Word of the Year - "Truthiness" 254
KingSkippus writes "Stephen Colbert calls it 'truth that comes from the gut, not books.' Merriam-Webster calls it their 2006 Word of the Year. The word, first introduced [Windows media] on 'The Word' segment of The Colbert Report, won by a five-to-one margin. In spite of Colbert's ironic dismissal of dictionaries and other reference books, will Colbert's coined word actually be added to those books? With media outlets like CNN and MSNBC covering it, the idea may very well have truthiness."
Poster needs to look up the definition... (Score:5, Informative)
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Mod parent DOWN for ignorance... (Score:3, Informative)
You need to look up the definition. Or at least watch the FV that I linked to.
Colbert says:
The fact that the "wordinistas" over at Websters have made "Truthiness" their 2006 Word of the Year is about as ironic as it gets.
Even if
Re:Mod parent DOWN for ignorance... (Score:5, Insightful)
That's not truth from the gut, that's truth from evidence.
Re:Mod parent DOWN for ignorance... (Score:5, Funny)
I just do.
Now THAT'S truthiness! (Score:2)
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It was a good one, wasn't it? Definitely one of my better ones. I wish I had thought to save the HTML code so that I could post it as a standard response to people saying that someone has used ironic in the wrong sense when in fact they didn't. (Which, I've observed, has become just as common or more common on Slashdot as people actually misusing the word ironic.) Oh well!
Kind of like, oh, say, "trut
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Nice try though with the call to mod GP down. If only I had some mod points right now. I know for sure I'd be modding someone down. I'll leave it to you to figure out who. Are you starting to understand?
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irony noun (ironies) 1 a linguistic device or form of humour that takes its effect from stating or implying the opposite of what is the case or what is intended, eg saying 'You've made a really good job of that, haven't you', when someone has done something badly.
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2. incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs. e.g. "How ironic that someone who posted a story about "truthiness" doesn't even know how to use the term correctly."
Do tell me in what dictionary you found that ridiculous misdefinition. Or did you just make it up because it suits your misuse of the word?
Well, let's see. There's the American Heritage Dictionary [bartleby.com]: "2a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs. b. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity."
Then there's Merriam-Webster [m-w.com]: "(1) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result (2) : an event or result marked by such incongruity."
Then of course there's Princeton's WordNet [princeton.edu]: "incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs."
See,
'truth that comes from the gut, not books.' (Score:2, Insightful)
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Re:'truth that comes from the gut, not books.' (Score:4, Funny)
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The problem with this is it may just steam and smell unless it can stand the test of reality.
If something has made it into a book it has been looked at by several people first - no matter what book it is - but the attitude in this comment show the current climate of proof by intimidation instead of peer review. This is the sort of thing you expect from illiterate dancers that make a list of thirty-five "senses" becuase they have never learned the meaning of the w
Re:'truth that comes from the gut, not books.' (Score:5, Insightful)
"Truthiness" is truth using emotion in lieu of facts.
Similar, but not the same word.
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I don't think so. The way Colbert uses the word, the question of objective fact simply has no relevance. Truthiness can overlap with truth, but it does so only by accident, and the truth is less important than the truthiness.
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Re:'truth that comes from the gut, not books.' (Score:4, Interesting)
Instinct and truthiness are not quite the same. Instinct refers to general inborn behaviors and motivations; truthiness applies to specific propositions and can be learned. They're often related, though. "When in danger rally behind the alpha male" and "I should trust what my parents teach me" are instinct; "Bush did a great job after 9/11" and "I know the Church is true" are truthiness.
And it's often not related to genuine truth at all.
Are you sure? How could Stephen Colbert steer me wrong?! But now that I think about it, I once heard a rumor that Colbert wasn't even a right winger; could you check up on that one for me too?
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I still like decider (Score:3, Funny)
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Heckuva Job, Brownie (Score:4, Funny)
D
Re:Heckuva Job, Brownie (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Heckuva Job, Brownie (Score:4, Funny)
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~X~
True dat (Score:5, Funny)
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Grammar Nazi Alert!!! (Score:5, Informative)
What are they teaching people in school these days?
ironic dismissal? (Score:4, Informative)
He doesn't just dismiss them. He views them as a direct threat [threatdowngenerator.com] to the only *true* primary souce, one's own gut instinct.
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Fucking Philistines! (Score:5, Funny)
I used to think Colbert was kind of cute in the way that he parodied the lefty view of Republicans. But now that they've taken him to be a serious journalist, I find both he and the liberals completely sad. Thankfully, in another four years, Bush will have proven that he is capable because Iraq will have proven out to be a success, the right will have the Whitehouse for another four years, the Democrats will have lost whatever power they gained in the last elections, and the Ownership Society will have proven out as well ensuring more Republican wins for generations to come. Ideally, I think the time has come to end the two party system and make the Democratic party illegal for the protection of future generations.
I foresee a day when the Democratic party is finally viewed as it should have always been: equivalent to the Nazi party (they were socialists too) or the Communist party. There was once a time when the Communist party was also just as serious in this great land as the Democrats are. Thankfully, we took care of that in the 50s and we'll do the same to the Democrats today. In the marketplace of ideas of the political arena, the only parties that should be allowed to compete are the ones worthy of serious consideration: Republicans and Libertarians. Maybe the Contitution party as well. The ones that should be eliminated are the ones that claim to want to help the poor or the "underdogs". America has no room for people who won't take it on themselves to work hard and succeed.
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You're free.... to think what we let you. Let's here it for freedom. Can I get an "amen?"
speak it like it is mofo (Score:2)
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Jeez, and people thought the political system now had two parties that seemed alike...
I know you're a troll, but i've already replied, so I'll bite.
The idea of social safety nets and social programs aren't to encourage lazy people. Quite the opposite in fact. The idea behind a Government program to say, fund higher education through Pell Grants, is to make sure that people aren't stuck working for minimum wage(a great liberal idea).
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Obviously, someone never listens to what right wing douche bags actually say.
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Re:Fucking Philistines! (Score:5, Funny)
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This proves what is already known. (Score:5, Interesting)
The big names in news MSNBC, CNN, FoxNews, they all know it's true, in fact some of them have a sort of obsession with Colbert and Stewart. They are fun. They are reporting many of the same stories, just not doing it like they're having a root canal done at the same time. And they're not afraid to poke fun at everyone, including themselves. It's very refreshing. THAT is why they have this kind of clout. They are respected.
Re:This proves what is already known. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:This proves what is already known. (Score:5, Insightful)
And sadly, I'm still better informed than most of my American colleagues.
They may not be "Real" news, but it keeps me entertained, informed, and isn't trying to make me hate my life and fear everyone.
CNN on the other hand (Which seems to be in ever hotel and waiting room on the planet) delivers the news with the same false forthrightness no mater if they're covering a cat up a tree or a massacre of orphans. They attempt to give all news the same mock gravity and seriousness so you'll stay tuned it, and be afraid to turn away. Which in turn makes it all worthless.
The approach of Stewart and Colbert is that the news is the entertainment, not much more than the Mystery Science Theater of news. Compared to the major outlets which focus on entertainment, and try to cram news into that mold, succeeding at neither entertaining nor informing.
Re:This proves what is already known. (Score:5, Insightful)
But this notion of people getting the majority of their news from places like this has got to stop. I know it sounds pretty cool and progressive to dismiss traditional media and show a preference for alternative sources, but it's gotten out of hand. TDS, The Onion, etc... They're jokes first and foremost. I'd bet that the people involved with them would be the first to tell you that. Again, this isn't to detract from their intelligence or the poignance of what they have to say -- but still, the joke comes first. Announcing to the world that this is how we keep ourselves informed is not gonna get us any street cred, and that alone is enough for everyone else to hate us.
Yeah, the "real" news outlets are far from stellar. But if you follow them you can have just as good of an idea as to what's going on in the world. If you so desire, you can even think about it, check multiple sources, and wade through the bullshit.
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It's a little like the linux/windows security debate: the people who use linux and say it's more secure are the sorts of p
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Mod parent up.
I get almost all my news from (german site) Schandmännchen [schandmaennchen.de] - a german satire news site that is very well written and brings you the ugly truth. When everyone knows that our politicians are just trying to pretend they
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I don't watch a lot of television, but from what I've seen of Colbert, his whole act seems to be a walking strawman. (The argument kind, not the farm kind.) There doesn't seem to be much else to it, other
Re:This proves what is already known. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:This proves what is already known. (Score:5, Insightful)
Truth places more value on this fact-based, rigorous analysis, conducted by experts in the field, than it does on the gut-feeling of Bush, Cheney, or Rumsfeld. A loyalty to truth means that you don't give people a free pass because they meant well and are probably decent people when they aren't making decisions that lead to tens of thousands of deaths. Truthiness ignores the fact-based analysis, distrusts the experts, and puts credence in Bush's gut-feeling. This sort of has consequences and stuff. So Colbert is joking, but not really, so faulting him for not being all that funny must be done with the knowledge that he's trying to call our attention to a collective insanity that we need to stop buying into.
Re:This proves what is already known. (Score:4, Insightful)
The 500 shells we've found are dud, old shells that can't be used to kill anyone, nor were they capable of harming American citizens in any of the US states. They could do skin damage, but nothing on the scale of mass death.
Further more, WE have connection to terrorist groups in South America, Africa and Asia. It doesn't make it right, but there was no credible link between Saddam and *Al Qaeda.* Who attacked us on September 11th, 2001. Saddam supported terrorists who were operating in and out of Israel. Not America.
Also, it is not the Iraqis will to hang Saddam. The trial was pre-rigged and you know it. I'm not saying what he did was right, but if you're going to accuse a man of crimes against humanity, do it in the Hague where he at least has a fair trial.
The fatality rate is something along the lines of thousands a month for both US and Iraqis. Not to mention the number of attacks are being scrubbed before they go out to press. Because of this, in the 3 years we've been in Iraq, we've caused more deaths than Saddam has combined.
I really DO hope you're joking. No one can be this ignorant to the truth of what's going on in the disaster that is Iraq.
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I guess I just don't see the appeal. I don't want to be lectured at, even if it is sugarcoated in humor.
Are you Bill O'Reilly?
Colbert takes the approach of the O'Reilly factor. You know, EVERYTHING twisted and contorted to support the Republican agenda. Then, he takes all the twisting and contorting, and turns i
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IMHO, the quantitative difference is much more than them "having fun."
They focus attention on more important stories, as opposed to CNN watching babies falling down wells, celebrity interviews, and all the rest of that crapfest.
They actually do a good job of countering arguments, rather than just letting some guy say the world is flat, and moving on... This includes reading quotes or showin
Keith Olbermann (Score:2)
Truthiness already made it to Wikipedia (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Truthiness already made it to Wikipedia (Score:4, Informative)
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Wikiality's ability to prove "truth" on the other hand, however...
Wait! What about good ol' YouTube? (Score:5, Informative)
Try:
The word, first introduced [youtube.com]...
Re:Wait! What about good ol' YouTube? (Score:5, Informative)
Guess which one works in MPlayer, Xine, VLC, ffplay, GStreamer, etc., and which doesn't?
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No, actually it works perfectly.
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No, it won't. Only a tiny subset of FLV features are supported. So, you may get lucky with older FLV files, and others encoded with just the right options, but the vast majority don't work for a damn.
And besides that, you need the SWF plugin to parse the embedded SWF file just to get the URL to the actual FLV file it's embedding. No such nonsense with "real" multimedia formats.
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I'm not trying to argue about which is "less proprietary," the YouTube link is just something I wanted to provide as an alternative, as I've always had rather bad luck with Windows Media, I figured others might have too and why not make a link so that everyone possible can enjoy this great segment on 'truthiness.'
I preferred the word from Firefly (Score:4, Interesting)
Colbert did not invent this word (Score:3, Informative)
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if you define it.... (Score:2)
The frightening part of this... (Score:2)
Is as the word gains common acceptance it will be used in a positive (i.e. non pejorative) sense. When Steve coined truthiness he was of course taking the piss out of the cavalier attitude most in government (esp Republicans) have towards truth.
Just watch, in twenty years people will critisize truths as not being truthy enough. Steven C. will kill himself on live TV in shame...
Not a new word (Score:3, Interesting)
OED: "1824 J. J. GURNEY in Braithwaite Mem. (1854) I. 242 Everyone who knows her is aware of her truthiness."
(http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archi
Not that Colbert and his writers don't deserve credit for this excellent word - I was one of the 5 to 1 who voted for it.
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Truthiness == ? (Score:4, Insightful)
Gut instinct. Yeah right.
What that means is "Truthiness is what agrees with my basic prejudices".
We need some new cliches (Score:2)
We already have a word for that (Score:2)
About the word "truth" (Score:2)
And of course the proceedings that follow based on this is the use of thruth in a manner of "A point" this of "A point" that which often results in a distortion of what is real and honest.
The word truth has been so distorted and manipulated that someone finally challenged it...
The Honesty oath is now law of the land
http://www.neo-tech.com/irs-class-action/oath.htm [neo-tech.com]
"Truthiness" is nothing more the
Better word of the year (Score:3, Funny)
Dare to be True? (Score:2, Interesting)
My favourite can
Too much thinking on a non-issue. (Score:4, Insightful)
--As if French or English, or any language in the world for that matter, sprang into being fully conceived, or worse, that the current state of a given language is by some holy decree, its final, perfect form. That's just Ego and Fear talking.
But honestly, the word 'Truthiness' is not one I'll ever find myself using in earnest, because it was invented through a sense of irony to make fun of Brain-dead Texans with Too Much Power.
It's not a word. It's a joke. And a bitter one, at that.
But if it somehow, (*cough* through ignorance *cough*), it does become a well-used word without any sense of irony attached, then so be it. But honestly, the word doesn't roll off the tongue or really describe something desperate for description enough to affect the public popular lexicon any time soon, IMHO.
Now, can we talk about something else? This whole non-issue reminds me of the banal stupidity of the whole Political Correctness thing; that is, it's too retarded for words and should be stamped out immediately so that it doesn't piss everybody off and waste enormous amounts of time and energy.
-FL
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My personal truth (Score:2)
"Women don't want power, they want love"
"Global Warming is real and permeates through each and every thing in life found vexing"
"RIAA is pure evil"
"Apple knows my needs and desires and sells them to me at the right price"
"C++ and pointer operations are babel's tower of software development"
"Broadband is essential and priced right"
and so on..
Merriam-Webster got played (Score:3, Interesting)
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and who, really, are you comparing "Americans" to? i've lived in London, and heard there probably the worst and strangest contortions of english ever. several Italian speakers i know say the same thing about most Italians - particularly those not from their region. ever asked a Guatema
Re:The demise of English in the US (Score:5, Insightful)
Firstly, as other posters have said, watch The Colbert Report. It is intelligent and brilliant satire, the purpose of his invented words is satire, and is also valuable and necessary commentary on the manipulation of words by the (often right-wing extremist) media such as Fox News. It is also very funny.
As to nature of manipulation of words, the biggest culprit is the advertising, promotion and marketing industry. They are closely followed by News Corp (owned by Murdoch - who is Australian, not American.) Please see the documentary "Outfoxed" if you have not done so. Bear mind that Murdoch's claws extend far beyond the US, they also own TV and Newspapers in Australia, South Africa, China, and in the UK (The Sun, The Times, Sky, and recently part of ITV).
Much of the advertising and promotion industry is international, and UK agencies play a significant part in that - Saatchi and Saatchi as one example.
Evidence of ad manipulation exists in words such as "free", "diet", "low fat", "extra" and many, many, many more. That's universal and also exists in other languages other than English.
One of the most beautiful and wonderful things about English is it's ability to be bent and stretched and often broken without losing it's meaning, in fact it often gains depth and poetry from such manipulation.
If you were to go back in time to the 16th Century I'm certain Ye Olde Slashe Dotte would have a culpatory post by M'lord Scumptious listing his bile at the disgraceful disregard for Her Most Noble Majestie's Englishe by that upstart proletarian Mr Shakespeare.
Seriously if you can understand it, it works. Grammar Nazis, you can all burn forever in Hell. We can blame Dr Samuel Johnson for introducing language fascism, which remains utterly unnecessary to humanity.
And finally, if you have a chance, do read Bill Bryson's book, "Made in America" for an eye-opening history of how American English is, in fact, more correct in many cases.
Oh, and PS, if you believe the Americans have no love of language I can only assume you have never read Steinbeck.
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"Collateral damage" wasn't coined because some American general was too lazy to look up a synonym for "demolished schoolhouse". You cite laziness as the primary motivator, when in fact the primary motivation was to obfuscate rather than to reveal. This
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Perhaps when CNN, Fox News, and their ilk stop wonks from passing along their form of truthiness thoughts as fact, then the word describing them will pass by the wayside. I'm disappointed my Firefox spell checker didn't understand "truthiness".