From John Hodgman’s Twitter:

hodgman: Did I ever tell you people how much I hate the word “meh”? Nothing announces “I have missed the point” more than that word.

hodgman: It is the essence of blinkered Internet malcontentism. And a rejection of joy. Also: 12 hive mehs in the replies SO FAR

hodgman: By definition, it may mean disinterest (although simple silence would be a more damning and sincere response, in that case)

hodgman: But in use, it almost universally seems to signal: I am just interested enough to make one last joyless, nitpicky swipe and then disappear

I agree. Nothing is more irritating than someone only engaging you enough to try to suck out your joy.

EDIT: Unless it’s John the Pirate. Then it’s hilarious.

~ by Skennedy on February 24, 2009.

Posted in Uncategorized

11 Responses to “From John Hodgman’s Twitter:”

  1. John Hodgman, meh…

    ajaxx2 said this on February 24, 2009 at 8:07 pm

  2. I like “meh” as an expression of apathy. I utilize it frequently. But I also hate joy and try to kill it whenever possible.

    ikkarus01 said this on February 24, 2009 at 8:16 pm

  3. Happy happy joy joy
    happy happy joy joy
    happy happy happy joy joy joy!

    cjtremlett said this on February 24, 2009 at 8:24 pm

  4. And, see. . I always found it amusing that Meh starts with Me. . . It’s a way of saying ‘I don’t care enough to figure out how to make your message relate to me, so I am going to draw attention to myself this lightly dickish way’

    overthesun said this on February 24, 2009 at 8:26 pm

  5. Is he railing against it as a one-word response, or just against the word in general?

    I use “meh” occasionally as a synonym for *shrug*.

    jadesfire55 said this on February 24, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    • I believe he’s specifically referring to people contributing via the internet with “meh”. Situations in which someone hasn’t asked you a direct question, and yet you still feel compelled to “meh” all over it. :)

      atdt1991 said this on February 24, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    • Exactly, a meh on it’s own is annoying and pointless.

      But a meh for punctuation can help make a point. For instance, I have a long drawn out argument, but know that it means nothing to you and that I’ve changed nothing, meh!

      Besides who the says that me or anyone for that matter is in the business of validating you and your arguments? If you argue and I meh and you feel defeated, maybe I’ve won? If you feel nothing, I’ve won. In fact if I meh and am no longer interested and walk away, arguably I’ve won. MEH!

      But I like MEH, and I’ll keep using MEH! Why? Because I can, and I find it expressive of my current emotion at the time. Something that at best is difficult considering the written medium of the internet.

      It is what it is. The meh; nothing more; nothing less. Quit making war against my words!

      zifferent said this on February 24, 2009 at 9:24 pm

  6. John the Pirate makes everything…better?

    caadn said this on March 2, 2009 at 10:32 pm

Comments are closed.