Most Annoying Word

I was logging on to AOL the other day and I always get swallowed up by those damn links just trying to get to my mail, I’m such a sucker, “I don’t know, what are the ten worst cities for garbage?”.  Thirty minutes later I arrive at the inbox.  The teaser this day was ‘most annoying word two years running’.  I cannot go on without knowing.  Turns out it’s whatever.  I know, right?  Seriously?  I was like, that’s all boring, you feel me?  (Just laying out some other options) 

The Marist Poll, the company who conducted the research, crowned whatever the most annoying word two years in a row.  I’d like to offer hilarious.  That’s my word this year.  It’s not really annoying itself as a word; it’s expressing a positive sentiment.  But the ubiquitous use of it is a symptom of a virus in this culture.  Very few things make us laugh anymore.  Myself included.  I say this phrase and I hear other people say it everyday. 

Oh my God, that is so hilarious. 

            You relay a funny anecdote and the person is not laughing but still wants to acknowledge the intrinsic humor and rewards the teller with the sentence,  "Oh my God, that is hilarious!"  I maintain that IF it’s so downright hilarious, the listener would be laughing and while they are laughing (an indication that something is indeed hilarious) wouldn’t have time or breath to stop and announce how hysterical the thing is.  Imagine if we were all at a comedy club and the sounds of a comedian onstage “killing” would be some cacophony of audience cheering, HILARIOUS!, VERY FUNNY INDEED!,  I’m in HYSTERICS!!

            Have we arrived at 01-01 2011 where nothing is indeed side-splitting funny?  Have we really at this exact moment in time officially done and heard and seen it all?  That like the finite combinations of notes creating melodic and pleasing sounds, have we reached the statistical finish-line of words and motions creating humor? 

            They’re showing the original It’s a Wonderful Life at the Drexel this week.  They had to extend the run.  I say it’s indicating a nostalgic direction we need.  Comedy is like your favorite toy until boredom reigns and your mom puts it away and when she sets it back out is all shiny and super-fun.  Every two years or so my dad re-sends me that church bulletin blooper email, and to be honest, I laugh all over again. 

            On Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the expenses of the new carpeting.  All wishing to do something on the carpet please come forward and get a piece of paper.

           

That’s a toy I forgot I had.  So maybe we need to rummage through the toys for Chaplin and Buster Keaton, the Marx brothers and Harold Lloyd.   Find Jerry Lewis directing the choir singing “I Like to Hike”, and anything with Eve Arden and Don Knotts.  Let’s find our collective laugh. This holiday season, get to your Netflix queues and load up on some gently used toys.  And laugh till you pee. 

Incontinence.  That’s my Christmas wish for you.  Hilarious.