So what did 2012, the year that went by, really give us? Global recession, falling incomes, all pervading corruption, war on terror, drone attacks, killing of innocents, candle marches, Arab spring … it all flashes across the mind’s eyes like a bioscope of yore. As I stand on the right side of another brand new year, I will remember and thank the year that was with fondness and gratitude for teaching me a whole spreadsheet of new words. Yes, some of them were known but have seen new light in usage and meaning. Here’s a sampler:
- Selfie: a self shot charecterised by an outstretched hand that is a part of the frame, shot primarily using hand held devices like smart phones. A favourite of princesses of all ages, colour and creed, especially after they do-up their tresses and dresses. The painted and perked lips, expressions from coy to joy and the level of “exposure” at varied states. Which of course will lead us on to the next:
- Sexting: the act of sharing revealing images of the self through mobile devices. Kids I’m told, find it a real fun with the only downside being the prospect of private pictures going viral. However, that too has been taken care of:
- Snapchat: an app that allows the person who took the snap to control how long the people they share it with can view it before it self-destructs. Look Mom. No bums!
- Fiscal Cliff: Ben Bernanke pulled it on a hapless population and it soon went on to become the most used term around the world. No, Obama did not do a bungee from the cliff and Congress has confronted, resolved and moved on.
- TLDR: acronym for too long, didn’t read. With handhelds increasingly becoming the chosen weapon of engagement how we use the written word to communicate is changing drastically. Talking is human, tweeting divine.
- TLSI: another acronym, for too long skimmed it. Highlight the key words so that skimmer eyeballs can be attracted as they browse through your content.
- Awesome: 2012 was the year when awesome became omnipresent. Obama’s win was awesome, Taliban hits were awesome, nail arts were awesome, hot cappuccino was awesome, Pussy Riot protests were awesome, Madonna egging them on, on her bare back too was awesome, as was on your face poverty in sub Saharan Africa.
- Bubble: suddenly everything has a bubble as a suffix. The college has a bubble, the green movement has one too as has the protesting multitude in the middle-east. I’m a bit skeptical on this one as bubbles burst!
- Hashtag: its tweeter way of searching for common topics and has become so huge that today it is more widely used than the original hash used by the flower children. Many times over. Tweet that!
- YOLO: you only live once. It’s the excuse of every crazy teenager stretching the limits of absurdity – you only YOLO once dude, YOLO^ (YOLO it up).
Oh I also learnt that curating hipsters are trending. Though actually, as my 13 year old friend pointed out a lot of them are actually humblebrags of epic proportions and that a female dude is called a dudette! (anything to do with a due r an expiry date?) Thank you 2012.