Internets (colloquialism)
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Internets had been used as a shorthand expression, to imply that a person or group was clueless about the Internet or about technology in general, but is often used today in reference to U.S. President George W. Bush who referred to the "Internets" in the 2nd Presidential Debate with U.S. Senator John Kerry on October 8, 2004. The exchange is reproduced below:
| AUDIENCE QUESTION: Mr. President, since we continue to police the world, how do you intend to maintain a military presence without re-instituting a draft? BUSH: Yes, great question. Thanks. I hear there's rumors on the uh (pause) Internets that we're going to have a draft. We're not going to have a draft, period. The all-volunteer Army works... |
In a similar verbal slip-up, President Bush referred to “the Google” in an interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo on October 26, 2006.[1]
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[edit] Historical perspective
The singular 'Internet' (capitalized) results from the connection of many smaller networks. In the early years of internetworking an 'internet' (uncapitalized) represented the connection of any two separate networks and could be properly pluralized. This usage has not been common since the 1980's when interconnecting networks was still somewhat novel.
[edit] Usages
The term is often used by news satirist Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report and MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, as well as its many farcical uses in Internet communities.
In a satirical Public Service Announcement promoting the film Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny, Jack Black uses the term in reference to online piracy.
[edit] See also
