourse improved with the liberal application of loads of lube); 9/22/05, 6:13 PM
John Stansbury said...: well, at least the colleague didn't go fo' shizzle.

only worse if during deliberation, the arbiter was to lay the smack down with a resounding whuddup, my nizzles!

at least that's how I dream all them smart attorneys talk. I also believe that Dad just went to get some cigarettes, and is coming right back.

any minute now.; 9/22/05, 6:27 PM
XWL said...: I'm trying to remember where I first heard the remark re: politeness and lubricant so I google the term and what do I find?

An article first posted in Pravda on April 4, 1923 written by Leon Trotsky with the title translated to "Civility and Politeness as a Necessary Lubricant in Daily Relations"

It must be international talk like a red day (since I forgot to do my pirate talking earlier this week); 9/22/05, 6:29 PM
vbspurs said...: I propose we have an

International Pirate Lubricant Day

Gives "Arrrrrrrr" a whole new meaning.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/22/05, 6:37 PM
ALH ipinions said...: Ann - what a coincidence! I actually used that delightfully "brusque" word in the headline of one of my postings earlier today. Spank me...; 9/22/05, 6:41 PM
Be said...: Harkonnendog:

That's pretty Boston and actually surprisingly polite.

***

Anyone:

What on Earth does "fo shizzle" mean? I hear it everywhere, but when I ask its meaning I get something like "if you have to ask, you don't need to know."; 9/22/05, 7:30 PM
vbspurs said...: What on Earth does "fo shizzle" mean? I hear it everywhere,

Fo' shizzle:

A corruption of for sure as invented and popularised by Snoop Dog, the rapper.

It is usually used in combination with:

Fo' shizzle ma nizzle = for sure my n*gga.

Just think of the -izzle ending in words like modern day pig-Latin with street cred.

BTW, Snoop Dog is doing the rounds these days in a Chrysler advert with Lee Iaccoca -- perhaps you've seen it.

"Fo' shizzle, Iacaizzle"

but when I ask its meaning I get something like "if you have to ask, you don't need to know."

Children are always the most awful snobs.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/22/05, 7:57 PM
Anna said...: Victoria, how do you know this stuff? I have teenagers, but like most teens, they hate explaining to their o'so boring parental units! fo'shizzle!; 9/22/05, 11:01 PM
vbspurs said...: Victoria, how do you know this stuff?

Well I'm only 20+10 -- ack, stupid Drew Barrymore Fever Pitch reference!

I guess I grew up with El Snoopster a little more than you, perhaps. :)

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/23/05, 2:13 AM
Anna said...: Alas, Victoria, I am older! Yes, I grew up in the age of...should I even say it?...disco And I am 29 with 12 years experience.; 9/23/05, 7:21 AM
Be said...: Victoria - would "fo'shizzle you are (be) the bizzle" (you're the best) be a proper construction, then? Thanks for the explanation.

No kids being snots, by the way, just some colleagues making fun of my lack of knowledge of pop culture/argot.; 9/23/05, 11:42 AM
P_J said...: Ann,

You said this was to a colleague, but was it in the context of the coffee and doughnuts/blogging discussion?; 9/23/05, 11:55 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Pastor Jeff: Yes. The question was whether I made money from the advertisements that appear on my blog!; 9/23/05, 12:18 PM
LizrdGizrd said...: In that case the response was both appropriate and polite. They deserved something much less succint.; 9/23/05, 1:07 PM
vbspurs said...: Alas, Victoria, I am older! Yes, I grew up in the age of...should I even say it?...disco And I am 29 with 12 years experience.

Disco era's good, Anna! 1977 and beyond, hell yeah!

That's when the world started regaining a sense of style and urbanity after the dreck of the late 1960's and early 70's. Yech.

P.S.: Anyone watch the film, Last Days of Disco? It was another Wilt Stillman effort, with his particular ensemble cast of characters which followed him around after Metropolitan and Barcelona.

I remember thinking, if the disco era was like that, I would not have minded living in the 70s (well I did live in the 70s, but I think they'd probably have given me an even harder time entering Studio 54 ;).

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/23/05, 1:14 PM
vbspurs said...: Victoria - would "fo'shizzle you are (be) the bizzle" (you're the best) be a proper construction, then?

Be, that doesn't sound right. :)

I guess "da bomb" is more appropriate in this context, although I cannot imagine anything more painful for a person doesn't sound this way normally, than hearing one say:

Fo' shizzle! You da bomb!

Ay.

P.S.: I cringe whenever I hear my professors say "my bad", or "word" to their younger students. Come on. It's like my father using 1930's slang: "Move it, sister. Spill the beans! You know the score!". Actually, that would be very cool.

Cheers,
Victoria; 9/23/05, 1:27 PM
Be said...: Thanks again, Victoria, for giving me more proof positive that I should not be trying to diss people with terms like 'derr.'

I'm all for bringing back older slang: Regularly use 'nifty' and 'bee's knees.' Once I figure out what 'Twenty Three Skidoo!'is referring to, I'm going to try to reintroduce that one.; 9/23/05, 2:21 PM