xoxo offender

[Dennis R. Preston]

And I always thought it was a phonetic attempt at a Santa Claus laugh!

dInIs

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>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at BABEL.LING.UPENN.EDU>
>Subject:      xoxo offender
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>
>>From a NY Times article on the trickiness of e-mail sign-offs...
>
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>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/fashion/26email.html
>'Yours Truly,' the E-Variations
>By LOLA OGUNNAIKE
>Published: November 26, 2006
>[...]
>Surprisingly, the sign-off "xoxo," offering hugs and kisses, has
>become common even for those in decidedly nonamorous relationships.
>Ms. Bondy, who received from 300 to 500 e-mail messages a day while at
>CNN, was no fan of the "xoxo" farewell, especially when it came from a
>stranger pitching a story idea. "They're trying to be warm and
>familiar when they shouldn't be," she said. "It's inappropriate, and
>that's probably the e-mail I'm not going to return."
>Robert Verdi, a fashion stylist and a host of "Surprise by Design," a
>makeover reality show on the Discovery Channel, is a self-described
>"xoxo offender." "Never in the first or second communication," he
>clarified. But after a few friendly phone conversations or e-mail
>exchanges, he feels comfortable with the affectionate and casual
>sign-off, though he generally waits for the other party to make the
>first move. "The other person gives you the cues," he said. "They send
>a 'You're the best! Love, Alison,' and you send a 'Hugs and kisses'
>and all of a sudden you're over that awkward hump and you're best
>friends."
>[...]
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>
>
>--Ben Zimmer
>
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>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
15C Morrill Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-4736
preston at msu.edu

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org