Journal computerlady's Journal: Transcendental Karma 2
From the Slashdot FAQ: "Karma used to be a number, now it is a word, this sucks!"
Good grief. It's karma, not your "Interpolated Parabolic Interest Metric." Can you for one minute pretend like you are not an engineer?
In fact, the current system of adjectives to describe karma (Terrible, Bad, Neutral, Positive, Good, and Excellent) is distressingly un-karmalike. They should have consulted a seasoned geek who was more than a twinkle in his Daddy's eye during the 1960s and 1970s. I have some suggestions that are way better.
The worst karma is simply Gross. Gross means dirty, nasty, disgusting, untouchable. Snot is gross. So is pus. And so are trolls on message boards.
Bad karma is a Bummer. A bummer is something that drags everyone down, like a script kiddie or a flame war on Slashdot. And, pray tell, what could be a bummer bummer than a first post post?
Neutral karma is Mellow. When you're mellow, you're laid back, just truckin' along, minding your own business. According to Merriam-Webster, "mellow" has a long (since 1690 - not 1960, mind you, but 1690!) history of meaning slightly and pleasantly intoxicated. You can imagine what makes you mellow and keeps you mellow. (Hint: It's not Jolt.)
Positive karma is Groovy. Why has this word been so maligned? It perfectly describes a decent poster on Slashdot - someone who is "in the groove."
Good karma is Far Out. In the mid-1960s, both James Brown and Little Stevie Wonder popularized the term in song lyrics, and it became an ultimate accolade in youth slang." The hippies quickly took it over but used it the same way.
Excellent karma is Transcendental. Not in the mathematical, irrational sense. Forget "e" - think hippi-"e". Transcendental is, well, transcendent. Surpassing all others, beyond common thought or experience. Transcendental posters have presumably meditated upon their words before clicking the submit button.
So, by whatever Slashdot gods there be, make my karma Gross and Bummer and Mellow and Groovy and Far Out and Transcendental. Ohm...
A groovy idea, but... (Score:2)
Re:A groovy idea, but... (Score:1)