This comes too soon after yubee's blog, but I've been meaning to address this for a while already.
I see the phrase 'grow some balls' or 'grow a pair' a lot lately. Why is it so popular? It was probably funny the first time you saw/heard it, at least to some extent, but it's so incredibly overused now it makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a tennis racket. If people would at least stick to the original intention of the saying, then it wouldn't really bother me. For example, here are some cases of tl users saying it with some justification:
On February 18 2009 08:03 Folca wrote: 5: Continuing on number four, i've been so depressed because I really just have no person that I can (truly talk to?) someone that I really trust, give darkest secrets and all that nice flowery shit, but I guess I gotta grow a pair and deal with it. Hope that the future can get better than this
While I don't agree totally with your view of manliness... at least it makes sense.
On February 20 2009 13:20 TruthBringer wrote: Wow, what a bunch of closed-minded bitches.
I give you props on that move, OP. People react differently to different things.
For instance, some people don't like to be nagged. If you suggest things to some people, they may resist it. Maybe the OP knows how his gf is and that she wouldn't take him seriously if he just talked to her.
This is kind of similar to the whole spiel to parents, "my gf is pregnant, I killed someone, I totaled the car, and I got a D on my math test. Just kidding, but I really did get a D on the math test." In their relief they are more tolerant of the bad news.
His gf was probably so worried about what was going to happen that she was a lot more receptive to his reasons for doing it afterwards. And I bet while she sat there in silence she reflected on some of the bitchy things she had done earlier in the day.
It is always better to let someone realize their own mistakes rather than to nag at them or rub their face in it.
OR
you could be mature and discuss it?
That isn't much fun is it?
All in all, fuck this blog, full of shit.
Grow some balls and discuss the damn thing with her, no need to give her a "timeout", you need to seriously grow the fuck up.
Okay. He is being immature... so grow some balls (sign of maturity... going away from the manly aspect of the saying, but I'll accept it).
I found a few other 'good' examples, but I'll switch over to the ones that make me raise an eyebrow...
On February 14 2009 16:03 Carnivorous Sheep wrote: You'd think JD would've expected this and went 9 pool or something.
And now a fucking Bunker. Skyhigh should grow some balls T_T
It's a videogame. They are playing to win. Balls has nothing to do with it. Find another way to criticize him... (again, if it wasn't already overused, then saying 'grow some balls' woulda been ok imo)
On January 23 2009 14:56 NeVeR wrote: People need to stop asking for girl advice on gaming forums... The best thing for you to do would be to grow some balls, have some pride, and learn to settle these things for yourself.
Guys don't need advice? Wtf does that have to do with being mature/manly? Pick something else.
On February 14 2009 04:47 TechniQ.UK wrote: "perhaps but i dont spend my life encouraging others to waste theirs as well" - Idra
Yeah your right idra because it's a waste of time trying to instruct others how 1) not to go to an eternal hell, 2) copy the example of the son of God, Jesus Christ who even by secular standards is probably the greatest example anyone could follow with his teachings like love thy neighbour.
Oh and I will be visiting the old people in the congregation keeping them company during the week in their care homes, conducting funerals to bring comfort to the family of the dead, councelling anyone who needs help in the church with any aspect of life they bring to me and bringing the hope of Jesus Christ to drug addicts, criminals, violent offenders, homeless people if i can, and basically anyone and doing it all not with an attitude of pride but an attitude of serving the living God in the knowledge that I'm a worm as it says in the book of Isaiah and only like this because of unmerited grace and mercy and will be serving for his glory and honour and exaltation.
Didn't think that one through did ya Idra. Maybe that's why you'll never be a Korean .
1)psychologically torture little kids into doing whatever the church says is moral so they can avoid burning forever in a fictional place
look what religion did to you you're PROUD of considering yourself a worm. do you not see whats wrong with that? grow some balls and think for yourself.
plenty of people who dont spend the work day preaching a fairy tale can help the homeless in far more substantial ways than 'bringing them the hope of Jesus Christ' bring them some food instead. something that'll actually make a difference.
Again I really don't think balls has much to do with it.
On February 20 2009 13:24 choboPEon wrote: just cause someone posted a blog, you now what to delete what you thought was an interesting article? grow a pair
WTF does that have to do with it? Fine another cliche expression to make your point!
On February 02 2009 14:51 Sentenal wrote: wtf the Varsity is good, you people are crazy. If that place gives you a heart-attack, your heart needs to grow some balls.
Okay now you are just pissing me off.
Does it annoy anyone else? I'm hoping it will die out.
In case my message wasn't clear... don't say 'GROW SOME BALLS' or 'GROW A PAIR' for no damn reason! + Show Spoiler +
Except for in this blog... I'm already prepared for that. And I'll grow some balls for being oversenesitive if we stop using the damn phrases.
a) what does he ejaculate then? b) are his thighs bruised? c) do they hurt? d) what kind of underwear does he wear to support that weight? e) are we talking stainless steel here or do they rust?
edit: f) would you get a bruised face giving a bj? g) what does he say when the walk-through metal detector goes off and the guard magnetic-scans his balls... *beep beep* h) can he still float? does it help him to stay under water? i) does it affect his running? cycling?? j) is it something to be proud of?
On February 20 2009 14:27 Not_Computer wrote: "man, that guy has balls of steel!"
a) what does he ejaculate then? b) are his thighs bruised? c) do they hurt? d) what kind of underwear does he wear to support that weight? e) are we talking stainless steel here or do they rust?
"U LITLE homosexual FUCK U WHIT ur lirle homnosexual voice " "man dont shout like that stupid kid idiot fuck you" "This guy really needs to fucking go through his puberty first. Or maybe he had some sort of testical injury which means he will have to stick with that 6-years -old, chicky voice for the rest of his life." "stop smoking" (wtf???) "Stupid Kid stop it! stop stop stop it stop it stop it!!!" "Don't criticize the commentator, she's trying her best, really... the commentator's voice's TOO pretty. She should should try out as a soprano singer in a choir." "this kid is a faggot ass bitch jesus fuck christ my ears" "STOP talking man blah blah blah blah and who old are u arent u a still young "
On February 20 2009 14:36 Ancestral wrote: Yeah it is overused, but don't you feel a little ironic and guilty using the phrase "gouge my eyes out with a tennis racket"?
Not really... I'm not against general usage of non-literal phrases. Also, I avoided the cliche 'spoon'.
It's just an expression, an idiom almost. I don't see why you're so fixated on it, when there are hundreds of other idioms in the English language that are in regular use on these forums that you didn't bother to blog about.
On February 20 2009 14:50 Carnivorous Sheep wrote: Oh, hey, I was quoted!
It's just an expression, an idiom almost. I don't see why you're so fixated on it, when there are hundreds of other idioms in the English language that are in regular use on these forums that you didn't bother to blog about.
The thing is that micronesia could probably blog about every single improperly used facet of the english language if you want him to.
On February 20 2009 14:50 Carnivorous Sheep wrote: Oh, hey, I was quoted!
It's just an expression, an idiom almost. I don't see why you're so fixated on it, when there are hundreds of other idioms in the English language that are in regular use on these forums that you didn't bother to blog about.
I'd rather aim for some of the really dumb ones... especially the ones that are being used improperly (not to be confused with non-literally). And obviously as Fontong said I'll choose my battles.
Where do you draw the line between "improper usage" and "non-literal usage?" I was under the impression that most idioms evolved from "improper usage" and eventually became accepted.
On February 20 2009 14:37 Superiorwolf wrote: "man dont shout like that stupid kid idiot fuck you" "Stupid Kid stop it! stop stop stop it stop it stop it!!!"
I think I've used variations of these two on you before.
On February 20 2009 14:54 Carnivorous Sheep wrote: Where do you draw the line between "improper usage" and "non-literal usage?" I was under the impression that most idioms evolved from "improper usage" and eventually became accepted.
Well most idioms are non-literal and I don't mind that. Improper usage isn't inherently bad, but the ones that actually become accepted either are not the ones I was complaining about... or I still dislike them even after they become accepted. My complaints are independent of the overall consensus on the phrase.
This one is just pretty dumb (when abused... and not great when used properly). There are many I don't have a problem with and I do sometimes use them myself (don't we all?)
On February 20 2009 15:02 micronesia wrote: Well most idioms are non-literal and I don't mind that. Improper usage isn't inherently bad, but the ones that actually become accepted either are not the ones I was complaining about... or I still dislike them even after they become accepted. My complaints are independent of the overall consensus on the phrase.
This one is just pretty dumb (when abused... and not great when used properly). There are many I don't have a problem with and I do sometimes use them myself (don't we all?)
Fair 'nuff. But you got an uphill battle going for you trying to change the way people speak online.
-obligatory "so just grow a pair and deal with it" comment-
On February 20 2009 15:02 micronesia wrote: Well most idioms are non-literal and I don't mind that. Improper usage isn't inherently bad, but the ones that actually become accepted either are not the ones I was complaining about... or I still dislike them even after they become accepted. My complaints are independent of the overall consensus on the phrase.
This one is just pretty dumb (when abused... and not great when used properly). There are many I don't have a problem with and I do sometimes use them myself (don't we all?)
Fair 'nuff. But you got an uphill battle going for you trying to change the way people speak online.
-obligatory "so just grow a pair and deal with it" comment-
Yeah definitely. You can't forcibly change language. I picked a very narrow focus though which makes it possible to make a difference. If people are led to shun it, then it's likely to happen less.
Since everyone knows the meaning implied when you say it, it's actually a pretty good thing to say when you simply want to demasculinize someone for whatever reason. It's just really an attack on a males character, very diverse now-a-days. I would say it in that 1a2a3agg guys blog (I may have iunno) because it goes against my code of what a guy should do, so to that i would say grow some balls, man up, etc..
On February 20 2009 15:22 MiniRoman wrote: Since everyone knows the meaning implied when you say it, it's actually a pretty good thing to say when you simply want to demasculinize someone for whatever reason. It's just really an attack on a males character, very diverse now-a-days. I would say it in that 1a2a3agg guys blog (I may have iunno) because it goes against my code of what a guy should do, so to that i would say grow some balls, man up, etc..
Yeah I understand that. In general I'm okay with it if the purpose is to point out that someone needs to be more masculine... but only if the traits you associate with masculine are reasonable to do so.
On February 20 2009 14:27 Not_Computer wrote: "man, that guy has balls of steel!"
a) what does he ejaculate then? b) are his thighs bruised? c) do they hurt? d) what kind of underwear does he wear to support that weight? e) are we talking stainless steel here or do they rust?
edit: f) would you get a bruised face giving a bj? g) what does he say when the walk-through metal detector goes off and the guard magnetic-scans his balls... *beep beep* h) can he still float? does it help him to stay under water? i) does it affect his running? cycling?? j) is it something to be proud of?
Because a bunch of dudes that want to make people think they are tough crap say it ON THE INTERNET. Trust me, it pisses me off too. I think guys who are most vulnerable are most mature. You don't see 70 year old guys (with the most wisdom in life) fighting over who has bigger balls.
Micronesia should start a little 'miss manners' style thing where people PM you their forum communication problems and you help them out. I imagine it would go something like this:
'billy' : micronesia, whenever i post that going overpool is in fact cheese i get mocked hopelessly by the other forum members. even mods like hb join in. how can i tell them that this hurts my feelings?
micronesia: well first of all, grow some balls and stop whiningwe like to call the kinds of people who do those things 'trolls.' 'trolls' go around the forum trying to make other people angry. just don't be offended by it or try to stop posting such shit
On February 20 2009 16:43 fanatacist wrote: Micronesia, whichever woman marries you, she is a hero. Just letting you know that you would be truly blessed, and must treat her like a goddess.
Isn't micronesia married already and has kids, lol!
To prevent our pygmy goats from growing balls, we tied rubber bands around them very tightly, cutting off the circulation and thus killing the balls. We found them later in the grass.
On February 21 2009 00:10 LordWeird wrote: To prevent our pygmy goats from growing balls, we tied rubber bands around them very tightly, cutting off the circulation and thus killing the balls. We found them later in the grass.
On February 21 2009 00:10 LordWeird wrote: To prevent our pygmy goats from growing balls, we tied rubber bands around them very tightly, cutting off the circulation and thus killing the balls. We found them later in the grass.
Are you joking?
No. It's to prevent them from becoming alpha and attacking the other goats.
On February 21 2009 00:10 LordWeird wrote: To prevent our pygmy goats from growing balls, we tied rubber bands around them very tightly, cutting off the circulation and thus killing the balls. We found them later in the grass.
Are you joking?
No. It's to prevent them from becoming alpha and attacking the other goats.
On February 22 2009 00:38 yubee wrote: god why did everyone come in this blog to say "grow some balls", what a lame fuckin joke. these guys are making your jokes look OK micro