I wish words carried a monetary value.
I would invest in all the right words at the right time.
Remember how everybody started using the word “wildin’” as a verb?
Sample sentence: “At watching his friends eat the banana whole, peel included, Jason Banana blurted, ‘yo, you wildin’!”
Well, I knew about “wildin’” a full year before it became mainstream. The first time I heard that word, I knew it was going places—it’s a hell of a word. For that reason, we at Bloodclot Films were using “wildin’” as early as last February. Figure it out, bozo.
One word that I love but never think to actually use is “crapshoot.”
I love that word.
“Crapshoot.”
Google the historical usage of the word “crapshoot.” It’s truly remarkable.
Before the year 1950, nobody had ever used the word.
Then, in 1950 (bless that year!), one individual decided to mix the words “crap” and “shoot,” just for the hell of it. He really wanted to see what would happen.
At its first usage, everybody was like, “hahaha- what?”
In 1951 and 1952, that sacred pioneer continued using the word, persisting despite the word’s initial rejection. He knew that he was onto something great, even if the rest of the English-speaking world had not quite caught up.
Between 1953 and 1958, the inventor of “crapshoot” was able to reel in one additional user of the word. The two labored for 5 years, being the only 2 people to use the word “crapshoot.” Nobody around them was able to comprehend the importance of the incoming trend.
Suddenly, its usage multiplied—RAPIDLY.
Then, it multiplied again.
And again.
And again.
People started dropping a massive “crapshoot” here and a tremendous “crapshoot” there.
Every 10 years, the usage of “crapshoot” multiplied a few more thousand times.
Fast-forward 50 years to the present.
Its ever-increasing rate of usage remains completely unfazed and unceasing (I’m not joking—look at the word’s statistical usage).
At this rate, in another 50 years, “crapshoot” will be the ONLY word used in the English language.
All words and phrases will be replaced by different tonal inflections of the word “crapshoot.”
Take the below interaction as an example:
“Hi, honey. How was your day? Is something wrong?”
“Hi, sweetie. Yes, they made some changes to the department; (between tears) they’re gonna have to let me go.”
“Oh my god! (sobbing) Why is this happening to us?! We just put out the down-payment on this new house! I quit my job last month after your promotion! What are we gonna do?!”
“I’m so sorry, sweetie. I just—I just want to make you happy. (between sobs) I’m a failure.”
In 50 years, if the usage of “crapshoot” were to continue at its current rate, projections tell us that this same interaction would look a little something like this:
“Crapshoot, crapshoot. Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot? Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot?”
“Crapshoot, crapshoot. Crapshoot, crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot; (between tears) crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot.”
“Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot! (sobbing) Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot?! Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot! Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot! Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot?!”
“Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot, crapshoot. Crapshoot crapshoot—crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot. (between sobs) Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot.”
Pretty fascinating stuff, huh? The meaning of the sentences will remain the same (though understood only by the speaker’s tone), but the words themselves will be replaced entirely by the word “crapshoot.”
We’re looking forward to the future.
Until next time,
Michael J. Erickson, CEO & Co-Founder @ Crapshoot Films
