In case you were wondering why I asked

[cos]

On Sunday Molly was telling Val and I about this "friend" she had back in California, who invited her to come hang out and maybe go out. Oh, and by the way, since you're coming over, said this friend, why not bring some of that software you were going to try installing on my computer? Sure, said Molly, I can install it while we're hanging out.

She went over, with the software, and started... and a whole bunch of friend's Hollywood-ish friends came over, and friend said you don't mind finishing that software while we all go out, do you?

After our appropriate gasps of shock, Molly struggled to complete the sentence: "I can't believe she had the ... the ... what's the word for it? the nerve?" And right then, it came to me: I can't believe she had the blagojevich to suggest that!

We all agree this word should spread, so I indulged my habit of submitting to urbandictionary. It was while I was writing that entry, and trying to think of some good examples, that I made my recent post asking for stories. So now you know what made me think of it.

P.S. Urbandictionary has a bunch of other definitions of blagojevich, but mine's clearly the best one :) So please vote it up!

Comments

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

Wow. That... is not okay.

But it's a lovely definition.

[japlady.livejournal.com]

so just replace Chutzpah with blgoyavich?

[blk]

That's a pretty good definition. I vote yes.

[silentmachine.livejournal.com]

LOL! We already use this as an insult for people who have no standards!

[cos]

Not quite. Blagojevich is a special kind of chutzpah.

[porfinn.livejournal.com]

My only grump is: I don't like giving someone who doesn't deserve to be remembered at all, even one more moment past the initial fifteen minutes of infamy. It isn't exactly a complimentary word, but some people might construe it that way. People can be very odd about what they take pride in. "Chutzpah" is usually considered a good thing. It is a clever piece of slang, but I don't want this putz's name to ever be considered even a particle of a compliment.

[cos]

I think he's gonna be well-remembered by anyone who was around for the past couple months of his circus, nothing we can do about that. Eventually, he may fade into the past, and people won't know where the word came from, as has happened with a number of words we all use (and I've even forgotten which ones of the obscure ones have origin in people's names - there are a small handful we tend to remember came from someone's name, and a lot more we just don't think of). He'll be gone by then, and won't care, of course. Being remembered for his lifetime is something he's already "achieved" with the amount of blagojevich he's shown since his arrest.

[eirias.livejournal.com]

"Spoonerism" is the one that comes to mind. And "bowdlerize," maybe?

[eirias.livejournal.com]

I like it. I wondered if good old Rod had inspired your post in some way. He's clearly the best example of blagojevich there is.

[kajmal.livejournal.com]

It's frequently a good thing to remember a bad example.

[taliakit.livejournal.com]

a little late, but here's a great example of blagojevich..

http://www.holytaco.com/2008/06/27/the-douchiest-phone-message-in-history/

[taliakit.livejournal.com]

Here's a transcript.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7879951#7880386

[cos]

Those are some of the few most obvious and well-known ones. Especially spoonerism. I wouldn't even be surprised if a majority of people who know that word at least suspect that it comes from someone's name. Which is, probably, why you thought of it here - precisely because it's one of those name-based-words that is most widely known to be a name-based-word.

[cos]

Huh, are you on DU?

[taliakit.livejournal.com]

No, I'm just deaf and that site was the first link in the google search results for "douchiest phone message transcript". :)

[lil-brown-bat.livejournal.com]

What's so special about it? Like, how does it differ from any other kind of chutzpah?

[cos]

Well, take gravitrue's example of non-blagojevich chutzpah in my earlier post, for one way they differ: When the person showing chutzpah knows they're doing or saying something that's a bit over the edge, or show even partial awareness of it, that can still be chutzpah but is not blagojevich.

Another way they differ is that to show real blagojevich, I think someone needs to (at least seem to) completely and comfortably believe in the ridiculous-to-all-others concept or idea from which their outrageousness stems. Blago himself seems to really believe that he's being unfairly persecuted by those who oppose his worthy political goals, or at least be an amazingly good actor portraying someone who really believes that.

Blagojevich requires:
- awe-inspiring level of gall
- cluelessness about the fact that one is showing such nerve
- an unquestioned mistaken belief about the underlying outrageous attitude

Chutzpah is a much broader word that covers many more situations than this (and also covers this situation).

gasp!

[lulapoppyfields.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD! That's AWFUL!

oh and also....

[lulapoppyfields.livejournal.com]

i had no idea blagojevich was a realy word. What does it mean? I know what chutzpah means but not blagojevich. I don't think I can even pronounce it. :( I fail. ha

Re: oh and also....

[cos]

It's a word now! I made this one up. But other people have also made up meanings for it in the past couple of months, though I think my meaning is the best :) See the urbandictionary definition I wrote, with a couple of examples, and help me spread it by using it when it fits!

[In case you missed the whole Blagojevich scandal and are wondering why people are making up meanings for this formerly-name now-word, start with this Daily Show video clip, watch some more of the Daily Show's Blagojevich coverage, and then make sure not to miss this for some of the real-world blagojevich displayed by Mr. Blagojevich himself.]

Re: oh and also....

[lulapoppyfields.livejournal.com]

Cool thanks Cos!