Posted on 01/14/2024 6:26:13 PM PST by coalminersson
I won't be here much but thought you might enjoy this annual list.
previous and current list at site
In 1976, the late and ingenious Lake Superior State University Public Relations Director W.T. (Bill) Rabe released the first tongue-in-cheek “banished words list” as a safeguard against misuse, overuse, and uselessness of the English language—and as an imaginative publicity stunt. National and international reaction from the news media and the general public was so enthusiastic that Rabe predicted the Banished Words List, as he put it, “would go on forever.”
Forever may be stretching it, but the annual Banished Words List shows no signs of stopping. Over the decades, people across the U.S. and around the world have nominated tens of thousands of words and phrases that bother them for banishment. Examples of the 1,000-plus entries to make the yearly compilation include “detente,” “surely,” “classic,” and “bromance,” plus “wrap my head around,” “user friendly,” “at this point in time,” and “viable alternative.”
The lighthearted Banished Words List began as a promotional ploy for little-known LSSU. The university was established in 1946 as a branch of Michigan College of Mining and Technology for returning World War II veterans. Lake Superior State College became autonomous in 1970 and developed into Lake Superior State University in 1987. Signature programs now include fisheries and wildlife management, engineering, nursing, criminal justice, business, robotics engineering, kinesiology, and fire science. In 2019, LSSU launched the first cannabis chemistry program in the nation. LSSU also was the first campus nationwide to offer an accredited four-year fire science program; it is one of three in the U.S. LSSU was the first campus nationwide to offer an accredited four-year robotics engineering technology program and is the only university nationwide to offer undergraduate education in industrial robotics.
The charm of the Banished Words List grew out of the enchantment of an earlier creation by Rabe: Unicorn Hunters. Upon arriving to LSSU in 1971, Rabe, who had earlier made a name for himself as a PR guru in Detroit, realized that the school was still largely thought of as an offshoot of Michigan Tech, if known at all. To help rectify that, he, along with English Department professors, founded a group who quested the legendary horned creatures. The Unicorn Hunters garnered all sorts of positive attention over the years from media and devotees alike until LSSU’s Unicorn Hunters retired with Rabe in 1987—although the university continues to grant unicorn hunting licenses to anyone who wants one through its singular Department of Natural Unicorns.
From Rabe and associates and LSSU’s Unicorn Hunters sprung all sorts of other serious play, original ideas, and clever initiatives, including two that also continue to this day: an annual Snowman Burning the first day of spring since 1971, given the voluminous snowfall in the Upper Peninsula—and the world-famous Banished Words List, announced at the end of each year a) because that’s often a slow-news period, as Rabe, a former newspaperman, knew, and b) so that people start the New Year on the right foot, er, tongue.
The first list was dreamed up by Rabe and friends at a New Year’s Eve party in 1975. The following day, he released the list. After Rabe retired, the university copyrighted the concept and continued the idiosyncratic serious play. Rabe’s brainstorms resulted in three interlinked and now spun-off traditions: Unicorn Hunters, which gave rise to Snowman Burning and Banished Words.
An iconic list this year
Going forward
At the end of the day, Rizz tried to hack an iconic, cringe-worthy side hustle, but couldn’t wrap his head around it, leaving everyone waiting for impact.
This weather is a real “game changer”. Oh wait, that one hasn’t made the list yet. Maybe next year.
At the END OF THE DAY, these CRINGEWORTHY HACKS are ICONically OBSESSED and hoping to make an IMPACT that is SLAY and has no RIZZ because it’s a SIDE HUSTLE - WAIT FOR IT.
I think I got all ten in the sentence...
you must have gone to harvard, lol
sorry game changer 2009
Good. I hate that one. However, it hasn’t been enough to get people to stop using it.
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