In regards to today's earlier post about the common word/alternate meaning contest run by the Washington Post -
It appears that the Washington Post did not do their research on the word Frisbeetarianism. Frisbeetarianism, as it is listed in the contest, is not a common word and the meaning was not conceived by a reader. While the word may have been supplied by a reader, it was coined and defined by the late comedian George Carlin as, "the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck." Thus the meaning listed in the contest is not an alternate meaning, it is the original meaning.
7 comments:
I just read the common word/alternate meaning contest results that unseemingly included Frisbeetarianism. It is satisfying to see that at least two of us thought the matter called for research but disappointing to find that my common word vocabulary count remains right where it was. What was I thinking? That the Frisbee was named for a visionary who started an "ism" upon seeing a platter shaped object stuck on a roof?
I did not know the word was a George Carlin word until I googled it. I sat and stared at it for the longest time trying to figure out what the real definition of that word should be. It seemed the only thing it could be was the "stuck on the roof" explanation. I was a huge fan of George Carlin and it was nice to think of him and his comedy again.
With great respect for George, I practice frisbeetarianism. My considered opinion is that the alternate definition is "the belief that you are alive as long as you continue to play Ultimate." Someday I will have to adopt the "stuck on the roof" interpretation but I have yet to recognize the ceiling much less the roof.
Frisbee - Love your outlook.
Now I don't feel so smart..........or dumb. I had to look it up also.
I have seen absolutely NO evidence that George Carlin really said this. It sure gets misattributed to him all over the internet, but as he said himself on his official website back in 2001, pretty much nothing you see on the internet is from him unless it shows up in one of his books, albums, or HBO specials. I own all of these, and can't find it anywhere. So whoever said it, it wasn't George Carlin. In fact I think this mass-forwarded email list that allegedly came from the Washington Post has been around years before people started misattributing the quote to Carlin.
Anonymous - I wrote this so long ago I had to look it up again. I can't believe that the Washington Post would incorrectly credit Carlin with authoring the quote in a tribute article about Carlin and Religion. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2008/06/george_carlin.html. Hmmm, I am not a Carlin expert but I have not seen evidence to the contrary nor suggestions of any other authors.
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