Okay, maybe I didn't make myself clear. My problem with the use of "chilling" to describe every bad thing under the sun these days wasn't because of its incorrectness, but because of its overuse. Remember how everyone in the Seventies used the word "coping" until you wanted to stick an icepick into your ear so you couldn't hear it anymore? (You know you did. Don't lie.) Well, that's the effect the constant appearance of the word "chilling" in any context but 1) what jello should be doing in the fridge, and 2) an activity one engaged in with one's homies, has on me. Sit back, chill out, and read the evidence:
"PCWorld.com - Internet Hate-Speech Ban Called 'Chilling.'"
"Global Warming: A Chilling Perspective."
"From Justice Scalia, a Chilling Vision of Religion’s Authority in America."
"A chilling truth about childcare."
"Powell: Bush Sends Iraq a 'Chilling Message.'"
"A Chilling Specter."
"‘Revenant’: a chilling tale made human."
"Antarctica's melting ice - hot air or chilling reality?"
(It is with great effort that I do not remark upon the frequent use of the word as a lame, obvious pun.)
In a synopsis of a news story about skydiving: "Tonight At 5: Chilling Video From Skies Over Washington."
A snippet from an Australian news story about the prime minister's reaction to a train wreck: "But such a loss of life in travelling to and from work is always a particularly chilling thing." It got poor John Howard.
Statistics on how many kids in America watch tv are "chilling."
This tv movie on John Mapplethorpe's high-class pr0n exhibit brouhaha back in 1990 "brings back chilling memories." Well yeah, that one with the bullwhip in -- never mind.
Not getting to watch Karen Finley smear chocolate over her genitalia is a "chilling effect" on artistic freedom.
Receiving messages from the Unabomber back in 1995 was "chilling." I thought explosives involved heat, but what do I know.
And The Chilling is billed as a "A Good, Low Budget Zombie Movie." Linda Blair stars.
That's only a few examples. And I haven't even started on the blogs.
(Technique stolen from Tim Blair.)
Posted by Andrea Harris at March 12, 2003 11:16 PMThe proper use of chilling would be:
I was chilling with my homies, watching Cartoon Network and sippin' some brews.
Posted by: michele at March 13, 2003 at 07:10 AMTo be fair, the concept of a "chilling effect on free speech" is a legal term that goes back at least to New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964. Judge Alex Kozinski writing that "the parties are advised to chill," OTOH...
Posted by: David Jaroslav at March 13, 2003 at 09:56 AMThey should chill ‘chilling’. It's so overblown. Does does the truth about how many kids watch TV really send shivers of fear down anyone’s spine?
My icepick-in-the-ear moments come when I hear the word ‘arrogant’ – what’s wrong with arrogance? Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s bad. I thought it would have been classified as a cliché by now, but people are still using it. It puts a real stress on my coping skills.
Posted by: mary at March 13, 2003 at 10:19 AMI see your point.
Mine was/is "male bonding" as if guys form friendships in spite of themselves. A though it's a "special" form of friendship only the naturally emotionally damaged can have. Puh-leeze.
Posted by: Yahmdallah at March 13, 2003 at 12:27 PMNow that you've made clear "chilling" is acceptable in the context of describing one's ghetto-fabulous lifestyle, I fully support your position Andrea.
Only weenies use the word as an adjective...
Posted by: Captain Mojo at March 13, 2003 at 02:38 PMHowbout going after the word bold, as in:"In a bold policy move by the White House........."
Posted by: Frank C at March 13, 2003 at 10:34 PMHow about taking on "closure" too while you are at it.
Posted by: Will at March 14, 2003 at 09:42 AMOooh... you have touched on a sore spot indeed. Not only is it another irritating word used about one million times to many, it is the title of The Worst X-Files Episode Ever (Not Counting The Final, Duchovnyless Season).
Posted by: Andrea Harris at March 14, 2003 at 10:54 AM