Words & phrases to dump for next year….

An article about over-used & underrated words that should be dumped from the media’s (and our) vernacular has been posted by the Lake Superior State University department of words (I think). It includes “sexting” & “chillaxin” as well as “bromance” – which is a new one to me, meaning a male friendship.

It says there are too many Obama-things (like Obamacare & Obamanomics; better though, than Nixon stuff, which generally adds “-gate” to any scandal you can think of). I always liked “teachable moment,” but the LSSU folks say it’s being used to describe everything from potty-training to politics, and thus has lost its meaning.

I guess in the same spirit, I would suggest that the following be lost in the island’s lexicon:

“I’m just on island time….”: It was cute & quaint for a while, because it suggested we’re all so relaxed & into our retirement hobbies that we show up late for things. Now all it means is you’re so lame you don’t know how to make your computer beep to remind you to go places AND not make people wait for you.

Calling the mainland “America”: This is just a small thing, but if people keep saying it, the rest of the country will find out we’re trying to quietly secede from the Union. Our secret will be out.

The topless place on Shaw: OK, guys, it’s time to quit sending our hard-earned tourists over there just because it’s funny, when someone asks if there’s anything to do on the  island. And ya gotta quit telling them they can stay at the Motel 6 on Shaw, too. Especially on the last boat.

“It’s the way we do things here on the island”: Cool enough, but shouldn’t be said out loud by anyone who has lived here less than twenty years. Anyone who has lived here less than a year who says it must be beaten. (Editor’s note: I’m a pacifist. It’s that bad.)

“We”: Yes, it’s true – I actually know people who say “we” meaning only themselves, which is ONE person. I liked it when Mark Twain said, “Only presidents, editors and people with tapeworm have the right to use the editorial ‘we’.” Otherwise, it’s a bit pretentious.

“The City”: Someone on Lopez used this expression, saying, “Yep, next week we’re coming over to the City.” I asked, and she laughed & said, “That’s you, silly. Friday Harbor IS the City.” Well, that won’t work. When WE say the City, we mean Seattle, which actually IS a city. Or Bellingham. Or Victoria. Or Vancouver. Regardless, it’s clear to us.

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