View Full Version : Top 10 Most Hated Web Words
TrafficProducer
07-03-2007, 01:40 PM
Top 10 Most Hated Web Words (http://uk.gizmodo.com/2007/06/24/top_10_most_hated_web_words.html)
The Internet has spawned many great things but it’s also been responsible for a new kind of bastardised English, or Weblish. According to a new survey of 2,000 Brits, by YouGov on behalf of self-publishers Lulu, here are the Top 10 most irritating Web words/terms.
1. Folksonomy (a web classification system)
2. Blogosphere (the collective term for all blogs)
3. Blog (an online journal)
4. Netiquette (internet etiquette)
5. Blook (a book based on a blog)
6. Webinar (a web or online seminar)
7. Vlog (a video blog)
8. Social Networking (http://uk.gizmodo.com/2007/06/24/top_10_most_hated_web_words.html#) (using the web to form virtual communities on sites like MySpace)
9. Cookie (a text file stored on your computer from a website you've visited)
10. Wiki (A collaborative website, editable by its readers)
Still, while they may be mildly annoying to certain people, it should be remembered that the lexicologists at the Collins English Dictionary, recently accepted ‘Godcast’, defined as “a religious service or sermon that has been converted to MP3 format for download from the internet for play on a computer or MP3 player.”
Suddenly ‘blog’ doesn’t seem all that offensive. –Martin Lynch
ref: Gizmodo UK : Top 10 Most Hated Web Words (http://uk.gizmodo.com/2007/06/24/top_10_most_hated_web_words.html)
incrediblehelp
07-03-2007, 02:21 PM
More than half of those cant be defined by the average Joe. So I wonder who hates them? Us?
dharrison
07-03-2007, 02:31 PM
I prefer all those words than i do when someone types "meh!" at me. :evil:
I hate that word (if you can call it that) so much it hurts.
Can we add "weblish" to the list?
rmonkeygirl
07-03-2007, 04:27 PM
How have I never heard of "blook" before?? Wow, that's a terrible word. It's like some kind of verb from a Batman comic: Pow! Zing. Bap! BLOOK!
Nice list though I'm confused about cookie.
Chris
07-03-2007, 04:33 PM
I prefer all those words than i do when someone types "meh!" at me. :evil:
I hate that word (if you can call it that) so much it hurts.
meh
:p
of course, you knew it was coming...
Pacific
07-03-2007, 05:44 PM
I surprised, and disappointed, that
popup
is not included!!
DaveSawers
07-03-2007, 06:14 PM
The whole point of coining new words to describe new things is because they're needed. As they enter general use, they become understood and accepted (or they fall by the wayside).
Whether anyone likes or hates the new words is irrelevant. If they're useful and more or less understood, they'll be used.
The alternative would be to have a body such as the acadamie francaise who try and generate phrases for new things from "proper" French. They are not surprisingly generally derided, even in France.
Splog
Netizen
Meme
Web 2.0
Viral
NetRoots
One I'm on the fence about:
Podcast
Um, Deb, you really shouldn't have . . .
MEH!
Matteo
07-03-2007, 07:39 PM
Okay color me ignorant....what is Meh?
I can't believe the king of all new verbs is not on that list it drives me crazy!
I guess I'll have to GOOGLE it
As to the New phraseology...every culture needs their "in words" words that only the people involved know or use. It creates a climate of belonging, every new generation has it's own set of glossial gems....this internet generation is no different.
incrediblehelp
07-03-2007, 08:21 PM
Okay color me ignorant....what is Meh?
Indifference; to be used when one simply does not care.
dharrison
07-04-2007, 04:23 AM
Um, Deb, you really shouldn't have . . .
MEH!
bj I expected better from you.
Homer ... sorry I mean Chris, how did I know you were going to do that?
m-- is about the only word I dislike. My favourite slang has to be "spam for breakfast" which is fitting as I go through all my emails in the mornings.
simmo
07-04-2007, 05:04 AM
One measure of the sophistication of a language is the extent of its vocabulary. English got its rich and diverse vocabulary by being able to absorb and use words from just about every language under the sun and where none exists, a new one is often coined. That is why the current Oxford English Dictionary runs to 20 volumes.
Words like 'blog', 'automatic', 'blurb' and even 'zit' convey a meaning, which would otherwise require a phrase. If a new word appears, which can replace a phrase, then it has a valid use although I admit that the sound of some of the current web-based jargon does make me cringe.
With new words, the writer has a choice as to whether or not he or she uses them. What for me is the real shame, however, is when existing words are re-used in such a way that their original meaning is unavailable. If I happened to exclaim that I am feeling a little gay or queer.... you see what I mean. We could have a whole forum discussing if 'spam' has been so corrupted.
The advance of technology will inevitably result in the addition of new words. It is a matter of opinion as to whether or not the current list of new web words is an example of the advancement of English.
We could have a whole forum discussing if 'spam' has been so corrupted.
Obviously said by someone who never tasted the original . . .
dharrison
07-04-2007, 08:46 AM
Obviously said by someone who never tasted the original . . .
Oh don't! Who else had "Spam fritters" for school dinners. (Oh God I feel queer now) :lol:
zbatia
07-04-2007, 02:11 PM
Just a quick addition. When I read the word "podcasting", no matter what is about I just delete it. What a stupid slang!
MarkGatESS
07-05-2007, 09:38 AM
Just a quick addition. When I read the word "podcasting", no matter what is about I just delete it. What a stupid slang!
I think "podcasting" was derived from downloadable/broadcasted news media content for Apple iPods. So, it's "iPod Broadcasting" or "podcasting"!
As far as the other terms are concerned, you'll have to point to marketing guys and journalists (blogs/blogosphere, nettiquet, etc.), and those that do the programming & create the applications we use on the Net (Cookies, Java, etc.)
Other than that, I concur with simmo, Matteo and DaveSawers for the most part about how these words come about. It's inevitable that as new concepts and new creations are made and become mainstream, there will be descriptive "made-up" words to describe it.
For the most part, a lot of these new words/terms are fairly descriptive as to what they are labeling. Everything except cookies - where'd the net programmers come up with that?!
Who else had "Spam fritters" for school dinners.
And you survived the experience? ;)
simmo
07-05-2007, 11:44 AM
Here's another thing to consider: Here in the UK, we 'hoover' the carpet when we want to clean it. Now I don't own a Hoover vacuum cleaner, I own a Dyson but I always hoover, never dyson, the carpet.
Yahoo can an ad. campaign a few years ago asking "Do you Yahoo?" It never stuck. Now we Google for information. Question is; do people Google for information on Yahoo?
dharrison
07-05-2007, 02:04 PM
And you survived the experience? ;)
Just about, except for high blood pressure and appetite loss whenever I see a can.
And cut fingers. :lol:
TrafficProducer
07-06-2007, 04:18 AM
One think I used to dislike, (sorry to any American's), but spelling in programming code is USA e.g. color=USA, it is colour in the UK.
I live in the UK.
Also the use of acronyms with out and explanation of what they are suppose to mean.
dharrison
07-06-2007, 07:13 AM
One think I used to dislike, (sorry to any American's), but spelling in programming code is USA e.g. color=USA, it is colour in the UK.
I live in the UK.
Also the use of acronyms with out and explanation of what they are suppose to mean.
Yeah and "center".
Is there a way of changing Spell Checkers so they don't try to spell optimise etc with a 'z' ?
TrafficProducer
07-06-2007, 10:06 AM
Is there a way of changing Spell Checkers so they don't try to spell optimise etc with a 'z' ?
I was talking about Programming Languages.
As for Spell checkers, MS Word You can, for example:
Temporary: -
On the Tool Bar
Click "Tools" or F7
Click "Spelling and Grammar"
In a box need the bottom of the message window you should be able to select options. English UK or English USA
You need to install the Language needed.
More Permanent: -
Change the language for the user interface of Office programs
Obtain the Microsoft Office 2000 MultiLanguage Pack and install it.
On the Windows Start menu, point to Programs, point to Office Tools, and then click Microsoft Office Language Settings.
On the User Interface tab, click the language you want in the Display menus and dialog boxes in list.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2000/HA011382791033.aspx
dharrison
07-06-2007, 11:52 AM
Thank TP
BTW The 'center' was referring to coding, I just meant to tackle spelling on the same note.
Next time I'll pause :oops:
TrafficProducer
07-07-2007, 02:37 AM
Maybe users coud add some more hated words...
For example:-
"Page Rank", Spams, Splog, Tax, PPC, SEO ??