Here at Internet Evolution, words matter. While we try to use as many as we can each day, it's not just about volume -- they have to be the right words. Not clichéd, or bombastic –- just that right shade of gray. We know we're not alone here. In that vein, we are also fans of originality and panache (a fancy for word for, uhh, fancy).
Words matter so much to us that we can get a little alarmed when they're abused. Or mangled. Transmogrified, even (look it up). And if we were finger-pointing types, we'd call out PR people, marketers, CEO, venture capitalists, and maybe even ourselves from time to time as the clock clicks closer to deadline and the language center in our brains starts to cave in.
To arrest this language abuse we see and hear in the realm of the Internet, we bring you our 10 Worst Buzzwords of Web 2.0. Yes, unfortunately we had to limit it to 10. A small sampling of the awfulness that couldn't even rise to the level of noteworthy garbage: avatar, folksonomies, the long tail, and lifecasting, to name a sorry few.
Actually, you brought us this Top 10 feature; that is, if you voted in our last online poll. Here's how the votes tallied, from least to most obnoxious:
10)Microblog
When you're too lazy or important to write more than one sentence.
9)Podcast
Bet Apples wishes it could earn royalties off this dog-eared term.
8)Crowdsourcing
The wisdom -- and the tyranny -- of the masses.
7)Mashup
An application that's still just an application.
5)(TIE)Monetize
Plain old "making money" is so 2007.
5)(TIE) Tweet
Not just something birds do anymore, unfortunately.
4)Poke
There was a reason your mom told you not to do this.
3)Vlog
As if 'blog' didn't already offend the ear enough.
2)Cloud-computing
The nimbus vs. cumulus debate can't be far off.
1)Friending
Another odious gerund from the social networking realm.
— Written by Nicole Ferraro, Site Editor; Terry Sweeney, Editor in Chief; and Mary Jander, ThinkerNet Editor, Internet Evolution.
Ja! Interesting post! Somewhere, some guy (or gal) has his/her dream job... working for an internet marketing agency, making up words so that the rest of us can say: "just when we thought we knew them all, we saw: Ideating"
How about Wiki? Long-Tail? Mobility? Semantic? Convergence? Aggregator?
Well, just like doctors will warn of the side-effects of combining medications, these words can only be more deadly when combined. It's too bad Apple didn't monetize the word podcast, but at least they have their own cloud computing product now with MobileMe.
Still, I don't think any of these are as revolting as one of the originals--Sticky. And, for those following the sustainability bandwagon, "Green-collar employees," has got to be the most sickening phrase, sure to result in throw-up, ostensibly the brick and mortar precursor to mash-up.
The word monetize is one that makes me laugh. To make money? Or has this something to do with turning people into French Impressionists?
I agree Web 2.0 should join the 10 worst buzzwords. I read an article today that said that social networks that are designed for business-to-business or busiiness-to-consumer purposes really aren't Web 2.0 applications but Web 2.5 or 3.0 applications. Aargh!!!!!
I'm thinking of getting a virtual gun and terminating so many of these newly fashioned terms. Or maybe I should write a blog or do a podcast.
Hmmm! So you can be serious atimes, that's really breaking news for us at IE!!
I have just completed reading the report and it has really lively up my day with some parting hilarious jibes at the Web 2.0 craze. I wonder why it get missing on the boards. May be you did not give it an introductory blog as is the case normally with the other reports.
Actaully when i first saw Vlog on the poll list, I thought it was a mistake oe for blog and had wanted to send you a personal email to do the correction. However I decided to google it first and was amazed at the tons of response i got. It's really weird how people come up with these Web 2.0 cliches and i know many more will follow.
With all the monetize maniac now gripping the internet landlords, why can't we the tenants start demanding that we monetize our ATTENTION?
True, but it's certainly been popularized in the Web 2.0 era. Moreover, Web 2.0 has brought on the podcast's horrific offspring -- like the "modcast" (I'm serious... see here: Mod My Life (or What's Left of It)).
Most so-called Web 2.0 concepts were born before the alleged Web 2.0 era. Let's not forget that many of our readers think Web 2.0 is, itself, a buzzword. So who is to say whether a concept is actually "Web 2.0"?
The ThinkerNet does not reflect the views of TechWeb. The ThinkerNet is an informal means of communication to members and visitors of the Internet Evolution site. Individual authors are chosen by Internet Evolution to blog. Neither Internet Evolution nor TechWeb assume responsibility for comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and ThinkerNet bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose.
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