Fail!

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by Orleander, Jan 8, 2009.

  1. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    I am starting to notice "Fail" in more and more posts when someone thinks someone else has said something incorrect. Is it a video game thing?
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    33,264
    I fail to understand .:shrug:

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    25,817
    Mike, do you think 'Fail' replaced 'Pwned'?
    And cosmic, you're a dork. lol
     
  8. Enmos Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    43,184
    FAIL! lol
     
  9. Enmos Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    43,184
    I think 'Fail' pretty much replaces 'You're an idiot'.
     
  10. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
    No. Because they are slightly different meanings, even though they can overlap sometimes.

    Fail would be if you made a stupid post that makes no sense.

    Pwned would be if you made a stupid post that makes no sense, then someone responds with the correct answer, making you look foolish in the process.
     
  11. Nasor Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,231
    The "fail" thing started on message boards where people posted lots of images. When someone said something that was really obviously stupid, someone else would post a picture of someone in the process of failing at something with a "Fail!" caption. Eventually people got lazy and stopped bothering with the picture.

    "Pwned" came from multiplayer first-person shooters back in the mid 1990s. It started out as people taunting their opponents by saying things like "I own you!" or something similar. It quickly became a common thing for people to type "owned!" to taunt people who they had just killed. But because the game was still going on, they had to type very quickly and would sometimes hit the wrong keys, like the p instead of the o. Which was funny, so people started doing it on purpose. Although really it would just as often come out as 9wned or ownef or any other variation.
     
  12. EntropyAlwaysWins TANSTAAFL. Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,123
    Fail also has an antonym: Win.
    Also either can be strongly emphasized by the prefix 'Epic'.
     
  13. John Connellan Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,636

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!



    There's nothing wrong with this one! This is a pass if you ask me. Look at the size of that metal fence and tell me you wouldn't think twice about stealing this car

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  14. Nasor Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,231
    I'm sure you could drive off and rip out a section of the fence, but most thieves would probably realize that driving away with a piece of a fence dangling on a chain from your bumper is probably a great way to get pulled over by the first cop that see you.
     
  15. John Connellan Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,636
    I don't think a small section of that fence would be ripped out very easily but exactly, whether it's the whole fence or a section of it, certainly gonna put you off stealing it!!!
     
  16. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
    As long as you didn't mind leaving the bumper behind!
     
  17. John Connellan Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,636
    Now that would be a FAIL!!! Luckily, however, it's tied to the tow hook
     
  18. John99 Banned Banned

    Messages:
    22,046
    no its one of those things that takes off. fail means you lose, opposite of you win then the cool kids see that ans say hey that looks f'n cool i;m gonna use that and so there you have it.
     
  19. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    33,264
    Hey! I resmembel that remark!

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  20. Nasor Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    6,231
    Yes. But you'd think that a 1989 Honda Civic would already be pretty safe from thieves anyway...
     
  21. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
    Oh damn, it is!

    "Attention to Detail" failure on my part!

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  22. Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    12,671
    ..and of course, there is "epic fail".

    Unlike pwned, fail makes sense.
     
  23. mikenostic Stop pretending you're smart! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,624
    What about pwned doesn't make sense to you?
     

Share This Page