Deciphering the Slanguage

As most of you know, Variety employs a pretty unique vocabulary. Originally instituted to fit words into headlines -- and create an exclusive, clubby industry feel -- several of those slang words have entered the public domain ("B.O.," "boffo") while others remain a little too inside ("ankle," "skeds," "skeins"). (See here for more detail.)

Non-Variety readers will sometimes email and express befuddlement at the slang. Others will be downright angry at the usage. One of my colleagues was hit by several e-mails yesterday after a story of hers was linked by Drudge. Here's a sample (names withheld, of course):


From: g murdock [mailto:XXX@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 9:39 AM
To: XXX@reedbusiness.com
Subject: Your writing style

Rather than a "style" I would more closely associate it with a "abortion of prose". Call the community
college where you received this education and ask for your money back.

++++
From: XXX@juno.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 2:12 PM
To: XXX@reedbusiness.com
Subject: Nets

What is a "nets"? What is a "skeds"? What does "skedded" mean? What is "competish"? Is there a special decoder ring that goes with the story below?

++++
From: XXX@adelphia.net
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 3:16 PM
To: XXX@reedbusiness.com
Subject: Voodoo text in journalistic reporting

Your article regarding the Broadcast Networks coverage of the Republican convention was written in some sort of code that I, as a typical American reader of English can't quite comprehend.

When you use a term such as "nets", I think of the New Jersey Nets. And when you use the term "confab" I have no clue what that means. I'd look it up in the dictionary, but I doubt it's there.

You've been hanging around Drudge too much. He writes stuff no one can easily comprehend. You have to know his code to understand it all. Is that what this is about? Confusing the American public so they are curious enough about your writing to actually want to take more time to try and decipher it?

Sorry, I'm not amused or enchanted enough by someone reporting in a foreign language to want to take the time to break it all down.

Funny too, because I don't ever recall getting any lessons on "coded reporting" when I went through Journalism school at Florida International University. Yeah, I know - I'm clueless, mindless, and have a myopic view of life.

Yeah, I guess you are just too sophisticated for us common folk.

XXX
Leesburg, VA