NationStates Jolt Archive


"Truthiness" named as word of the year

The Nazz
09-12-2006, 17:34
I can only imagine what Stephen Colbert's character is going to do with this (http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/12/08/ap3240767.html):

After 12 months of naked partisanship on Capitol Hill, on cable TV and in the blogosphere, the word of the year for 2006 is ... "truthiness."

The word - if one can call it that - best summed up 2006, according to an online survey by dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster.

"Truthiness" was credited to Comedy Central satirist Stephen Colbert, who defined it as "truth that comes from the gut, not books."

"We're at a point where what constitutes truth is a question on a lot of people's minds, and truth has become up for grabs," said Merriam-Webster president John Morse. "`Truthiness' is a playful way for us to think about a very important issue."

Other Top 10 finishers included "war," "insurgent," "sectarian" and "corruption." But "truthiness" won 5-to-1, Morse said.

Colbert, who once derided the folks at Springfield-based Merriam-Webster as the "word police" and a bunch of "wordinistas," was pleased.

"Though I'm no fan of reference books and their fact-based agendas, I am a fan of anyone who chooses to honor me," he said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

"And what an honor," he said. "Truthiness now joins the lexicographical pantheon with words like `squash,' `merry,' `crumpet,' `the,' `xylophone,' `circuitous,' `others' and others."

Colbert first uttered "truthiness" during an October 2005 broadcast of "The Colbert Report," his parody of combative, conservative talk shows.

Take the poll.
Fassigen
09-12-2006, 17:35
How insular.
Andaluciae
09-12-2006, 17:35
Colbert's great, and pretty damned funny, but he ain't got nothing on Jon Stewart.

Truthiness, though, truthiness is amazing.
Ashmoria
09-12-2006, 17:38
excellent poll!
Andaluciae
09-12-2006, 17:39
excellent poll!

It's exactly how Stephen Colbert would have made it :D
Minaris
09-12-2006, 17:41
It's exactly how Stephen Colbert would have made it :D

No. There IS an error.

It should be

"great comic" or "the GREATEST comic".

The "the" is necessary.
Intangelon
09-12-2006, 17:41
Hooray truthiness!

Great word, great satirist.
Andaluciae
09-12-2006, 17:41
It's so true.

I want to send him a link to NS General...
The Nazz
09-12-2006, 17:44
It's so true.

I want to send him a link to NS General...

We've certainly put that word to great use.
Utracia
09-12-2006, 17:49
We could use less truthiness in America but Cobert using it is quite brilliant. Great comic, indeed. :)

*nods*
Minaris
09-12-2006, 19:18
We could use less truthiness in America but Cobert using it is quite brilliant. Great comic, indeed. :)

*nods*

If only people acted using his true message as opposed to his satirical one...

*is sick of people trying to take others' rights away from them*
Almighty America
09-12-2006, 20:21
If only people acted using his true message as opposed to his satirical one...

HIDDEN MESSAGE*is sick of people trying to take others' rights away from them*

LOL Silly idealist, when will you learn? Americans don't act, they consume! :D
Nevered
09-12-2006, 20:23
I like Stewart better.

Colbert's brand of humor is a bit too in-your-face energetic, where Stewart does a lot more subtle stuff.

just about the only part of Colbert's show I like is "The Word"
Utracia
09-12-2006, 20:33
If only people acted using his true message as opposed to his satirical one...

People just need to actually watch his show. Plenty actually think that Colbert is serious when he goes into his rants. Amazing, really.
Darknovae
09-12-2006, 20:35
I like Stewart better.

Colbert's brand of humor is a bit too in-your-face energetic, where Stewart does a lot more subtle stuff.

just about the only part of Colbert's show I like is "The Word"

I love "The Word"...

Colbert's brand is a bit in-your-face, and normally I don't like that kind of humor. However Colbert pulled it off for me. :)

And Jon Stewart is t3h pwn. :D
Darknovae
09-12-2006, 20:36
People just need to actually watch his show. Plenty actually think that Colbert is serious when he goes into his rants. Amazing, really.

I did when I first started watching him, then I realized that there was no way he could have possibly been serious. :p
Whereyouthinkyougoing
09-12-2006, 20:38
reference books and their fact-based agendas :p *giggles*

Colbert's great, and pretty damned funny, but he ain't got nothing on Jon Stewart.

Truthiness, though, truthiness is amazing.
Indeed.
Dexlysia
09-12-2006, 20:46
I did when I first started watching him, then I realized that there was no way he could have possibly been serious. :p

Yeah, it was like that for me the first time I saw Bill O'Reily's show.
Wait...
Minaris
09-12-2006, 21:14
I love "The Word"...

Colbert's brand is a bit in-your-face, and normally I don't like that kind of humor. However Colbert pulled it off for me. :)

And Jon Stewart is t3h pwn. :D

Pancake is absolutely correct about Colbert and Stewart.
Utracia
09-12-2006, 21:20
I did when I first started watching him, then I realized that there was no way he could have possibly been serious. :p

I suppose one unknown to Colbert's method could make that mistake. I think many just pay little attention to him so mess up with what he is really about. Too many of Colbert's guests say "conservatives like you" and other statements of that ilk and it just blows my mind that they actually think he is actually believing what he says.

*shakes head in wonder*
Minaris
09-12-2006, 21:23
I suppose one unknown to Colbert's method could make that mistake. I think many just pay little attention to him so mess up with what he is really about. Too many of Colbert's guests say "conservatives like you" and other statements of that ilk and it just blows my mind that they actually think he is actually believing what he says.

*shakes head in wonder*

The guests are told to play along with the satire.

No satire=no show
Hustlertwo
09-12-2006, 21:28
Colbert's great; I had enjoyed him on the Daily Show, but didn't watch it that often as Stewart does not strike me as even remotely amusing. So good to have a fake news show where the main man has the talent (and the sexiness, according to People) to really do it justice.

And we need more of that Green Screen Challenge, that was hilarious, especially the episode where they crowned the winner. Poor George L., just being a runner-up.
Utracia
09-12-2006, 21:31
The guests are told to play along with the satire.

No satire=no show

It's all staged?! :eek: :( :p
Minaris
09-12-2006, 21:33
It's all staged?! :eek: :( :p

Well, not staged, but the guests are to keep in mind that SC is an IC uber neocon.
Barbaric Tribes
09-12-2006, 21:37
Colbert and Stewart need an all out battle.... the ultimate clash.

I predict the outcome is worse than a Nuclear Holocaust.
Minaris
09-12-2006, 23:40
Colbert and Stewart need an all out battle.... the ultimate clash.

I predict the outcome is worse than a Nuclear Holocaust.

*dresses up as news reporter*

Tom, I'm live here in New York City... but it might as well be any other city in the world. When Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert fought... they sent meteors hurtling to- Wait! Are those 4 horsemen? Excuse me, sirs-

*newsman doppelganger is beheaded*