MetaChat - Term coinage

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

28 December 2005

Term coinage I propose the following challenge to the Mecha masses...→[More:]
Coin the term that refers to the phenomenon whereby, after one learns a word for the first time, that word then seems to pop up everywhere one looks. (Optional: make the term generic enough to also cover the phenomenon whereby, after purchasing a red convertible, all one sees are red convertibles.) [That is, unless this term already exists. In that case, what is it?]

I'll try to play too but I'm usually not very good at these things.

Go!

post by: mike9322 at: 14:46 | 29 comments

Serendippity-do, I think it's called.

posted by iconomy 28 December | 14:49

Ubiquinovous?

posted by mike9322 28 December | 14:50

Instameme.

-or, alternately-

DammitIStartedThat!!

posted by shane 28 December | 14:54

I think there's an actual term for this phenomenon, but I've always loved making my own sniglets, and the one I've always used for this is common-know-ality.

posted by WolfDaddy 28 December | 14:57

Once written, twice spied?

posted by carter 28 December | 14:59

repidiction?

posted by dodgygeezer 28 December | 15:00

I think there's an actual term for this phenomenon

Isn't it "confirmation bias" or "selection bias" or something along those lines?

posted by PinkStainlessTail 28 December | 15:00

lexicotosis? lexidemic?

posted by jonmc 28 December | 15:01

Redaction.

posted by danostuporstar 28 December | 15:02

PST wins.

posted by WolfDaddy 28 December | 15:02

Panlinguastatia?

posted by mudpuppie 28 December | 15:03

jon! lexidemic is sublime! I was liking my own ubiquinovous but you've got me beat. Though mine does meet the generic option

posted by mike9322 28 December | 15:03

Well done, PST. Making shit up is still fun, though. Keep 'em coming!

posted by mike9322 28 December | 15:05

Hey - that cat just walked past me twice...

There is a word for this, it's a well known phenomona, but I can't find it.
I'd be tempted to term it Synchronosity, given that Jung probably mistook this with what he and the mystics commonly phrase as synchronicity. And given that the chronology part of it is important,

posted by seanyboy 28 December | 15:14

Do you mean deja vu?

posted by halonine 28 December | 15:20

As much as I like to make my own stuff up, nothing on this list beats Mudpuppies' Parlinguastatia.

I just like saying that word.

"Excuse me, Countess, but have you made the acquaintance of my daughter, Parlinguastatia?"

"Charmed, my dear..."

posted by Lipstick Thespian 28 December | 15:31

Plate of shrimp (yes, the first 2 links are to my answer).

posted by matildaben 28 December | 15:33

matilda: wonderful! I'm behind the curve, evidently.

But I'm leaving work now, so neener neener.

posted by mike9322 28 December | 15:38

Heh, I was thinking that somebody had said that in an AskMe, and I had no idea it was you!

Just so we're all clear, I had the best answer. ;-) I also found a similar discussion on Wikipedia, also unresolved. This is bugging me, though, because I'm certain there's a word for this, more specific than Jung's synchronicity. I still like my answer of apophenia, though, because I'm certain this is much more a question of our attention than actual incidence.

See also the digital clock coincidence.

By the way, it may be significant that an AskMe thread always comes up near the top for my searches on this topic, even using different keywords.

posted by stilicho 28 December | 15:54

YSI: Repo Man.

posted by stilicho 28 December | 15:55

Just so we're all clear, I had the best answer. ;-)

Indeed: I'm pretty darn sure that your comment there is where I first heard the term I suggested above.

posted by PinkStainlessTail 28 December | 16:11

Just so we're all clear, I had the best answer. ;-)

Yes. But I'm sublime.

*walks off singing "What I Got."*

posted by jonmc 28 December | 16:13

Ubiquineologs.

posted by porpoise 28 December | 16:35

The Atlantic's "Word Fugitives" column asked for a word for a situation in which you refuse to accept that the occurrence of two events is merely coincidental but there is no evidence to link them together, and nominees included
fauxincidence,
coincivince,
coincidon't,
duperstition, and
wishful linking.

posted by stilicho 28 December | 16:51

Nominees from a CBC "Wanted Words" segment in 2001:

deja-new, *
newbiquitous, *
ubiqweirdness, *
deja-nauseum, *
deja-new,
deja-knew,
vu-deja,
divine reiteration,
coincagain,
coincicrunch,
coincidensity,
newbiquitous,
frecurrence,
post-cognition,
ubiqweirdness,
repiphany,
trans-ubiquitivity,
ápres vu, §
deja-nauseum,
selectavision,
deja-vision
* winners
§ not new

Also, another discussion board came up with "plate o shrimp". Props, matildaben!

posted by stilicho 28 December | 16:57

I make no claims to originality, and stilicho/dhartung is much more scholarly than I am.

posted by matildaben 28 December | 16:59

That's my problem. I've always gone for best answer, while people like jonmc walk off with sublime!

posted by stilicho 28 December | 18:07

YSI: Repo Man.

I needed that!

posted by trondant 28 December | 18:58

Kudos all around for some amazing answers. You are all extremely intelligent, witty, and good-looking. However, I still have to give the Thread Victory to jonmc for his lexidemic. It is beautiful in its simplicity and it's roll-off-the-tonguedness.

Congrats, jon, you win the undying respect of your peers.

posted by mike9322 28 December | 19:24

← What notes do you have on your desk? || Radio Dodgy →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN