For a website that began as the "anti-dictionary, a parody
of Dictionary.com" and has now generated two books (this one included), Urbandictionary.com
has become more than just a caricature of society and culture. Today, it is
society and culture — or, more specifically, a guide to it. Take that how you
will, but the website is an important tool in the 21st century: It was cited in
a
court case between two rappers and also "referenced in trademark disputes."
With that said, is the second book, "Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous
Street Slang," from the eponymous website worth your time? Of course it is.
This book can help the, let us say, "societally uninformed" understand modern
vernacular. That, or it can just be used for a good laugh now and then.
But this is perhaps the best aspect of the book. There are
two legitimate opinions toward this book — either that the book is a commentary
on modern slang or simply a handbook for it. In either case, the book is full
of useful words, terms and phrases to assist with the (often absurd)
conversations in today's world.
Certainly with a term like "absoserious" (definition:
"Absolutely serious, but shorter. We all like short words when we want to be
cute."), those who would pass the book off as "a ridiculous way to make money
off a ridiculous idea" may have a point. However, the book offers its own
rebuttal right in the text. Yes, it does have a word like "absoserious" with
its own definition, but it's in this definition that the underlying
intelligence and wit truly come to the surface. The second sentence is
simultaneously a belief that today's youth hold a commentary on that belief.
Right alongside slang contractions are terms like
"barfarrhea" ("Diarrhea while vomiting.") and "peegasm" ("The euphoric shiver
felt by the human male during a long-awaited urination."), and there's
political slang, as well. Terms like "Limousine liberal" ("Wealthy person who
adopts the cause of the downtrodden; carries a connotation of hypocrisy.") and
"9/11 Republican" ("A person who usually voted Democratic, but has been taken
in by the Bush administration's fear-mongering.") within pages of street slang
suggest that the book is more than one-dimensional and could be a lower-class
version of The Onion.
Perhaps the most useful aspect of the book is its ability to
be useful for everyone with respect to terminology. Right beside useless
frat-speak like "SBD" ("Silent but deadly," referring to a fart) there are
practical terms like "Snap Music" (rap from the Dirty South that is slower than
crunk). Hence, this book is not just toilet reading or something to whip out
after a few beers — it can actually contribute to society.
I guess the introduction to the book says it best: "Urban
Dictionary is more than a dictionary — it's a catalogue of popular culture you
helped write." And, much like Wikipedia and its "truthiness," the Urban Dictionary
"allows for many truths
" and this book is a collection of said truths. In this day
and age that counts for a lot, especially for all those "digitards" and
"techtards" out there.
4.5 out of 5 stars
