MTV English gives birth to new word-Rickrolling.
“It was not quite the expected result given that U2, Britney Spears and even the Beatles were in contention. But in what will serve as a cautionary tale for the music world of the dangers in soliciting the public vote, Rick Astley, the 1980s crooner, last night was awarded the title of best act ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Astley, who topped the charts in 1987 with Never Gonna Give You up before disappearing, is the subject of a phenomenon known as Rickrolling, through which his army of online fans have tricked more than 20 million internet browsers into clicking on links to a video of his hit single. And as MTV executives found out last night, Rickrollers have turned their attention to ensuring that the bequiffed singer is rewarded for their efforts. The music channel decided to invite nominations for the best-ever act in September, but did not suggest that Astley, 42, be included in the category. However, as soon as his fans realised that they could nominate the artist, they voted in droves, ensuring that he got on to the shortlist…” Read story at Times-Online.
What’s fascinating about this story is how one day Rickrolling may work in a political polling context.
The law of Rickrolling: Intending a measured consequence through deceptive intent (digitally speaking, initiating false-click syndrome).
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My favorite D-phrase: “Hey, me and my little brother are goin’ phishin.”
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Change of pace. Don’t think to be cool you have to start memorizing Rickrolling and other mumbo-jumbo D stuff. Here’s some really cool language from the nondigital age that was once–and I have this on good authority–the norm (well, in certain quarters):
So right, sitting there in your sandbox drawing words with a stick doesn’t mean you have no other choice than the digitally inspired. I’m talking twists, slugs and roscoes. Mind you, this could incur dangerous intrusions from the underworld–of say the thirties and forties. You could be facing in your own mind the shimmering context of bone fide exciting language, like the button man who wants to take you for a ride in his Flivver. Of course don’t bother getting hinkey when the first slugs appear because you’ll already be doing the big sleep.
