Oxford Dictionary 2013 Word of the Year

robjvargas · Nov 20, 2013

The Oxford Dictionary releases a Word of the Year every year. They've chosen the winner for 2013.

Selfie :Shrug:

Shoot me. The Apocalypse is here. :partyguy:

Gena_Skyler · Nov 20, 2013

Wow... That's... Wow.

On a side note, I always thought a better spelling for that would be cellphie, because the pictures are usually taken with a cell phone.

robjvargas · Nov 20, 2013

I suppose the rise of tablets cut that one off, Gena.

Helix · Nov 20, 2013

Also cell phone is not a term used in Australia. We use mobile phone instead.

I am partly proud, partly embarrassed to have been a member of the forum on which the term was coined --- Dr Karl's Self Service Science Forum (SSSF for short). It was hosted by the ABC until they decided to close it down a year or so ago.

DeleyanLee · Nov 20, 2013

The Oxford people also deleted the "Oxford" comma (also known as the Harvard comma, IIRC) from their style guide. I don't think it's a sign of End Times, but I think there's something funky in the water over there.

Phaeal · Nov 20, 2013

I am a proud member of the Never-Took-A-Selfie Society. We hang out with the Forty-Year-Old Virgins.

I'd rather take pictures of funky bugs and plants and weird rock formations than of me. Though I might have a pic of my foot with a funky bug on it somewhere.

KTC · Nov 20, 2013

I suggest SHELFIE. Authors pictured standing in front of their bookshelves. There.

KTC · Nov 20, 2013

Can't lie...it already exists. There's a tumblr out there somewhere... Can't recall the link.

Mclesh · Nov 20, 2013

Can we all agree to stop using that word? Blergh.

LOG · Nov 20, 2013

Well the requirement for getting the award simply seems to be that the use of the word rise in popularity . . . so yeah. >.>

Becky Black · Nov 21, 2013

Yes, it's not an award for "best" word of the year, just a word that's gained in popularity, looks like it has staying power and kind of typifies the year.

My favourite selfies are inadvertent cat selfies - which generally happen when a laptop is set to snap a pic of whoever wakes it up. Which is sometimes a cat messing with the mouse or trackpad. They usually look so startled.

robjvargas · Nov 21, 2013

Mclesh said:
Can we all agree to stop using that word? Blergh.

I dunno. I kinda like blergh.

:tongue

Clifforis · Nov 21, 2013

I always thought a selfie referred to an action involving pleasuring one's self, as favoured by Michael Fassbender's character in the movie 'Shame'

DreamWeaver · Nov 25, 2013

Phaeal said:
I'd rather take pictures of funky bugs and plants and weird rock formations than of me. Though I might have a pic of my foot with a funky bug on it somewhere.

OT, for Phaeal:

http://www.instructables.com/id/10-Smartphone-to-digital-microscope-conversion/

RedWombat · Nov 25, 2013

I admit, I've come around on the lowly selfie. I have taken all of one in my life, and found it was the first time I've ever taken a photo that looks like I look when I see myself in the mirror, as opposed to "Dear god! Who pumped the bloating gas in the room?" or "Oh good, I'm either asleep or look like I've been hit with a board. No middle ground."

That might not have convinced me alone, but there was a long run on Twitter about it a few days ago where a number of people pointed out that if you aren't conventionally media-approved pretty, selfies may be the primary way you see images of people who look like you--and quite possibly the only way you see people who look like you going "I'm beautiful, damnit!" And hell, I can't argue with that at all.

So I think there's some value there, even if I wish we could have found a more elegant phrase. ("Self-portrait" would have been fine!)

Gena_Skyler · Nov 25, 2013

robjvargas said:
I suppose the rise of tablets cut that one off, Gena.

Yes, that would make sense. It's really too bad though.

Helix said:
Also cell phone is not a term used in Australia. We use mobile phone instead.

Good point.

On a side note, I have been guilty of snapping a few of myself. Though, I will say this: It has never been in front of the bathroom mirror.

Rina Evans · Nov 26, 2013

RedWombat said:
I admit, I've come around on the lowly selfie. I have taken all of one in my life, and found it was the first time I've ever taken a photo that looks like I look when I see myself in the mirror, as opposed to "Dear god! Who pumped the bloating gas in the room?" or "Oh good, I'm either asleep or look like I've been hit with a board. No middle ground."

That might not have convinced me alone, but there was a long run on Twitter about it a few days ago where a number of people pointed out that if you aren't conventionally media-approved pretty, selfies may be the primary way you see images of people who look like you--and quite possibly the only way you see people who look like you going "I'm beautiful, damnit!" And hell, I can't argue with that at all.

So I think there's some value there, even if I wish we could have found a more elegant phrase. ("Self-portrait" would have been fine!)

Exactly. What's wrong with selfies? Let girls (it's primarily girls, I've seen) take control over their own image which they present online. It might be the only time they feel like they can look good. You find your best angle, best light, you can delete all the pictures you don't like. I really dislike when people whine about selfies. Let people do their thing.

robjvargas · Nov 26, 2013

Rina Evans said:
Exactly. What's wrong with selfies? Let girls (it's primarily girls, I've seen) take control over their own image which they present online. It might be the only time they feel like they can look good. You find your best angle, best light, you can delete all the pictures you don't like. I really dislike when people whine about selfies. Let people do their thing.

I'm OK with more girls taking pics of themselves in the bathroom mirror. :censored

I'll go away now. :gone:

Alpha Echo · Nov 26, 2013

I'm just glad the Word of the Year was selfie and not twerk.

robjvargas · Nov 26, 2013

Alpha Echo said:
I'm just glad the Word of the Year was selfie and not twerk.

DAMN YOU!

Do you know how hard I worked to unsee that the first time?

Alpha Echo · Nov 26, 2013

Gena_Skyler · Nov 26, 2013

Alpha Echo said:
I'm just glad the Word of the Year was selfie and not twerk.

Like!

Oxford Dictionary 2013 Word of the Year

robjvargas

Gena_Skyler

robjvargas

Helix

socially distancing

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Mclesh

It's too hot

LOG

Lagrangian

Becky Black

Writing my way off the B Ark

robjvargas

Clifforis

Clifforis

DreamWeaver

Shakespearean Fool

RedWombat

Runs With Scissors

Gena_Skyler

Rina Evans

robjvargas

Alpha Echo

I should be writing.

robjvargas

Alpha Echo

I should be writing.

Gena_Skyler