Comments on: Why I

By: Sandra

Sandra — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:43:41 +0000

OMG, that was the WEIRDEST thing i have listened to in a looooooooooooooong time. Very entertaining!(and i thought I could come up with some weird stuff to spout off!)

By: Phil Plait

Phil Plait — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 05:22:41 +0000

Holli: Ah, that makes sense. Of course, sexist jokes (or pr0n or the like) would be labeled NSFW, so the association is (now) understandable to me. I was really baffled by your comment before, though!

By: Buzz Parsec

Buzz Parsec — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:03:45 +0000

ip -

It’s a sideways heart, as in all the bumper stickers that say “I (picture of as heart, Valentine’s day style, not an organic pump) my Labrador Retriever” or whatever.

Took me 2 0r 3 of them before I cottoned on, too.

By: Holli

Holli — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:53:52 +0000

My apologies. The only times I’ve seen it used was on massively misogynistic jokes. It never occured to me otherwise. My mistake!!

By: ipgrunt

ipgrunt — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:13:33 +0000

I’m trying to understand why you would use “<3″ to represent love?

It can’t be “less-than 3″ because there’s no space between the characters, and I’m assuming this to be some kind of emoticon with which I am not familar (in other words, the set of all emoticons, excluding those 5 or 6 with which I _am_ familiar).

Looking starboard, I see a parachute, or maybe an ice cream cone (two scoops!) To port, who knows — perhaps a dunce cap (size xxxxxx-large; think Rick Moranis’ character in Space Balls–Big Helmet) worn by a topless woman?

Sorry,

Perhaps I should sign this one, ;#)

By: CarrieP

CarrieP — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:28:01 +0000

Holli,

NSFW usually means “not safe for work.” Since many people consume their media at work, say during lunch or when they are slacking off, that label can be extremely useful, especially with regards to imagery.

Me, I’ve got headphones and consume podcasts pretty much all day while doing data entry, so NSFW isn’t important to me on an audio file, but it is really nice on a video file or even on a blog that tends to use swear words or writes about “mature content” (whatever that means).

I have not seen a usage meaning “Not safe for women.” However, the state in which I live used to have a law on the books that made using “indecent, immoral, obscene, vulgar or insulting language in the presence or hearing of any woman or child” a misdemeanor.

When I say used to, I don’t mean 100 years ago, I mean less than 10 years ago. I loved this case because it meant that anytime a woman swore it meant she was de facto breaking the law. As a woman who has been known to let fly a string of curses on occasion, I found this highly amusing.

Law has been overturned by the courts, but the provision for kids still stands. Joy.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:21:22 +0000

Black blood of the earth.

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:30:11 +0000

GAH! I read this AS I was listening to THAT EXACT PODCAST and I’m at about 10 mins in….
I have to wait 9 minutes now.

NINE WHOLE MINUTES!

By: Dave Mosher

Dave Mosher — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:44:15 +0000

@Fauxnetikz

The first result on Google for NSFW: “Not Safe For Work”

By: Fauxnetikz

Fauxnetikz — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:34:36 +0000

I think she thought it meant “Not Safe For Women.” Which is actually kind of hilarious.

By: Gary

Gary — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:43:11 +0000

According to http://www.acronymfinder.com/NSFW.html it could mean a number of things including “Not Suitable for Women”, although that’s rare. Sometimes it’s safer to spell it out…

By: Phil Plait

Phil Plait — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:59:41 +0000

Um, Holli, just what do you think “NSFW” means? Because it means “Not Safe For Work”. Like, don’t be caught looking, listening, or watching it at work.

By: Holli

Holli — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:42:04 +0000

I find “NSFW” to be condescending. Sexist, derogatory comments have existed as long as humans have, and this bizarre new trend of labeling it just implies women can’t handle it. We’ve been handling it for millennia.
Also, labeling it in “warning” ahead of going ahead and actually saying the sexist, offensive or derogatory thing doesn’t make it ok. It’s like saying “I’m not racist but…”
I wouldn’t normally complain, because I’ve been seeing this “NSFW” all over the place recently and usually just roll my eyes at it and go on about my business. I just had come to really respect you from reading your blog the last few weeks, so I was really taken by surprise!
Holli

By: Adrian Lopez

Adrian Lopez — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:19:04 +0000

I’m glad you explained the meaning of “<3″, otherwise I would have thought you meant “I mooned George Hrab”.

By: Michael L

Michael L — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:09:05 +0000

Plus he has fire coming out of his head!

By: ccpetersen

ccpetersen — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:27:07 +0000

Bwahaha!! Phil, he looks like your brother from another mother…

And anybody who uses Stan Freberg is aces in my book! (Although, I have to ask if he got permission?)

Liveblogging the podcast:

Oh man, this ranting guy-thingie HAS traveled through too many airports!

Intro: a peek into madness to come?

Cool restaurants in Philly… oh yeah… will have to check this place out when we’re there next.

Oh my gawd… a ***** mojito?!!

Can you morally precede the Book of John with a drink like that?

ah, I guess we’ll have to put injokes for Phil in our blogs now? It will keep him soooo busy searching that he won’t have time to …

what??? butterfly sweat? where did THAT come from?

So, what if they have a funeral on Thursday? will it be TER?

And bats play congas?

Do they sue God? Or is that Sue God?

I think I studied under one of Prof Handzy’s cousins once…

Next time I use my GPS (in Colorado, soonish)… I’ll think it’s all relative, that’s for sure! Ze time is actually slowing down… oh noes!!!!!!

Love the political comparisons… we should send this to everybody we know!

Thank you for sharing that, Phil! Definitely going on my weekly listening log.

By: Dave Mosher

Dave Mosher — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:51:58 +0000

Phil, you are friggin’ hilarious.
And so is George.
Match made in heaven?

By: Derek Bliss

Derek Bliss — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:46:02 +0000

Even with all the NSFW language I found him (George Hrab, not the “light” him or the “word” him) to be quite entertaining. Also from the picture you provided, I can understand why he doesn’t have hair or wear a hat; I imagine all that fire spewing from the back of his head makes it quite difficult.