Enough Already! Words Austin Doesn't Want to Hear in 2013
There are some words we heard so much in 2012 that Austin can't stand to hear them one more time. We polled various Austinites about the words and phrases they'd like to leave behind as we move into 2013.
“Gluten Free” – We understand many people have a gluten allergy, and we get that. Actually, we’re sorry you'll never be able to try a sweet, sweet craft beer without puking – at least puking for different reasons than we are. But when products like vodka start branding themselves as gluten free, you know this trend has gone way too far. So the next time you find yourself having lunch with a friend who won't shut up about her new gluten free diet while simultaneously drenching her salad in ranch dressing, we completely support you throwing your drink in her face – unless, of course, you're drinking a respectable beer. – Bitch Beer
“Neuro” – The media has gotten brain fever. If a reporter can find a pretty picture of the brain to slap on a story about some kind of behavior, it makes the whole thing seem that much more real. These days, there are discussions about “Neuro-marketing,” “Neuro-economics,” and “Neuro-education.”
The fact is, we don't know nearly enough about what the brain is doing to be able to use that knowledge to draw specific recommendations for how to education, market, or influence economic behavior. So, let's stamp out “Neuro.” – Art Markman, University of Texas professor of psychology and author of the book “Smart Thinking”
“Cocktailian,” “foodie,” “eater heat map” – @anavenueblog
“Awesome” – 2012 might have taken this one over the top. It seems like almost anything or anyone can be “awesome” these days. Awe is no longer necessary. Maybe we could develop a little more adjectival power. – Steve Bercu, BookPeople co-owner and CEO
From Austin’s burlesque group, The Jigglewatts:
“Apocalypse" – The word is starting to sound like a type of seizure, or a dance move. – Ruby Joule
“Realness” – As in, “I'm serving up some back door 3rd world shanty plastic surgery realness.” – Pearl Lux
“Cray” – Just because our schedule is, in fact, cray, doesn't mean we can't take the time to say the second syllable. – Goldie Candela
“Fiscal Cliff” – It wreaks havoc with my vertigo. – Jolie Goodnight
"YOLO "- short for "you only live once" - is a weedy word. Like a weed, it seemed to spring up everywhere at once, then flourish briefly. But it never sank down deep roots in the lexicon: whenever someone says "YOLO," they always seem to end up explaining what it means. It's time for this weed to be pulled. - Clay Spinuzzi, University of Texas associate professor of rhetoric and writing
Get rid of “mixologist.” I don't know whether to order a drink or ask for my favorite song. – @egoistetx
“Accident” – For one, “accident” is often used to refer to traffic collisions that are simply not accidental. They have causes that are the result of poor choices made by people. The other part is that there have been far too many fatal collisions, i.e. “accidents,” with people walking or bicycling in the Austin area this year. – Tom Wald, Bike Austin executive director
“Hipster” – In 2012, this word was used so much that it lost all meaning. "Hipster" was used to describe seemingly anyone who tried something a little different, whether that be with facial hair, dress, their backyard or mode of transportation. Austin's supposed to be weird, y'all, so let people experiment! – Stephanie Myers, Austin Post writer
"SoCo, SoLa, SoFi, So-Anything" - Look, is the word "south" so hard to say? Calling South Lamar "SoLa" is like rolling over and letting some Los Angeles development baron scratch your belly. It's not a way of life, it's a street. South Congress, South First, South Lamar. - Tim Ziegler, Austin Post editor
