To You Sir, I Say No-Ster.

Here's a rhetorical question for everyone to ponder briefly before I blurt out the answer in their face-

Can we stop adding "-ster" to the ends of words?

It's really a symptom of a much much much larger problem we face regarding the squashing of originality and risk-taking amidst marketable, commercial interests.

Why do all peer-to-peer related networks need a "ster" at the end(Napster, Friendster, Drunkster, etc)? Why do personal computer devices need an "i" in front of them(iPod, iTunes, iChat)? And what about "licious(bootylicious, bubblicious, wizardlicious)?"

OK- I'll be honest (and nerdy for a moment), the last example is actually what is referred to as a portmanteau*, meaning a blend of two words a la animatronics(animation + robotics), cyborg(cybernetic + organism), or commandeer(commando + deer).

So back to my original secondary point, why can't we use opportunities like this to create brand new things that warrant brand new names? iPod is a indeed good usage. But why couldn't Friendster have become Amigomachina? How much cooler does a Grecian-Spanish mix of FRIEND MACHINE sound than blazé Friendster?

I know that I am fighting a losing battle, partly with myself, because our culture- both material and incorporeal- is rapidly approaching a massive, haphazard intersection of technology. Our TVs connect to the internet, our iPods play movies, and we talk on the phone while driving.

The way into the future is this dangerous crossroads that will undoubtedly leave many concepts and goods in ruins, while slamming newer technology on a pedestal.




I, for one-ster, welcome our shinier, glossier, flat-screen, overlords.





*Special Thanks to Andy Goldblatt for leading me to the research regarding portmanteaus and helping me learn something new today! Yay!

** Also, portmanteaus are the term for the trend of "name mash-ups" in Hollywood. Here is the one of the funniest uses of those stupid name mash-ups, From the Colbert Report