Should TV personalities use phrases they might not understand? (Read First Post)

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Mod Note: This is a pretty good topic that I am willing to keep open, on the condition that language stays PG-13. What this means is that the acronyms are fine in this thread, but anything that triggers the swear filter gets an infraction (so don't type it out). Do NOT use those acronyms anywhere else on the board or they will be met with an infraction just like swearing. -defunctzombie
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I often see the term "MILF" used in some fairly mainstream TV shows, like Entertainment Tonight or even the nightly news. A lot of otherwise conservative, prim and proper people throw the term around without so much as an apologetic look.

I wonder, do these people even know what the actual acronym means? The precise meaning is actually pretty crude.

Now, I'm not against it, mind you. I just find it odd when I see a prim and proper newscaster say it without so much as a self conscious blink as to what it really means. It doesn't really mean "Mature Intelligent Loving Female" you know!

I have to say I was quite surprised when I started seeing it in the mainstream. I already knew what it meant many years before due to my, ahem, personal "explorations" of fringe cinema.

[Michael24]

I'm sure there are people who have no idea, although I can say that I've never heard it used in any mainstream news or entertainment-related programs. "Cougar" seems to be the media-safe replacement that I hear much more often on those kinds of shows.

Awhile back I was in the car with my mom, and it was on the bumper sticker for a vehicle in front of us. My mom has the annoying tendency to read aloud bumper stickers that she sees, and I was bracing myself and cringing at the thought of her repeating it and then asking me if I knew what it stood for. Thankfully, she didn't even seem to notice it.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I'm sure there are people who have no idea, although I can say that I've never heard it used in any mainstream news or entertainment-related programs. "Cougar" seems to be the media-safe replacement that I hear much more often on those kinds of shows.

Awhile back I was in the car with my mom, and it was on the bumper sticker for a vehicle in front of us. My mom has the annoying tendency to read aloud bumper stickers that she sees, and I was bracing myself and cringing at the thought of her repeating it and then asking me if I knew what it stood for. Thankfully, she didn't even seem to notice it.

The current buzz term in mainstream news is "MILFY" (actually said out like that). Here's an example of something typical I hear in the local news:

Boring Kent Brockman type: "Okay, now to Lucy for entertainment. What's new in the entertainment, Luce?"

Lucy: "Hi Kent. Well, Diane Lane was spotted shopping around town today looking absolutely MILFY in this sparkling Versace dress,"

Kent: MILFY indeed.

Me: You can say that in the local news?

Also, LOL at your mom story. I hope mine never asks me that, either. I'd probably say I don't know anyway.

[Aquadementia]

I wouldn't expect to see that on the news.
I'd laugh if I did.

I wish I was drinking something so I would have had an honest spit-take when I first heard a news anchor say "Butt-head" when Beavis and Butt-head made the news.
I think even Dan Rather said it on the CBS Evening News. Walter Cronkite dodged a bullet there.

[EinBebop]

I always think it's weird when a woman claims that she, herself, is a MILF. It's very... self-loving.

[Michael24]

I wish I was drinking something so I would have had an honest spit-take when I first heard a news anchor say "Butt-head" when Beavis and Butt-head made the news.
I think even Dan Rather said it on the CBS Evening News.

LOL! That is so funny. I wish I could have seen that. I remember seeing a couple news anchors, though, who would skirt it by saying "Beavis and friend" or "Beavis and his friend."

[Aquadementia]

LOL! That is so funny. I wish I could have seen that. I remember seeing a couple news anchors, though, who would skirt it by saying "Beavis and friend" or "Beavis and his friend."

That may be even funnier.

[ABrown]

I often see the term "MILF" used in some fairly mainstream TV shows, like Entertainment Tonight or even the nightly news.

Really? On Entertainment Tonight??? I know on E! channel, they frequently use the "cougar" term, but I don't know that I've ever heard them use "milf."

[chalmers]

I wish I was drinking something so I would have had an honest spit-take when I first heard a news anchor say "Butt-head" when Beavis and Butt-head made the news.
I think even Dan Rather said it on the CBS Evening News. Walter Cronkite dodged a bullet there.

Or The Butthole Surfers. There was an issue saying the name of the band on TV and radio back in the 90s when they were enjoying their modest popularity after their song "Pepper" hit. Even The Simpsons couldn't get away with it; in the episode "Hurricane Neddy" a T-shirt is shown with the name on it, only with half of the name hidden behind a fold in the shirt.

[defunctzombie]

chalmers is on to something, so I'm going to rename this thread to serve a greater purpose. Just remember to keep it PG-13, okay folks?

[Shawn Hopkins]

If we can use MILF I guess we can use WTF, right? Anyway, Sarah Palin said WTF on live TV. I thought that was pretty extreme. She knew exactly what it meant, too. I guess it's gotten downgraded over the years just like MILF.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6JWZGIvqGc

[Dr.Pepper]

The current buzz term in mainstream news is "MILFY" (actually said out like that). Here's an example of something typical I hear in the local news:

Boring Kent Brockman type: "Okay, now to Lucy for entertainment. What's new in the entertainment, Luce?"

Lucy: "Hi Kent. Well, Diane Lane was spotted shopping around town today looking absolutely MILFY in this sparkling Versace dress,"

Kent: MILFY indeed.

They seriously said something like that. Oh my gosh.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

They seriously said something like that. Oh my gosh.

Yup, that's what compelled me to post it. I dunno. Maybe it's just here in Canada? Nah. This was a pretty conservative and professional news channel.

[Meson]

TV personalities will use whatever term they thing will draw in ratings, regardless if they know what the terms they are using or not. If they do know whtat they are talking about, they can do so how ever they please. If they don't, the should probably not use such terms, and doing so may dring the opposite outcome than what they are looking for.