In my series of articles on protocol and how American civilization is an oxymoron, the latest sign that the end is nigh surrounds the universal use of the snarky phrase “shut it” to end (kill) a conversation.
Used in a Simpsonian way, the term is absolutely dismissive, disrespectful, and rude. Not to mention abrupt. In the Unix/Linux world, it is the equivalent of the kill -9 command.
The sad thing is that shut it works because it seems cute and harmless, but if you consider this curt, dismissive, reply it is completely inappropriate in civilized company to say nothing of its casual, flirty use at work.
The end is nigh.
