The late Bill Rabe, center, with fellow Sherlock Holmes Club members, 1952. FISCAL CLIFF: Banished Words Issued by Lake Superior State University
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One of Michigan's best known public relations persons, the late Bill Rabe, continues to make national headlines after 38 years with his "banished words" list.
Rabe certainly is LOL (laughing out loud) about the condemnation of such acronyms as YOLO (you only live once).
While the U.S. Congress has been kicking the can down the road and inching closer to the fiscal cliff, the word gurus at Lake Superior State University have doubled-down on their passion for the language and have released their 38th annual List of Words to be Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.
The list dates back to Dec. 31, 1975, when former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe (RAY-bee) and colleagues cooked up the whimsical idea to banish overused words and phrases. They issued the first list on New Year's Day 1976 and the list has stayed the course into a fourth decade.
Wilmer T. "Bill" Rabe was born September 12, 1921 and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. A veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific, Lieutenant Rabe was called up from the reserves in 1951 and served as "psychological warrior" with the Army in Germany. He married Maryann Rady (also from Detroit) in Berlin on November 1, 1952.
During the early 1950s, while serving as publicist at the University of Detroit, Rabe launched what has been described as a "quirky quiz show" called "Ask the Professor" on radio station WJR. SOBS (another Rabe invention that stood for "Stamp Out the Beatles Society") was a gimmick organization launched in 1963 at the University. He wanted to link the university's name with raging Beatlemania.
He probably did more for LSS's name recognition than every other person associated with it, including the hockey program, did put together. So while the Banished Words List and the Unicorn Hunters [another of Rabe's creations] are legendary in the annals of PR, they shouldn't be confused with anything worth serious 'pondering.'"
While at LSSU Rabe created other events such as the world stone-skipping tournament and the annual snowman burning (something he discovered in Germany, and adapted to an American crowd, complete with roasted hot dogs served to students and guests, all of whom had gathered to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring).
Rabe was a member of the Baker Street Irregulars (BSI), invested as "Colonel Warburton's Madness" in 1955. His published works include "Once More, Watson, Into the Breach!!!" (1949), the annual "Sherlockian Who's Who and What's What" (1961-), "The Remarkable Case of the Fudge Trust" (1968), and "We Always Mention Aunt Clara" (1990). Among Sherlockians, Bill Rabe was also known as the publisher of the original "Commonplace Book" and producer of "Voices from Baker Street."
According to a fellow BSI member, Bill "was the very quintessential model of the modern Sherlockian gentleman: peripatetic, whimsical, inventive and creative--truly one-of-a-kind and a larger-than-life throwback to the '30s and the '40s when the BSI membership was less conventional and perhaps more individualistic." In 1990 he received the Two-Shilling Award from the BSI in recognition of his many accomplishments and contributions.
Bill Rabe was honored by the BSI in January 1992 for his years of service in organizing the Martha Hudson Breakfast (a part of the BSI annual weekend in New York City) and died a few months later, on April 4, 1992 in Texas after a short illness.
Peter Blau noted that "Bill's genius was perhaps best expressed by his talent in making madness respectable, and he did that in many fields: as chief telephone-book critic for the Detroit newspapers, as Detroit Hatchetman of the Friends of Lizzie Borden, as chief executive officer of Hush Records (providing the records with which Silent Record Week was celebrated each year), as public-relations officer for the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island (the Miami Beach of the North), and in so many ways in the world of Sherlock Holmes."
FISCAL CLIFF
As one might expect, this phrase received the most nominations this year. If Congress acts to keep the country from tumbling over the cliff, LSSU believes this banishment should get some of the credit.
"You can't turn on the news without hearing this. I'm equally worried about the River of Debt and Mountain of Despair." -- Christopher Loiselle, Midland, Mich.
"Continually referred to as 'the so-called fiscal cliff,' followed by a definition. How many times do we need to hear 'fiscal cliff,' let alone its definition? Please let this phrase fall off of a real cliff!" -- Randal Baker, Seabeck, Wash.
KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD
"Usually used in politics, this typically means that someone or some group is neglecting its responsibilities. This was seized upon during the current administration and is used as a cliché by all parties...Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, Tories, Whigs, Socialists, Communists, Fashionistas?" -- Mike Cloran, Cincinnati, Ohio.
"I would definitely like to kick some cans of the human variety every time I hear politicians use this phrase to describe a circumstance that hasn't gone their way." -- Christine Tomassini, Livonia, Mich.
"Much the same as 'put on the back burner,' these two phrases still have heat and are still in the road. Kick this latest phrase down the road." -- Michael F. Raczko, Swanton, Ohio.
DOUBLE DOWN
"This blackjack term is now used as a verb in place of 'repeat' or 'reaffirm' or 'reiterate.' Yet, it adds nothing. It's not even colorful. Hit me!" -- Allan Ryan, Boston, Mass.
"The next time I see or hear the phrase, I am going to double over.? -- Tony Reed, Holland, Mich.
JOB CREATORS/CREATION
"It implies supernatural powers -- such as the ability to change the weather or levitate. Most new jobs pay less than the lost jobs to ensure stratospheric CEO compensation and nice returns on investments. I respectfully propose a replacement term that is more accurate -- job depleters." -- Mark Dobias, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
"One of the most overplayed buzz terms of the 2012 presidential campaign. Apparently 'lowering unemployment' doesn't have the same impact." -- Dennis Ittner, Torrance, Calif. "To belong to this tax-proof club, you don't have to create a single job. All you need to do is be rich. In fact, many people who call themselves 'job creators' make their money by laying off people." -- S. Lieberman, Seattle, Wash.
"Uttered by every politician who wants to give big tax breaks to rich people and rich businesses?" -- Jack Kolars, North Mankato, Minn.
"If these guys are capitalists, as claimed, they are focused on reducing expenses and maximizing profit. Jobs are a large part of expenses. So, if anything at all, they minimize employment to maximize profits. Up is down, black is white. Job creators are really employment minimizers." -- Bob Fandrich, Fredericksburg, Va.
PASSION/PASSIONATE
"Diabetes is not just Big Pharma's business, it's their passion! This or that actor is passionate! about some issue somewhere. A DC lobbyist is passionate! about passing (or blocking) some proposed law. My passion! is simple: Banish this phony-baloney word." -- George Alexander, Studio City, Calif.
"As in 'that's my passion.' Please, let's hope you mean 'enthusiasm.' 'Passion' connotes 'unbridled,' unmediated by reason and sound judgment. Passion is the stuff of Ahab, Hitler, and chauvinists of every stripe, and terrorists." -- Michael T. Smith, Salem, Ore.
"My passion is (insert favorite snack food here). I'm passionate about how much I hate the words 'passion' and 'passionate.' Don't wait for next year's list! -- David Greaney, Bedford, NH.
YOLO "Stands for 'You Only Live Once' and used by wannabe Twitter philosophers who think they've uncovered a deep secret of life. Also used as an excuse to do really stupid things, such as streaking at a baseball game with YOLO printed on one's chest. I only live once, so I'd prefer to be able to do it without ever seeing YOLO again." -- Brendan Cotter, Grosse Pte. Park, Mich.
"Used by teens everywhere to describe an action that is risky or unconventional, yet acceptable because 'you only live once.' Who lives more than once?" -- P.P., Los Angeles, Calif.
"Just gives people, especially teens, a reason to do stupid things. I find it annoying and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone here." - Daniel, Hickory, NC.
"Only a real yoyo would use the term 'yolo.'" -- Sandra McGlew, White Lake, Mich.
BUCKET LIST
"The expression makes me cringe every time I hear it -- and we've been hearing it for several years. I'm surprised it isn't already in your master list. Let's emphasize life and what we do during it. It's such a grim way of looking at 'what I want to do,' and often it is in selfish terms." -- Shea Hoffmitz, Hamilton, Ont.
"Getting this phrase on the Banished Word List is on my bucket list!" - Frederick Fish, Georgia.
TRENDING
"A trend is something temporary, thank goodness; however, it is not a verb, and I'm tired of news stations telling me what trite 'news' is 'trending.'" -- Kyle Melton, White Lake, Mich.
BONELESS WINGS
"Can we just call them chicken (pieces)?" -- John McNamara, Lansing, Mich.
LSSU accepts nominations for the List of Banished Words throughout the year. To submit your nomination for the 2014 list, go to www.lssu.edu/banished. Check out the compiled list to make sure your nomination hasn't already been banished! -LSSU- CONTACT: Tom Pink, 906-635-2315, tpink@lssu.edu; John Shibley, 906-635-2314, jshibley@lssu.edu.
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tom Says:
On January 21, 2013
at 01:34 PM
well done Dave. I think we can have a local list which could include giving instruction on landmarks which no-longer exist. For example "go to where Sears use-to-be and turn right to get on McKinley. Also, only the Chamber of Commerce should be allowed to use "Excited" when describing a local event which they had nothing to do with. "Very Excited" should be limited to the Mayor.
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deanandsandy Says:
On August 08, 2014
at 02:46 PM
I was Bill's Assistant at LSSC College Relations Department for three years before my husband's job requirements moved us to Chicago. I loved the Snowman burning, Banished Words, Stoneskipping at Mackinaw, and all the amazingly creative ideas Bill passed on. I remember we recruited Soupy Sales for a Pie Throwing Seminar with the Wrestling Team. We also had Noel Neal (sp?) - she played Lois Lane in many Superman episodes. What a busy, fun, interesting job I had. I missed it, him and all the fine LSSC educators and students. Bill sparked my returned interest in poetry and I still write many along with short stories and scripts. He could type faster with two fingers on an old manual typewriter than I could on the "new" IBM selectric. He influenced many. He is missed.
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