Originally coined by Alex Linder of VNN fame, the term USAble disparagingly denotes United States citizenship while simultaneously implying that the individual to whom the term is applied allows themselves to be “used” for nefarious purposes contrary to their immediate interests as an autonomous human being.
While most USAbles are mere dupes, a minority of die-hards who truly believe government agitprop offer themselves up with utmost glee, so that they can be “shaped” and used up, like any other expendable commodity, by government institutions like public schools and the many branches of the military. To the government who commands them, the USAble is tossable, not unlike a used, pre-moistened baby wipe or a sheet of single-ply toilet paper.
Prominent examples of USAbles include (but are not limited to) public school teachers, U.S. military personnel, and adherents to contemporary evangelical Christianity. USAbles often spend inordinate amounts of time containing the cognitively dissonant thoughts that their relationship with the government may foster.
Although the USAble may experience temporary gains from entering into USAble-style relationships with the government, the ultimate endpoint of this type of relationship always results in unidirectional benefits, with the government being the sole beneficiary of said relationships. USAbles in the military frequently meet with combat-related dismemberment or even death while attempting to wheedle pittances like “college money” from the government they chose to serve.
While most USAbles are mere dupes, a minority of die-hards who truly believe government agitprop offer themselves up with utmost glee, so that they can be “shaped” and used up, like any other expendable commodity, by government institutions like public schools and the many branches of the military. To the government who commands them, the USAble is tossable, not unlike a used, pre-moistened baby wipe or a sheet of single-ply toilet paper.
Prominent examples of USAbles include (but are not limited to) public school teachers, U.S. military personnel, and adherents to contemporary evangelical Christianity. USAbles often spend inordinate amounts of time containing the cognitively dissonant thoughts that their relationship with the government may foster.
Although the USAble may experience temporary gains from entering into USAble-style relationships with the government, the ultimate endpoint of this type of relationship always results in unidirectional benefits, with the government being the sole beneficiary of said relationships. USAbles in the military frequently meet with combat-related dismemberment or even death while attempting to wheedle pittances like “college money” from the government they chose to serve.
I hope those mercenary-minded USAbles trudging around in Iraq come back with their writing hands intact; putting that “college money” to good use is going to be kind of hard if their arms have been reduced to twitching nubs by improvised explosive devices!
by Dolphin_X September 22, 2006
A portmanteau pairing of the words “agitation” and “propaganda,” usually used to describe media productions (posters, books, movies, music, etc.) designed to instill pro-system thought patterns into those who consume them.
In turn, these implanted thoughts lead to actions that in some way bolster or directly advance official state policies. Agitprop runs a gauntlet, ranging from the crude propaganda posters of the former Soviet Union to today’s highly-polished MTV fare.
Agitprop can be pathos (emotion) based, logos-heavy, (logic) or even a combination of both. It works both the high and the low ground. Regardless of the form it takes, the ultimate goal of agitprop is the production of pro-state thought and action.
In turn, these implanted thoughts lead to actions that in some way bolster or directly advance official state policies. Agitprop runs a gauntlet, ranging from the crude propaganda posters of the former Soviet Union to today’s highly-polished MTV fare.
Agitprop can be pathos (emotion) based, logos-heavy, (logic) or even a combination of both. It works both the high and the low ground. Regardless of the form it takes, the ultimate goal of agitprop is the production of pro-state thought and action.
After having blasted his eyeballs with countless hours of Fox News television agitprop, Joe Sixpack was ready to head to the nearest Army recruiting office and sign up to fight “islamo-fascists.”
by Dolphin_X September 24, 2006
An exceptionally large lagomorph that died for our sins (or was that wordJesus/word?) and, during the month of April, delivers delectable candy treats to all the good little Gentile boys and girls of the world.
On Easter’s Eve, the Easter Bunny arises from his tomb to spread good tidings and tooth-rotting chocolate Christ statuettes to all.
by Dolphin_X April 18, 2003
by Dolphin_X April 04, 2003
An "elite speak" bastardization of the phrase "no, you." Coined by "Audio_Drivel" of unofficial #arstechnica infamy
by Dolphin_X April 03, 2003
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Airy, easy-reading printed material such as Time and Wired magazine, etc., ostensibly written to inform and educate but in actuality designed to inculcate rapacious consumer desire (buy an H2; you need a new laptop, etc.) and reinforce prevailing socio-governmental and economic beliefs (diversity is our strength, housing is a “smart” investment, etc.).
Close scrutiny reveals that Paper Television’s content is little more than ill-conceived “bait” thrown out in hopes of courting the eyeballs that advertisers want desperately and will pay handsome sums of money to target. Making money is Paper TV’s primary goal. Secondarily it aims to advance liberal, egalitarian, and hypercapitalist worldviews inasmuch as doing so helps foster linear values sets in which money is the chief determinant of individual worth and merit (e.g. Sony doesn’t care what sort of person you are so long as you have the money and the will to purchase their advertised products).
The net effect of exposure to Paper Television upon those still gullible enough to read it is wholly negative, and may include such side effects as the belief that all humans are fungible, coupled with an insatiable desire to purchase goods (usually on credit) that are neither needed nor affordable to the readers of such textual dreck.
Close scrutiny reveals that Paper Television’s content is little more than ill-conceived “bait” thrown out in hopes of courting the eyeballs that advertisers want desperately and will pay handsome sums of money to target. Making money is Paper TV’s primary goal. Secondarily it aims to advance liberal, egalitarian, and hypercapitalist worldviews inasmuch as doing so helps foster linear values sets in which money is the chief determinant of individual worth and merit (e.g. Sony doesn’t care what sort of person you are so long as you have the money and the will to purchase their advertised products).
The net effect of exposure to Paper Television upon those still gullible enough to read it is wholly negative, and may include such side effects as the belief that all humans are fungible, coupled with an insatiable desire to purchase goods (usually on credit) that are neither needed nor affordable to the readers of such textual dreck.
“Wired magazine? That’s just Paper TV for yupscaled dorks! You might as well watch MTV as read that crap…”
by Dolphin_X November 12, 2005