MetaChat - What do you call it?

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30 November 2006

What do you call it? I'm particularly fond of 'tinternet, but "the internets" and inkernet occupy soft warm places in my mind. So, we know it's a series of tubes, but what distortion of the word "internet" do you use and why? →[More:]

'tinternet is a Peter Kay phrase. It's a Yorkshire / Lancashire thing. Like saying you work "down 't Mine" instead of "down the mine".

"Goodnight inkernet" is a phrase used on the Dawn and Drew show. It's cute and I love it.

Teh internets should need no explanation. It's a bit too l33t speak for me, but is understandable enough by enough netizens to make its usage acceptable.

post by: seanyboy at: 04:35 | 26 comments

I stopped capitalizing internet back in 2001. Other than that, it's usually just the net.

posted by mischief 30 November | 04:41

Interchangeably: net and web. I usually call it the internet if I'm talking to people who are mostly clueless about the workings of the web (you know: "it's like tv, but different", and "oh, i haven't scanned for viruses / defragged my h/d / upgraded my software in forever - should i?"). It's easier. :)

posted by Zack_Replica 30 November | 05:08

Is the internet the web now? (Or rather, vice versa). I suppose I just checked my email using a web browser. Gopher's long dead. I haven't used a browser in a while that doesn't support ftp in both directions. Does web 2.0 (I can't believe I typed that) mean that everything internet will be web?

Personally, I like "information superhighway". It's verbose, it doesn't really mean anything, and it's got that "is it ironic, post-ironic, or not really ironic at all?" thing going for it.

posted by GeckoDundee 30 November | 05:55

internet, net, web, internets, teh internet, teh internets but ohhh, never tinternet or t'internet. Far too, well, Peter Kay. Is that where that came from? Further proof that Kay is an overrated comedian, IMHO.

posted by TheDonF 30 November | 06:52

Has "Intarweb" gone the way of the dodo?

It has the addded bonus of being how someone with a heavy redneck accent might say the "Entire Web."

I think it's Cyberspace to me. That tips a hat to William Gibson and also describes the feeling of (to say the least) unreality (virtual reality?) that I get from spending too much time staring at the computer. I've come to the conclusion I'd be happier working on an organic farm or at a dog kennel.

posted by shane 30 November | 07:23

'The Hinternet'.

Cos it's wild and woolly, like the hinterland.

posted by plep 30 November | 07:27

I sometimes use the classic 'interweb' (not 'intarweb'), or give it the full 'World Wide Web' which sounds lovely and archaic now (but then I always say 'Shall we rent a Digital Versatile Disc tonight?' instead of DVD, so maybe I'm just a verbose and longwinded prat).

Is that where that came from? Further proof that Kay is an overrated comedian, IMHO.

Like half his act, it's just something his family said or he heard down the pub, that he delivers fairly well because he has a big and jolly face - I definitely know people from Yorkshire who said 't'internet' before Kay had it in his act, though.

'The Hinternet'

That's how people from the West Indies pronounce it, too.

posted by jack_mo 30 November | 07:36

intarwooble. interwobbly. woobly, wobbly, wubble. interwarb. net. crack. input. data. sleep avoidance. basic needs. matmos. soma. oh god yes please more.

posted by loquacious 30 November | 07:47

Teh IntarWeb

posted by Doohickie 30 November | 07:49

Like half his act, it's just something his family said or he heard down the pub

He does a lot of jokes that I heard in the playground at school as well. I guess that's part of why he appeals - people are probably laughing as much in remembering that really old gag as much as they are the gag itself.

posted by TheDonF 30 November | 08:30

InterNot

posted by JanetLand 30 November | 09:46

Still wishing for the Metaverse here...I do like cyberspace for reasons already noted, but it frustrates me that I can't jack in!

I draw a sharp distinction between the Internet (still init-cap'd) and its largest visible feature, the World Wide Web, which I simply refer to as the Web (also init-cap'd).

We're getting on toward the point where the novelty's wearing off and maybe the caps can go away...any reference librarians on MC?

posted by PaxDigita 30 November | 09:54

'The Hinternet'.

Ooo I like that one.

posted by chewatadistance 30 November | 10:02

Online.

posted by danostuporstar 30 November | 10:31

One of my students used to call it "My Web" Like "I went to my Web this morning and I had a message" and I've always liked that.

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by jessamyn 30 November | 10:50

*honks the horn of his internet truck, drives along*

posted by mullacc 30 November | 10:52

i really like blagoblag. That's what i'm calling it for myself from now on.
Personally, it depends on who i'm talking to, names getting longer with the more explaining necessary:
"--the net, you know, the internet, the thing your computer connects to, no, not the [deleted for becoming rude and condescending]"

posted by ethylene 30 November | 11:01

Just "the internet."

I do like to call the people on it my imaginary friends, though. It confuses people enough that even if I explain what I mean, they're still not sure if I'm making it up.

posted by occhiblu 30 November | 11:24

Hey, get back in the tubes where you belong, mullacc.

posted by GeckoDundee 30 November | 11:35

The internets. And I often quote Homer Simpson and say excitedly: "Marge! Did you know they have internet for computers now?!"

posted by Specklet 30 November | 12:28

"the voices," or "my voices."

posted by paulsc 30 November | 12:46

- the internet
- the internets
- the net
- online

I really like "webweb" from jessamyn's graphic and I'm stealing it and you can't stop me.

posted by deborah 30 November | 13:01

I use "the webs" on occasion. as in "I downloaded it on the webs" or "my webs aren't working today."

posted by mayfly wake 30 November | 14:00

We use "the intertrons" or "the truck full of tubes" around the office.

posted by eamondaly 30 November | 15:11

I use "the intarweb" every so often. : ) I have a fondness for that.

posted by sisterhavana 30 November | 16:25

I like The Intarweb, but, when writing for work, call it "the Internet" or "Web site" and correct the work of my team members when they use anything else. One day, I'll slip and my boss will come out and say "what is this Intarweb thing you have written about in your report"?

posted by dg 30 November | 17:09

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