As we opened up this month's Wired magazine and flipped through the various pages, something interesting suddenly popped up and caught our eye. It wasn't some new gadget, but instead an ad for Dell's gaming PC lineup. Hijacking the 1337 speak of gamers everywhere, Dell has adopted "FTW" (For the win) to push their PC gaming rigs.Now, some of us at the office think this is the coolest thing since sliced wheat bread, but there's also a group of us who feel whenever we see corporate America take something near and dear to our nerdy hearts, it's a signal that that phrase or terminology is now dead in the water. How do you feel about it? Once phrases like "FTW" or "O Rly?" pop up everywhere, does it suddenly mean it's not cool to say anymore?
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(Page 1) Reader Comments
-"superfan" tactics.
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saying ftw is now ftl
freaking companies using gamer talk to promote their stuff
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I'd hit it!
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Those people deserved to be strapped to the wheel of a 747. Or by "us" do you actually mean you Mr. Summa? Hmmm.
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It's sort of like the term as officially "sold out". It's only fun to use when it's an insider thing. These terms unify the gaming culture.
Dell is "the man". We don't like "the man". And "the man" using our terms is like an 80 year old white guy dressing up like a rapper while shouting "Buy my bling bling, homie!"
It just comes off as ackward, embarrasing, and alienating.
My advice to Dell is to not try to relate with us "on our level". Our level is guys that spend WAY too much money on devices that help us waist our time. Instead, they should portray themselves as exactly what they are without hiding it.
They are workaholic stuff shirts who do what we don't want to do....design better and faster hardware.
So tell you what, Dell.
You don't try to be our "buddies". Be our professional consultants and designers.
Don't try to do our job...and we won't try to do yours.
Deal?
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Dude, we totally hijacked your wallet on that overpriced PC! Consumer ignorance ftw!
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ORZ maybe not :(
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when I was a kid, it meant something totally different. I think leetspeak already co-opted this phrase (and neutered it, btw), so there's nothing to complain about here...
but with the old meaning, it's even funnier seeing it in a corporate ad.
I want to see an ad that says dell.com/foad
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Now you know how the hip-hop community feels when a moniker gets picked up by corporate america.
It happens get over it. It is marketing 101. You have to appeal to your base and that is the bottomline.
Boo hoo they are stealing our lingo. Hip hop artist lingo is constantly being stolen. How long did it take bling to go mainstream? How about Cheddah?
Sorry to say..it is a vicious cycle that will continue.
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It's ridiculous and never has been cool. Rather than Dell making the "FTW" uncool....For the win made Dell uncool.
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For decades, FTW to me has always been F*ck The World.
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You got served!!!!!!!!!!
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Why do you think I put "The man" in "quotes"?
It's almost like there is some implied irony or something.............
Nawwwww! Must just be more lingo.
"Now you know how the hip-hop community feels when a moniker gets picked up by corporate america."
Did you just use "hip-pop community" and "Moniker" together?
wow...more irony. ;)
Anyway...I get your point. It was the same damn point I was trying to make. lol
Oh well...if you said it better so more people get the idea....our work is done.
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Yeah that was my intent...just sarcasm. I saw a few posts just decrying how the sacred gamer lingo has been pilaged by the big wigs in corporate america and nearly fell out of chair. Like they exclusivity on FTW, Noob, GG, and on on. You better believe if their is money to be made off of it ... it won't be safe for long.
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go get laid or something.
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Getting laid has everything to do with everything.
What in life doesn't seem better after after a good f*ck?
I think he has some good, sound advice for me. And I think I will take his advice. It has been a few hours after all.
Yeup...Zap is a really good coach.
And you know what they say about caoches right?
They can't play.
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You have got to be kidding me? Are you 13? So you're the guy on gamespot forums writing in all caps "OMGZ IZ IGN BIAZED OVVER PS3 ITS SECK H OW MUCECH THEY LIVE." etc etc. Anyone who's above 18 should never use 1337, TEH, or any of the other "leet" (god I'm sorry I know what that is)phrases that everyone uses, but no one actually likes to read. And I shouldn't have to explain why.
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pretty soon it will make no sense at all, you will see things like "prawned lighting underpants" and that will actually mean something.
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Your case of herpes simplex 2?
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dell.com/RTFM/n00b
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:P
I think it doesn't matter who says it, or how often it gets said, or how mainstream or underdog or whatever anyone thinks a word/phrase/acronym is at any given time. Everyone's going to have their opinions. I'll probably continue to use it sarcastically among friends like I've always done - in moderation and where appropriate. Somehow after reading these comments, I'm glad I don't hang out in retarded forums full of preteen idiots who overuse slang that they don't really understand or know the origins of, let alone the language they're speaking.
o.o
Yeah, I know. :)
There is an ebb and flow to speaking a language. Words ought come and go as they please, where they please, as they are felt. That they are constantly forced into places they don't belong is a sad, sad thing. That counts for this ad.
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This is pretty close:
http://m1.2mdn.net/viewad/1237010/1-gaming_160x600_anim.gif
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And take words like noob or however you numerically misspell it with you. That stuff is as annoying as "sheet" (phonetic euphemism).
I can semi-tolerate "owned/pwned" & its variations.
But ya know I thought "FTW" stood for "*F* The World"
All this time it meant "For The Win".
Damn. That takes the wind out of my sails.
John Lucas
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JR
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zomg irony!
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Posted at 2:02PM on Aug 24th 2006 by Brian 0 stars
"
Dell already did this in an ad for the new XPS line.
The tagline was "Own this, Pwn them!"
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Fuck The World.
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