Comments on: What "Twitter" meant in 1874 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jack Feerick http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658845 Jack Feerick Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658845 That was my thought as well — as with "reeb" for beer, "dab" for bad, et cetera. That was my thought as well — as with “reeb” for beer, “dab” for bad, et cetera.

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658826 chgoliz Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658826 Totally agree.  It was still very much in use in the 1960's, as I recall, so anyone around 50 or older would certainly know it. Slightly OT: one time in the 1980's I made a reference to myself as a "geek" to my parents, who both looked at me with the most quizzical expression.  Turns out, they only knew the old definition -- someone in a circus sideshow who bites the heads off chickens -- and I only knew the contemporary one. Totally agree.  It was still very much in use in the 1960′s, as I recall, so anyone around 50 or older would certainly know it.

Slightly OT: one time in the 1980′s I made a reference to myself as a “geek” to my parents, who both looked at me with the most quizzical expression.  Turns out, they only knew the old definition — someone in a circus sideshow who bites the heads off chickens — and I only knew the contemporary one.

]]> By: Wreckrob8 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658818 Wreckrob8 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658818 Convention. The same one that should prevent us knowing what cool means 'cos it's Victorian, criminal back slang. Convention.

The same one that should prevent us knowing what cool means ‘cos it’s Victorian, criminal back slang.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658817 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658817 Well, now you've got me all twitterpated. Well, now you’ve got me all twitterpated.

]]> By: timquinn http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658775 timquinn Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658775 "cool: to look"  Okay, how do we know what "look" means? “cool: to look” 

Okay, how do we know what “look” means?

]]> By: Robert Holmén http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658765 Robert Holmén Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658765 I didn't know "slang" was a word that far back. Now i do. I didn’t know “slang” was a word that far back. Now i do.

]]> By: shay simmons http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658733 shay simmons Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658733 I saw that book and downloaded it yesterday. Gutenberg has at least two more slang dictionaries online. I saw that book and downloaded it yesterday. Gutenberg has at least two more slang dictionaries online.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658711 C W Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658711 Also of interest is the "cantphrases" portion of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of crowds. Archaic memes! Also of interest is the “cantphrases” portion of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of crowds.

Archaic memes!

]]> By: retchdog http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658705 retchdog Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658705 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twittering_Machine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twittering_Machine

]]> By: jandrese http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658697 jandrese Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658697 Yeah, certainly people have heard a construction like "The ladies were all in a twitter." before?  It's not an everyday usage, but it's one most people should know I think. Yeah, certainly people have heard a construction like “The ladies were all in a twitter.” before?  It’s not an everyday usage, but it’s one most people should know I think.

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658691 xzzy Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658691 Still means that here in 2013. Not that Twitter users would enjoy having their use of the service described in that manner. But it is pretty accurate. Still means that here in 2013.

Not that Twitter users would enjoy having their use of the service described in that manner. But it is pretty accurate.

]]> By: Matthew Miller http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658689 Matthew Miller Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658689 It also meant that in, oh, say, 1974. And 2004, 2005, and for at least a good part of 2006. It also meant that in, oh, say, 1974. And 2004, 2005, and for at least a good part of 2006.

]]> By: Crashproof http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658684 Crashproof Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658684 Seems appropriate.  Twitter is still pretty much a kind of fidgeting. Seems appropriate.  Twitter is still pretty much a kind of fidgeting.

]]> By: Bradley Robinson http://boingboing.net/2013/02/18/what-twitter-meant-in-1874.html#comment-1658680 Bradley Robinson Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=213679#comment-1658680 You mean to tell me that I've been using these terms incorrectly all this time? The mere notion has me in such a twitter that I feel the urge to pull out the pin.      You mean to tell me that I’ve been using these terms incorrectly all this time?

The mere notion has me in such a twitter that I feel the urge to pull out the pin.     

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