2010 WOTY nominations open

[Garson O'Toole]

A discussion of the term “lamestream media” was initiated by Jonathan
Lighter on the ADS list in March 2010. Ben Zimmer pointed out that
Barry Popik has a webpage that traces it back to 1999:

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/lamestream_media_lame_stream_media/

Back in March I performed a quick search to find instances of
lamestream or lame-stream used as a derisive alteration of the word
mainstream. There is an instance of “lame-stream artists.” in the
music magazine Spin in 1990.

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1003E&L=ADS-L&P=R3802

In 1994 senator Howard Metzenbaum used the term “lame-stream proposal”
as a mocking reference to a proposal from the “self-styled
‘mainstream’ coalition”.

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1003E&L=ADS-L&P=R3673

A January 2008 message in the ADS archive mentions Australia's
Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year voting. The word lamestream was
a candidate.

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0801B&L=ADS-L&P=R3359


On Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 8:10 PM, Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: 2010 WOTY nominations open
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> At 5:56 PM -0500 12/27/10, Victor Steinbok wrote:
>>A couple more entries that I have not seen yet--again, mostly from the
>>same sources (tea party terminology, oil spill)
>>
>>- lamestream media (not entirely sure if it was a Palinism
>
> No, it considerably predated her entrance on the scene, popularized
> by her friends at FOX News.  I don't know who invented it; I'd guess
> a right-wing blogger, but someone on the list no doubt has better
> info.
> ...
> LH
>

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