Sunday 18 August 2013

f is for floccinaucatinihilipilification

Now that's a mouthful, for sure.

Yeah...  f is for floccinaucatinihilipilification.  That has just about gotta be the longest word in the dictionary.  At least, it will be just about the longest word in the dictionary if we all start usin' it and the good folks over at Oxford and Websters give it the credit it's due and you know...  put it in the dictionary.

Floccinaucatinihilipilification is a noun derived from that other noun of which you may or may not of heard...  floccinaucinihilipilification.  Yeah, that's the one.  Floccinaucinihilipilification - all twenty-nine letters of it - means the habitual act of estimating things as bein' worthless.  Some might say that the word floccinaucinihilipilification is itself a little worthless but I say that any word usin' up twenty-nine letters has to be worth something!  I mean, the ink alone...  But can you imagine bein' a kid in a spelling bee?  MOUSES!

My newly invented word, floccinaucatinihilipilification, has a similar meaning to that of floccinaucinihilipilification but it's a little more specific in nature.  A little more specific to certain species.  Floccinaucatinihilipilification is the act of peeps habitually believing that the opinions of cats are worthless.  If you're a cat of intellect, I know you know what I mean.

Have you not noticed how some peeps out there think they know better than us cats just because they're peeps and we're cats?  They think that peeps are better than cats.  That peeps know more than cats.  That peeps are smarter than cats.  They think that as a peep, they can utter the most ridiculous, nonsensical opinions and that those opinions will automatically be better than ours simply because they're peeps...  and we're cats.  MOUSES!

Unfortunately, this does seem to be a common occurrence in the blogosphere.  I've encountered it, numerous times. 

Once, I left a comment on this peep's blog because she was practically begging for comments to be left.  I kind of felt a little sorry for her.  Serves me right for feelin' a little compassion for my fellow earthling 'cause in the next post she posted, she complained that only one person had left a comment and that that person wasn't a person but rather, a cat!  Yeah, she complained 'cause I left a comment in the very same post in which she complained that no one would leave comments.  That doesn't even make sense.  As a cat, I understand that.  MOUSES!

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog so she'll never read this.  I doubt my mentioning her act of floccinaucatinihilipilification will be hurtin' anyone's feelings.  On the other paw, I have to say that my feelings were pretty hurt when I read her second post.  You know...  the one in which she insinuated that because I was a cat, my comment didn't count. 

I didn't comment on any other blogs for a week after that incident.  I thought, why bother?  I'm only a cat.  No one wants to read my comments, anyway.  MOUSES!

Floccinaucatinihilipilification occurs outside of the blogosphere, too.  I suppose it occurs everywhere where there are cats and peeps in close proximity to one another. 

I happen to know for a fact that a number of my peeps' friends never read my blog.  Why, you ask?  You needn't for there's no question as to why.  These friends admit it freely.  It's because I'm a cat.  They come right out and say it, never concerning themselves that they might be hurtin' my peeps' feelings or mine.  These friends of the peeps don't read Nerissa's Life for one reason and one reason only.  They don't read my blog because it's written by a cat.  That makes them floccinaucatinihilipilificators, for sure.  MOUSES!

And I doubt that floccinaucatinihilipilification has been limited to the twenty-first century, either.  Floccinaucatinihilipilificators have probably been around for millennia .  History is probably filled with floccinaucatinihilipilificators of all sorts.  Terrible, really.  Terrible how floccinaucatinihilipilification has been, and is still, so rampant.

To sort of quote the great literary giant, Shakespeare... 

     Hath a cat not eyes?  Hath a cat not paws, senses, affections, passions? ...  Are we not warmed
     and cooled by the same winter and summer?  ...  If you prick us, do we not bleed?  If you tickle
     us, do we not laugh?  If you poison us, do we not die?  And if you wrong us, shall we not
     revenge? 

Okay, I'm not really into the exactin' of the revenge part but the rest of it holds true. 

Just because I'm a cat doesn't mean I don't see stuff.  Just because I'm a cat doesn't mean I don't know stuff.  Just because I'm a cat doesn't mean I can't figure stuff out. 

And just because I'm a cat doesn't mean I don't have feelings.  Just because I'm a cat doesn't mean you won't hurt those feelings if you treat me badly by assuming that my opinions are worthless.  Just because I'm a cat doesn't give you the right to make those kinds of assumptions in the first place.

My opinions are not worthless.  On the contrary, they're worth a lot.  I tackle all sorts of topics on my blog.  Topics from which mere humans shy away.  I've even done battle with Mr. Anonymous Spam.  Done battle and won, I might add.  Haven't seen the sucker in weeks.  I'm pretty sure he's still out there, lickin' his wounds. 

And it was I, Nerissa the Cat, who explained the laws of gravelly to the peeps at the Department of Transportation.  One post of mine and the very next day they were out there fixin' the problem.  Granted, the problem has since resurfaced however, I cannot be held accountable for the fact that the peeps at the Department of Transportation are not capable of understanding the laws of gravelly.  Not my fault.  It just isn't.

As a cat, I don't assume that the opinions of peeps are worthless.  I listen to their opinions, think them through and then judge their worth.  I should think that decent and responsible peeps would show the same consideration for us cats.  Many of them do.  Actually, probably most of them do.  Unfortunately, in every crowd, there's always at least one floccinaucatinihilipilificator.  MOUSES!

33 comments:

  1. MOUSES that's a mouth-full. We can't pronounce the f word but agree 100%.

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  2. We want this word included in all future editions of a the worlds great dictionaries so we can end this horrid behavior. Cover it with litter as it should be.
    Further, with the accent on fur, antidisestablishmentaricatianism which is keeping ceiling cat as a part of all cat government also needs inclusion.
    Timmy

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  3. Oh yes! Cats do feel things, have emotions and figure things out! It's been scientifically proven that cats have problem solving skills similar to humans and far outstripping the simplistic tasks a dog can be trained to do. Cats only appear not to learn tricks because, not to put too fine a point on it, they can't be arsed! LOL!

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  4. I think that is one darn useful word, even if I can't pronounce it either MOL!!!!

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  5. Love your new word - now if I could only remember how to spell it. Great post. You really hit upon a good point. M sometimes visits her human blog friends from my blog, and so far no one has ever said anything. Hope they aren't thinking those things tho.

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  6. Now that is quite a word. We want to hear you actually say it. But what a fun post. Well done. We just can't keep these peeps happy all the time but we sure do try. Hope all of you have a great Sunday.

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  7. Wow, Nissy, you sure have your whiskers in a twist today. Mom has us do almost all the commenting, and with eight of us, that's a lot of hot cat air. We even do some of the posting. Whoever that blogger was, she's not worth a single fur's worth of you! Cats are super smart, and we should be listened to at all times. We can't believe she had the nerve to be critical of getting a comment from a great blogosphere celebrity like yourself. We must agree with you, and say may a plaque of MOUSES be set upon her. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Guilietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  8. We cats sure do have something to say, if only our people will listen... Now I have to practice on that word... we don't know if we have a Dutch translation on this *copy and paste* floccinaucatinihilipilificator-thing. Pawkisses :)

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  9. Good Cod. You nailed it Nerissa! We have absolutely no idea on how to pronounce that word though. ;)

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  10. Don't let silly peeps upset you Nissy,my mummy loves your comments as do I and we both read your blog and miss your comments,so who needs silly ungrateful peeps,xx Speedy

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  11. You said it! I love it! Shoot, I think cats have better opinions than most people I know!! MOL

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  12. That is a ridiculous word - we think people wasted letters on that mouthful! Have a great day. Lee and Phod

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  13. HEY!!!!! Nissy!!! :))) I had that as my word of the day not so long ago!! You and me should really right our own Dick Shun Harry!! Oh yes we should!! Peeps know nothing!!… well most of them. I suppose knowing nothing is knowing something! Know what I mean?? ;) xox

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  14. If people don't recognise that cats are THE superior species,it simply proves how dumb they are.
    The REAL Maple Syrup Mob xxxxx

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  15. That is SO frustrating, Nerissa! I think this is something we need to fight against... BTW, lots of my human's friends don't read my blog. In fact, if my human had her own blog, lots of her friends wouldn't read THAT either. So I don't feel slighted in this instance.

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  16. We agree TOTALLY - except for one thing. That whole revenge thing? SOMEkitties *looks meaningfully at Allie* are totally into that.

    Seriouslies. One wrong pounce and she's out for blood. Pfft! Sisters!
    -Faraday

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  17. Uh, Nissy...don't ever ask us how to spell that word...or say it for that matter. ;)

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  18. Sooo, how would mes brings up the word floccinaucatinihilipilification in a conversation? A Floccinaucatinihilipilificationer would nots only believes me did not have a opinion but probablys would not believes me was talking either.
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  19. Mommy has a shorter, quite efficient word. One she uses a LOT. It stars with an "F", too, rhymes with "pluckers". We think your word is way classier, though, and intend on using it at least once a day. Which is about how long it takes to pronounce it!

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  20. Think of teh SCRABBLE score!!!
    ~Vicat

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  21. I have to agree with Allie ^-^ right above me. Revenge? You betcha. I'm all about the revenge.

    Most of the Human's friends don't read my blog either. Their loss, I figure. It's really laughable that they think they're all so "superior" and stuff. We kittie bloggers are the smartest writers I know. Specially you, Nissy. The very smartest.

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    Replies
    1. ....and did you notice how I used a quote (sort of) from the very same play as the one in which ol' peepers found my name? I KNOW YOU did, King Spitimus. purrs

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  22. We cats are higher up Maslow's hierarchy of needs than most people. Since most of us are at the self actualization stage we don't really care what people think of our opinions. We know we are right and they are just plain wrong!

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  23. We love to learn new words in English with you ! Now we're trying hard to pronounce it correctly...

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  24. How could they think that your opinion doesn't matter? And your blog is one of the best out there so I pfft at those humans!

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  25. I know how you feel Nissy although I also know that I can't even begin to pronounce that word of yours! HAHAHAHA We love your visits and comments and love that people like to visit and comment on our blog too although not everyone does that. Humans are an interesting lot....one thing you have to say about them though is they DO come in handy for some stuff!

    Happy Monday Mr. Deep Thinker!!
    Kitty Hugs, Sammy

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  26. I should just mention to all that... uh... well... I'm havin' a hard time with the pronouncin' of my new word, too. I'm blamin' it the loss of my fangs but to be honest, I think it's a really tough one to say.

    Purrs,
    Nissy

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  27. Nerissa, you're in detention today in our class ;-)

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  28. Oh Nerissa.YOU are very smart and handsome and loving and nice and funny and worth your weight in GOLD!!!!! Don't let anyone be mean to you just because your a CAT!!!! Cats are very special! Love RM:-)

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  29. Momma tried to pronounce that f word and ended up laughing at herself. Humans! You know what, you're a genius.

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  30. Wanna come see my blog? It is very special!!!

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  31. I think someone would be lucky to have you leave a comment for them. And if they are offended that you are a cat, then maybe they should reflect that you are a highly literate cat and write better than most humans these days.

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I love hearin' from my pals. I really, REALLY do. PURRS.