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Am I a Dude or Not?
The word "dude" has been around for over a hundred years, but I've never heard it used so much as in the last two years. Or, the last two days.
When I was growing up, I remember hearing the term "dude ranch." I never went to one, but I assumed it was a place where men went to ride horses and tell stories around a campfire. When I was growing up, no one ever called me a "dude." I mean, Sister Genevieve never said, "Hey, dude, did you finish your English homework?" And Coach Flynn never told us in the locker room, "Okay, dudes, this is an important game."
I didn't even know I was a dude until the summer of 2005. That's when some new friends, college-age friends, began spending time with me watching movies, listening to music and videotaping sports events. That's when I started hearing them say things like "rich dude" (that wasn't in reference to me!) and "old dude" (that wasn't in reference to me, either!) and "cool dude" (aha!). Sometimes someone could be called just plain ol' "dude."
No matter what, I've found this term has become more and more a part of our culture. I hear guys and girls in their twenties saying it all the time. I found out that my new friends were always referring to me as "dude" -- as if I didn't have a real name. I found this so interesting that I ordered a custom-made tee shirt that says on the front "DUDE."
Despite being around the word so much lately, I haven't found myself calling anyone "dude." I don't tell my brother, "Hey, dude, pass me the bucket of wings!" And I don't ask my videographer, "Can you hear me through your headphones, dude?"
If you look up "dude" in the dictionary it will say something like "a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming and manners." I don't think that's what those girls are meaning when they call me "dude." It might also define "dude" as "a man reared in a large city." Does Plattsburgh qualify?
Today I received an e-mail with the title "It's free, dude." When I opened it, there was a link which brought me to a website called "Arcade World" offering free video games. This evening I heard two news commentators use the popular word. One was in reference to George Clooney: "The dude is really a class act!" Hey, if I'm called the same word as George Clooney, I have no problem with that.
Anyway, be on the lookout for this word. I think it's ready to take over our culture, replacing antiquated words like "sir," "pal" and "buddy." Hey, now that you know it's so acceptable, maybe you'll start using it, too. In the meantime, I'm happy that I'm a dude and I've got the tee shirt to prove it.
I think I'll ask the dudes in the newsroom of the Press-Republican what they think of the word.
Comments
Fox,
You are so totally a dude!!
Posted by: Auntyellow | October 19, 2007 9:41 AM
I'd like to know the candidates take on spending so much money on maintaining a football field only used by a private school and by the Non Paying Semi Professional Team. Kind of interesting how much city money is used to take care of this property. Wonder how the counselors and mayor feel about this one . Probably not an issue for those dudes.
Posted by: rubble | October 14, 2007 10:41 PM
Skip, a majority of the candidates fail to mention their positions on the issues which is unacceptable as well. Before anyone votes for Common Council members this year, please insist on knowing how they feel about all the important issues.
Candidates should not hide until Election Day, November 6th. Regarding stealing signs, that is a practice that should be reported if the public witnesses this.
Posted by: The Donald | October 14, 2007 8:24 PM
Carver, about those political signs; have you noticed that the majority of those signs do not mention a major political party to be affiliated with the candidate. Do these candidates prefer not to be associated with the major parties because of the major discord within them? just wondering.
Posted by: skip zatonski | October 14, 2007 11:18 AM
I also have noted the attacks on the Calnon signs. As I transverse our ward on my daily walks they seem to be the only signs that have come up missing or have been disturbed. On an other note, it was great to see Fearless Fred Forkey this weekend. He appeared as announced and held fort on both Friday and Saturday. He even imported his good buddies from California to give him a traveling posse.
Posted by: The Old Timer | October 14, 2007 11:13 AM
sorry bout that foxman....of course it's NORTH COUNTRY CABLE...what the hell was I thinking...might be alot easier if we just called it FOXY VISION..
hey what the heck going on in our Ward 4????....seems as though at least 20 "CALNON for COUNCILOR" signs have come up missing ... yet his competitors signs all seem to have remained intact...I think this calls for an investigation.. Better send up up that "BAT SIGNAL" for "old timer" (our Ward Grand Poobah) ...in the mean time, check Floyd's garage!
Posted by: The Carver | October 14, 2007 5:30 AM
TRANSLATION
Foxy,
You were a really great teacher. You were really awesome and communicated well with your students. You knew how to decorate a classroom and make any topic interesting. A nice gentleman like yourself deserves an opportunity to celebrate with your friends; just be careful and not draw the interest of the police.
Take care...
Posted by: Kern | October 13, 2007 9:54 PM
I'm quite a bit older than Foxy and, therefore, so conservative about forms of address that I moved to Mexico, where I am called 'Señor, Patrón or Don Roberto;' at least to my face. I've probably been referred to as 'el gringo' but, hopefully, never 'cabron'.
Posted by: Bob Glenn | October 12, 2007 4:13 PM
If you prefer, now that you have a pony tail, we can call you Dudette.
(Foxy's note: No, I guess I'll settle for dude!)
Posted by: Doc | October 12, 2007 8:37 AM
Foxy, you're not only a Dude.. you are THE DUDE!....other dudes might include "old timer","Bullet" "JCarr"&"Skipper" and possible candidate for Top Dude ....maybe Fred Forkey, with whom you'll probably rub elbows with tonight. I see he's making a guest appearance in town!...
Speaking of candidates...what's your best guess on who will be sitting around the "Common Council" table come January??? perhaps a blog contest, Maybe who ever picks all 6 wards correctly could be eligible to wins one of your prized "Foxy's Home Town Cable " T-shirts?? (speaking of T-shirts .. never did receive my prize for 1000th blogger..Grady seems to have passed the buck!)
(Foxy's note: Some good ideas here, Carver! But one correction: it's NORTH COUNTRY CABLE tee-shirts, not Home Town Cable. That would be Calvin Castine. Not sure if he has tee-shirts or not. See you tonight, but can't get there till around 8:30pm.)
Posted by: The Carver | October 12, 2007 6:23 AM
Foxy,
Better to be a dude than a dud.
Craig Mathews
Posted by: Craig Mathews | October 11, 2007 3:26 PM
Dude!
You were always the coolest teacher, Man. You were phat and really down with the peeps. You knew how to totally pimp a classroom and make the topic hoppin'. A bad guy like you deserves to party down with your homme's; but don't get caught up with the "G".
Out...
(Foxy's note: HUH?)
Posted by: Kern | October 11, 2007 11:29 AM