my name is Cos's definitions
A factoid that is false or unsupported by evidence, but gets into public circulation anyway. Once it is repeated and quoted enough times, it gains a life of its own, and people assume it is true because they get it from multiple sources, even though the original source is flawed or unverified, or the information turns out to be false.
One common fictoid is the idea that people need to drink 8 glasses of water a day to be healthy. There's no sound basis for this recommendation, but it is quoted and given as advice frequently.
Recently (as of new years 2009), one of the big news stories has been the collapse of a fraudulent investment fund run by Bernard Madoff, which turned out to be a ponzi scheme. Although it takes months to go through the records to figure out how much money was involved, an initial estimate was that "up to $50 billion dollars may have been lost". Despite the fact that this was an initial best guess rather than the result of actual auditing, and despite the fact that even a clear definition of "money lost" in this case is vague, this $50 billion estimate has become a fictoid, and is being repeated in the press. Plenty of people believe that it is well accepted that $50 billion is the amount of money that was lost in this fraudulent scheme.
Recently (as of new years 2009), one of the big news stories has been the collapse of a fraudulent investment fund run by Bernard Madoff, which turned out to be a ponzi scheme. Although it takes months to go through the records to figure out how much money was involved, an initial estimate was that "up to $50 billion dollars may have been lost". Despite the fact that this was an initial best guess rather than the result of actual auditing, and despite the fact that even a clear definition of "money lost" in this case is vague, this $50 billion estimate has become a fictoid, and is being repeated in the press. Plenty of people believe that it is well accepted that $50 billion is the amount of money that was lost in this fraudulent scheme.
by my name is Cos January 11, 2009
Get the fictoidmug. More extreme version of meatatarian (alternate spelling: meagan).
A vegetarian doesn't eat meat; a vegan eats only fruits and vegetables.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, a meatatarian wants meat in every meal; a megan not only wants meat in every meal, but avoids the veggies altogether.
A vegetarian doesn't eat meat; a vegan eats only fruits and vegetables.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, a meatatarian wants meat in every meal; a megan not only wants meat in every meal, but avoids the veggies altogether.
We have a really hard time having dinner together, because I'm a vegetarian and she's megan, so she doesn't like anything I want to eat!
by my name is Cos February 5, 2010
Get the meganmug. Awe-inspiringly clueless gall or chutzpah. An action or utterance that appears to come from an outrageous ego coupled with a breathtaking sense of entitlement combined with complete lack of awareness.
People can show chutzpah consciously. People can "have the nerve" to do something while knowing they're taking a chance. But to show *real* blagojevich, someone almost has to have the blindly arrogant self-confidence that comes from really believing they're right, and having no clue that they might be mistaken.
People can show chutzpah consciously. People can "have the nerve" to do something while knowing they're taking a chance. But to show *real* blagojevich, someone almost has to have the blindly arrogant self-confidence that comes from really believing they're right, and having no clue that they might be mistaken.
The canonical example is former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested and impeached after recordings of him were made public, in which he discussed his desire to get money, jobs, or other favors in exchange for appointing someone to a vacant Senate seat, and angrily swore at those who expected him to "give away" the appointment for nothing.
Despite this, he had the blagojevich to compare himself to Ghandi, his arrest to Pearl Harbor, and to say that it was "an honor to fall on principle on behalf of the people."
..........
Not only did he never tell me that he'd tested positive before we had sex... but now he's suing me for harassment telling other people about it!
Wow, the blagojevich of that man!
Despite this, he had the blagojevich to compare himself to Ghandi, his arrest to Pearl Harbor, and to say that it was "an honor to fall on principle on behalf of the people."
..........
Not only did he never tell me that he'd tested positive before we had sex... but now he's suing me for harassment telling other people about it!
Wow, the blagojevich of that man!
by my name is Cos February 2, 2009
Get the blagojevichmug. The sort of unfortunate or amusing coincidence or contradiction that you're tempted to label "irony", but realize isn't actually ironic at all. Named for Alanis Morisette, whose song Ironic contains many examples of alany and none of irony (except for the song as a whole, which is ironic...).
You plan a trip to a faraway city, contact your friend who lives there who you haven't seen in months, and find out she's actually going to be visiting your city that same weekend, so you'll miss each other. Such alany!
by my name is Cos July 20, 2008
Get the alanymug. A misplaced pop culture reference, usually caused by confusing similar names or words, and referring to someone/something irrelevant or ridiculous in context.
As with a malapropism, the confusion and result are similar; however, rather than confusing the meaning of standard English words, one is confusing similar-sounding names & pop culture references.
A malapopism can also occur when someone is unaware of the fact that the same name refers to a different person/thing/event, and makes an inappropriate reference based on that mistaken assumption.
As with a malapropism, the confusion and result are similar; however, rather than confusing the meaning of standard English words, one is confusing similar-sounding names & pop culture references.
A malapopism can also occur when someone is unaware of the fact that the same name refers to a different person/thing/event, and makes an inappropriate reference based on that mistaken assumption.
Both kinds of malapopisms (similar names; same name but different people) in conversation:
Jen: The Cottingley fairies were a hoax, and Arthur Conan Doyle was fooled. James Randi's book tells all about it.
Arshad: Damn fairies, always wanting to restrict the free market! :)
Everyone: *stares blankly*
Arshad: You know... all that Libertarian stuff Randi wrote?
Everyone: Oh, you mean Ayn Rand!
Arshad: ohhh.
Who were the Senators from Illinois before Obama and Durbin?
Well, before Durbin was Paul Simon...
Hah, did he sing "Sound of Silence" to the Senate?
Dude, that's not the same Paul Simon!
Jen: The Cottingley fairies were a hoax, and Arthur Conan Doyle was fooled. James Randi's book tells all about it.
Arshad: Damn fairies, always wanting to restrict the free market! :)
Everyone: *stares blankly*
Arshad: You know... all that Libertarian stuff Randi wrote?
Everyone: Oh, you mean Ayn Rand!
Arshad: ohhh.
Who were the Senators from Illinois before Obama and Durbin?
Well, before Durbin was Paul Simon...
Hah, did he sing "Sound of Silence" to the Senate?
Dude, that's not the same Paul Simon!
by my name is Cos April 2, 2009
Get the malapopismmug. A misplaced pop culture reference, usually caused by confusing similar names or words, and referring to someone/something irrelevant or ridiculous in context.
As with a malapropism, the confusion and result are similar; however, rather than confusing the meaning of standard English words, one is confusing similar-sounding names & pop culture references.
A malapopism can also occur when someone is unaware of the fact that the same name refers to a different person/thing/event, and makes an inappropriate reference based on that mistaken assumption.
As with a malapropism, the confusion and result are similar; however, rather than confusing the meaning of standard English words, one is confusing similar-sounding names & pop culture references.
A malapopism can also occur when someone is unaware of the fact that the same name refers to a different person/thing/event, and makes an inappropriate reference based on that mistaken assumption.
Both kinds of malapopisms (similar names; same name but different people) in conversation:
Jen: The Cottingley fairies were a hoax, and Arthur Conan Doyle was fooled. James Randi's book tells all about it.
Arshad: Damn fairies, always wanting to restrict the free market! :)
Everyone: *stares blankly*
Arshad: You know... all that Libertarian stuff Randi wrote?
Everyone: Oh, you mean Ayn Rand!
Arshad: ohhh.
Who were the Senators from Illinois before Obama and Durbin?
Well, before Durbin was Paul Simon...
Hah, did he sing "Sound of Silence" to the Senate?
Dude, that's not the same Paul Simon!
Jen: The Cottingley fairies were a hoax, and Arthur Conan Doyle was fooled. James Randi's book tells all about it.
Arshad: Damn fairies, always wanting to restrict the free market! :)
Everyone: *stares blankly*
Arshad: You know... all that Libertarian stuff Randi wrote?
Everyone: Oh, you mean Ayn Rand!
Arshad: ohhh.
Who were the Senators from Illinois before Obama and Durbin?
Well, before Durbin was Paul Simon...
Hah, did he sing "Sound of Silence" to the Senate?
Dude, that's not the same Paul Simon!
by my name is Cos March 4, 2009
Get the malapopismmug. You've been accumulating cruft year after year, a gnawing sense in the back of your mind that someday you'll have to do something with this stuff. Actually getting down to looking through it all, one by one, and throwing out everything you're never going to use: the decrapification of your apartment.
I know him, I took his Apple Unix when he was in New York.
Oh, yeah, that was when I moved out of the Brooklyn apartment. That was round one of the great decrapification.
Decrapification was the project for 2007, and oh my god the stuff we got rid of!
Oh, yeah, that was when I moved out of the Brooklyn apartment. That was round one of the great decrapification.
Decrapification was the project for 2007, and oh my god the stuff we got rid of!
by My name is Cos January 13, 2008
Get the decrapificationmug.