[Ads-l] fluffle

[Ben Zimmer]

Given how "fluffle" has spread in the manner of urban folklore, it's
appropriate you're talking to a "friend of a friend" (FOAF).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_of_a_friend

On Tue, Jan 16, 2024 at 6:18 PM Grant Barrett <gbarrett at worldnewyork.org>
wrote:

> Tomorrow on the radio show we're going to talk with a friend of a friend of
> one of the people who supposedly added "fluffle" to Wikipedia. They're
> wondering if their friend was indeed part of the group that started the
> word or if there is prior art. Should be interesting to hear more.
>
> GB
>
> On Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 12:24 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Germane? Or meaningless coincidence?
> >
> > 1990 Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Dec. 12) A-2: Looking for the CHRISTMAS
> BUNNY?
> > Yes! A Bunny called Fluffles IS the Christmas Bunny. He's dressed in
> > holiday finery [etc.]
> >
> > [Ad for a plush rabbit doll.]
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 8:58 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > 295,000 raw Googlits.
> > >
> > > JL
> > >
> > > On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 6:25 PM Chris Waigl <chris at lascribe.net>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> What a rabbit hole :) ! Moonies and "northern Canada", huh?
> > >>
> > >> Well, there are no wild rabbits in northern Canada, so if there's
> > anything
> > >> to this I'd be tempted to look into how local groups talk about
> snowshoe
> > >> hares and Arctic hares.
> > >>
> > >> Now, of course, this factoid has entered the mainstream and morphed
> > into a
> > >> self-fulfilling prophecy.
> > >>
> > >> Chris
> > >>
> > >> On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 12:32 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > I was recently forwarded this language factoid:
> > >> >
> > >> > "A group of wild rabbits is called a 'fluffle' and I've never loved
> > the
> > >> > English language more."
> > >> > https://twitter.com/mastersrex/status/1315295446584168448
> > >> >
> > >> > I'm always curious how these things spread, and this one sent me
> down
> > a
> > >> > rabbit-hole, appropriately enough. Here's a timeline:
> > >> >
> > >> > July 30, 2007: Wikipedia user Freeridr adds an unsourced claim to
> the
> > >> entry
> > >> > for "rabbit": "A group of rabbits or hares are often called a
> > 'fluffle'
> > >> in
> > >> > parts of Northern Canada."
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabbit&diff=prev&oldid=148126554
> > >> >
> > >> > Apr. 29, 2008: The text of the Wikipedia "rabbit" entry (including
> the
> > >> > "fluffle" line) is copied over to New World Encylopedia, a site run
> by
> > >> Sun
> > >> > Myung Moon's Unification Church.
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Rabbit&oldid=699288
> > >> >
> > >> > Feb. 17, 2010: The "fluffle" line is deleted from Wikipedia by an
> > editor
> > >> > ("Removed supposed naming of a group of rabbits as a 'fluffle', as I
> > >> can't
> > >> > verify it").
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rabbit&diff=prev&oldid=344646745
> > >> >
> > >> > Sept. 29, 2013: Reddit user AaronM97 asks, "What's a fact you know
> > that
> > >> > will cheer me up?" Among the thousands of replies, user AmyEarhart
> > >> submits
> > >> > "a group of bunnies is called a fluffle."
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://web.archive.org/web/20130930183135/https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1nexqv/whats_a_fact_you_know_that_will_cheer_me_up/
> > >> > https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1nexqv/comment/cci0rsz/
> > >> >
> > >> > Oct. 5, 2013: Thought Catalog publishes "30 Random, Interesting
> Facts
> > >> That
> > >> > Will Cheer You Up" based on the Reddit thread, including
> AmyEarhart's
> > >> > "fluffle" submission.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://web.archive.org/web/20131020055608/https://thoughtcatalog.com/timmy-parker/2013/10/30-facts-that-will-cheer-you-up/
> > >> >
> > >> > Mar. 19, 2014: Buzzfeed publishes "64 Facts That Will Make You Feel
> > >> > Incredibly Happy," which includes "a group of bunnies is called a
> > >> fluffle."
> > >> > The listicle links to the New World Encylopedia entry for "rabbit,"
> > >> which
> > >> > retained the "fluffle" line despite its removal from Wikipedia.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://web.archive.org/web/20140319201849/https://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/facts-that-will-make-you-feel-incredibly-happy
> > >> >
> > >> > And from there it multiplied like rabbits all over the place!
> > >> >
> > >> > --bgz
> > >> >
> > >> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Chris Waigl . chris.waigl at gmail.com . chris at lascribe.net
> > >> http://eggcorns.lascribe.net . http://chryss.eu
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> > truth."
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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