Do you hate the newly coined word “trending” as much as I do? My blood pressure rises when I open a page on my computer and the sidebar has a block of what is “Trending Now.”
And it gets worse when I see Who or What is “trending now.”
Trending Now
- 1. Selena break up This child is breaking up with another child – Wow!
- 2. Jamie Lynn Spears
- 3. Mister Rogers
- 4. Casey Anthony
- 5. Bankruptcy affects millions of people but it is not top of the list
- 6. Jesse James
- 7. Kim Kardashi...Photos
- 8. Foreclosures People losing homes is not as popular as Justin Bieber
- 9. D.B. Cooper
- 10. Hurricane Eugene A hurricane in the Pacific – who cares?
What is the definition of trending? Is that another way of saying this is what the dumbed- down American public is obsessed with today? When have you seen someone of substance on the “trending” list? Is that the goal of our culture – to be on the “trending list?”
What must one do to get on the “trending list?” Perhaps one would first need to get on the A-List? What is the A-list and is there a B, C. D, all the way down to XYZ list? Who selects the members of these lists? What are the criteria?
All of this reminds me of an experience I had one summer just after sixth grade. I was sought after by several classmates, girls who wanted to come to the farm and ride my horse and enjoy country life. We had a great time. The mothers of the girls drove them about 15 miles one way so they could come and spend the day with me.
I entered junior high school in the fall as did my friends who clustered with others in their little cliques, but I was not included. Was I “trending” in the summer, but when autumn came and school began, I dropped off the list? Through no fault of my own, did I suddenly drop down to E or F or even G on the “trending” list?
That was when I learned to seek friends with more substance. I had few real friends in high school, but the ones I did have were solid gold. My dear friend, Jeannine, is someone who will always have a special place in my heart. I introduced her to her future husband Jerry. She asked me to be her maid of honor at her wedding a year later. Our friendship lasted all her life. Jeannine met the criteria for my A-List.
Do you have an A-List? What are your criteria for your A-list?
If you were choosing, who would you place on the “trending now” list?
Trending drives me crazy too Glenda. We lived out of the country for 10 years and when we came back, we had to learn a lot of new words. Problems were called issues. Smart business people became visionaries. And here I am worried that the new generation is getting away from the language by texting. What will they think of next.
ReplyDeleteSam
Your A-list comments hit home. Just for fun I made a list and found Husband, Family, 4 Junior High School friends I'm still tied to, neighbor friends and writer friends who are unreplaceable. I've learned to hold on tight to these people...and know I married my best friend. None of my A-list people can be called "Trend Listers." Thanks for the thought.
ReplyDeleteNancy Purcell
I don't know that I have an A list per Se. I have family and friends with whom I keep in touch through facebook and other means. I was not very popular in school, I guess, because of my visual impairment. I had a few friends from time to time, but I've since lost touch with them. I think this whole trend list business is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAbbie Johnson Taylor, Author of We Shall Overcome
http://abbiescorneroftheworld.blogspot.com
http://www.abbiejohnsontaylor.com
Hi Sam,Nancy, and Abbie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. It is very funny to me how a word becomes popular by the media and some people feel they have to use those "new" fake words.
I suppose, as a writer, I should embrace all words. In the future, an author might feel he must use the word "trending" when writing about this time in history.
But who actually uses these words?
I never hear them in normal conversation.