Shutting up the "WHAAAASSSSUUUUP"

Why is it that people always seem to take sound bites from movies and such and just keep saying them over and over until they lose their significance?

One of the downsides to allusions and their impact on our culture is the inevitable misuse or over use of a quotable line. Ten years ago, Budweiser came out with the ad campaign in which four friends' conversation boils down to elongated versions of the popular greeting. Though vastly entertaining at first, this spawned a whole movement of people imitating this in almost every situation possible. The aftershocks of this still linger today, and every once in a while, someone will break out the 'Whaassuuup?'.

Now, let me please state again, that at it's orignal conception, this was really funny. I caught myself using this with my buddies sporadically for at least four months. And it usually got a good natured laugh. But, like the Macarena, pinch-rolled jeans, 'Schwing', the once creative and entertaining tid-bit became the weapon of annoyance of dimwits everywhere.

"That's What She Said"

A character that epitomizes this blind misuse of cultural refferences is Steve Carrel's Michael Scott on the television show The Office. Whether starting off a convention speech to 500 salesmen with the outdated "Goood Morning Vietnam!" or uncontrollably using the "Wayne's World" zinger "That's what she said," after an executive superior mentions that the next quarter will be a hard one.

USE QUOTES RESPONSIBLY

So, how does one still use pop-culture references correctly? If a few simple guidelines are followed, then you can turn someone else's punchline into your own without being just a rip-off artist.

1. Know your audience - Make sure that the people around you know what the hell you're talking about. It usually helps to hold off on these lines until you are around friends of yours. Preferably, friends that have seen the movie, heard the song, read the book, or watch the t.v. show.


2. Make it applicable - The situation must meet the criteria for the line. Don't just blurt out something when it comes to mind. If a friend comes to you with some relationship troubles, don't sing the chorus to "Funky Town." It's just inappropriate, rude, and only breifly entertaining unto yourself.


3. Don't over use it - So you really like that line from Caddyshack? The one where Bill Murray is wacking away at flowers and giving the anouncer play by play about "Cinderella boy, on his way . . . to the Masters Championship." Well, great, it's a classic. But, if you say that every time that you go to hit a golf ball, or someone mentions golf, or you are an underdog in any competition, you just may end up getting blown up like the varmit-cong. Basic rule of thumb: use a line once a month. Once used, by all means refrain from doing it again. If you need help, keep a calender.