COMMENTARY | This week, Lake Superior State University released its 37th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. The list of banished words is a compilation that includes “Occupy,” “Man Cave” and “Win the Future.” As I reflect on the list of banished words, I feel that some words were missed, and look toward what might be on the list this coming year.
One word that I am sick of seeing and feel could have been on this year’s list is “Tebowing,” because I am just worn out on the whole situation. Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is the reason why “Tebowing” has officially become a word in the dictionary. “Tebowing” is essentially classified in the dictionary as getting down on one knee to pray, while in the middle of an athletic competition. Tebow often will go down on one knee and pray during a football game, which I have no problem with, but it is annoying that it has progressed like wildfire. I just think “Tebowing” needs to be on this list because it is all you hear about, even the anti-religious crowd is getting involved, and I just find it a little insensitive to Tebow.
Based on everything going on in 2012, I think that “Doomsday” will be on the list of banished words next year. I think we will be hearing a lot about “Doomsday” this year, considering that the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on December 21, 2012. “Doomsday” has been overused for years, but now that 2012 is finally here, I think that everyone all over the world will be talking about it. Whether you agree with it or not, which I definitely do not, it is an interesting concept to think that a group of people many years ago could predict the end of the world. I have a feeling that many news channels will be counting down the days to “Doomsday,” and will probably have survival tips out just in case some people managed to escape the wrath that might come. There are a lot of people out there that believe in “Doomsday,” which is only going to escalate the amount of times we will hear this word in the next 11 months.