The misuse of words on the internet

[tautologico]

-Strawman (only applied here as I've heard it nowhere outside these forums)

I don't think most people know what they mean when they say it. Hell, I don't even know what it means. It just screams "Look at me and this new word I learned! I'll try to sound intelligent when actually I'd never use this word in real life, just petty forum arguments!"

It comes from a metaphor where a person sets up a strawman (superficially similar argument) and duel them (argue against). Of course they will win the "duel," they're fighting a scarecrow not the real person (argument).

An example is if Person 1 said "sunny days are good" and person 2 says "If all days were sunny, then we'd never have rain, and if we never have rain we'd have famine and death"

Person 2 has misrepresented Person 1's position from Sunny days=Good to sunny days AND ONLY sunny days= Good

IMO It's more effective to just explain how a strawman was used (and why its BS) if it actually occurs than to just call it one... The More You Know

Strawman argument = any argument I find weak.

This is the definition most people in this forum seem to use.

 

[Sandjube]

Strawman - Noun

A statement characterized by being a counter-argument.

On these forums this statement is frightfully accurate. Now watch someone call this point a strawman.

 

[BarbaricGoose]

Strawman - Noun

A statement characterized by being a counter-argument.

-Strawman (only applied here as I've heard it nowhere outside these forums)

I don't think most people know what they mean when they say it. Hell, I don't even know what it means. It just screams "Look at me and this new word I learned! I'll try to sound intelligent when actually I'd never use this word in real life, just petty forum arguments!"

Gonna go ahead and agree with these.

I learned that word probably about 20 years ago, and never--LITERALLY never--heard the word again until I discovered the Escapist. Since then, I've heard it at least once a month. You can't find a thread with an argument and not see "Strawman" pop up at least 3 times per page. If the Escapist had a mascot, it'd b one of these guys:

Spoiler: Mascot(s)!

But, in the interest of the thread, I guess I'll add my own:

Hate: something you casually dislike.

 

[Benitune]

Boycott: buy the product then complain on the Steam group.

This.

OT:

Sir (noun) - someone who you have just insulted; generally employed to make the insult in question seem intelligent.

 

[Calibanbutcher]

Boycott: buy the product then complain on the Steam group.

This.

OT:

Sir (noun) - someone who you have just insulted; generally employed to make the insult in question seem intelligent.

Good Sir,
I approve of your definition of Sir.
Nice beard by the way.

 

[krazykidd]

Well i'm canadian , so i use words wrong in real life aswell as on the internet .

Casual - person that plays games you don't like .

 

[repeating integers]

2. What it would be if everyone were made of iron.

Thanks, Caboose.

OT: Best thing ever: Mildly amusing for 30 seconds.

 

[Stemer]

Hate - any reaction short unconditional love

 

[Alcoholidayer]

If I may stretch the rules of the game a bit?

No offense, but:

-A phrase preceding a deliberately offensive statement, intended to absolve the speaker of any responsibility for giving offense.

In the same vein, using the abbreviation IMO or IMHO, to precede something which might or might not be utter BS, as an indicator that this is the poster's opinion and hence not open to critique.

Also see 'I'm not racist but'.

 

[UberNoodle]

I could care less about grammar and word use by other's online. For all intensive purpose's, language means what people agree it means. Their are much people who can't understand that, so they get angry, but its not my fault. I'm not gunna refudiate anybuddy who uses natural words like they sez 'em.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

I could care less about grammar and word use by other's online. For all intensive purpose's, language means what people agree it means. Their are much people who can't understand that, so they get angry, but its not my fault. I'm not gunna refudiate anybuddy who uses natural words like they sez 'em.

I completely get the joke your making. Nonetheless, you have now made 'The List'.

Boycott: buy the product then complain on the Steam group.

I agree with this so much it literally hurts!

...wait...

gggrrrrrrrrrrrAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHEDFIJNASUHDEFIAOERPKCNJNFUDIGIOWEPRTR!!!!!!!!!

 

[Username Redacted]

Here OP, let me finish that sentence for you. The misuse of words on the internet is something that I view as an indicator of the decline in education and is also something that I've long since given up trying to correct people on. Hell, I'd be happy if people would finally crowbar the difference between to, too and two and they're vs. their into their thick heads but it doesn't seem like that's likely to happen either.

 

[Daymo]

Fratboy- A person that doesn't instantly hate Halo/Cod/Gears of War/Yearly sports release at the slightest mention of them.

 

[Irridium]

Bias - Used to make someone with a different opinion seem wrong and instantly discredit them, even if it's their job to give their opinion on something.

Troll - Person who's opinion differs from mine.

Seems to more or less what they mean nowadays.

 

[SonOfMethuselah]

Objective: /əbˈjektiv/ Influenced by personal feelings or opinions that agree with mine.

Oh, my God. THIS. SO MUCH.

Along the same vein:

Bias: An opinion that is contrary to my own.

 

[The White Hunter]

Alot.

Alot isn't a word. A lot. It's two. Was that what you were getting at? I make that as a genuine mistake.

OT: Irony - Something that happens by coincidence that you find funny and lack the vocabulary to state that it is coincidentally humourous to you.

****** - 1.A person on the internet whom has stated something you don't quite agree with and thus sent you spiralling into a vengeful rage
2. A person who has sucessfully killed you in an online multiplayer shooter, possibly using a weapon or equipment typed you yourself are incompetent with. For example: "That SkarKrow ****** on the other team is a n00b for using that sniper rifle from that far away".

 

[Dtox333]

Pretty much the only word that bothers me with its misuse is "anthro" or "anthropomorphic," it's because it's been SO misused, people have no idea what it means anymore, and try to tell people things like "that's not anthro, THIS is anthro," when they're entirely wrong.

Like for instance, someone says an animal character that stands on two legs is anthro whereas an animal character that stands on four is not. That is completely wrong, they're BOTH anthropomorphic.

Anything inhuman (or just non-human) with human characteristics IS anthropomorphic, this includes everything from the gods of the greek pantheon right down to a talking chair.

 

[Hjalmar Fryklund]

Entitled - Used as a personal attack in a consumer vs business debate when the consumer side presents an argument that the business side is not able to counter (for whatever reason).

If I may stretch the rules of the game a bit?

No offense, but:

-A phrase preceding a deliberately offensive statement, intended to absolve the speaker of any responsibility for giving offense.

Oh yes. See also "I am not homophobic/sexist, but..."

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Theory - See hypothesis/total guess

Scientist - Anyone who claims they like science

Proven - Stated on the internet on at least one occasion on a real looking article