Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Originally posted by: Amused
Just because a bunch of prepubescent nerds on a message board THINK it means "For the Win" doesn't undue 40+ years of popular meaning.
Incorrect. Words can get their definitions from the usage. Don't make me beat you with a dictionary to prove my point.
And internet gaming geeks are not the most popular usage in the world of that acronym.
Seriously, have you looked at some of the recent additions to the
dictionary?
"Most popular" has nothing do to with it. Linguistics isn't a popularity contest, you can have more than one definition per word ya know.
That has to be the most rapid contradiction I have ever seen. First you say words get their definition from usage (popularity) then you deny popularity defines words?
Which is it?
To the majority of the English speaking world, FTW means "Fsck The World." The fact that a tiny minority of internet gaming geeks thinks it means "For The Win" does not change that.
Where did I ever say the *most* popular usage is the only accepted definition? In fact, where the hell did I even say "popular". Read my posts again. I said "words
can get their definition from usage". Usage doesn't have to be popular or even common, see the list I linked to for examples. When's the last time you used "granny dumping" or "superchurch"? I haven't until this thread.
If people use FTW as "for the win", as well as "fvck the world", both definitions will be accepted. Simple as that.