Folipping
Thank you for your favourable response to what was an extremely crotchy, some would say rude, blog yesterday. I’ve calmed down now and I accept Clembear’s fair-minded points about what might have motivated some of the INFERNAL FAFFING I was on about. In particular I can see why you might barricade yourself in a plane toilet to escape the terror of hurtling through the air very quickly. I fly so often that I can only distinguish it from walking by checking whether or not someone is about to approach with a trolley and offer me refreshments, so it’s easy to forget it fills some people with the sort of dread that I reserve for lightning/certain snakes/death/most things. (By the way, I am offsetting the carbon cost of these flights, as usual; it’s not much but it’s a gesture, at least. I try to avoid flying for leisure reasons but it’s extremely hard in my job not to do it at all. That concludes my thoughts on Earth Week.)
I’m still pissed off about that wineries couple, though.
Clembear also suggested ‘solipsism’ is a good term for what I was talking about: the mentality that you’re the only person in the world (a bit like Rihanna, but even more so). Funnily enough I was very close to using this word myself yesterday but it just sounds a bit formal, and also I’m after a verb really. The term we need is some hybrid of faffing and being a solipsist. Saffing? Folipping? What do you reckon?
By the way, since I mentioned ‘Only Girl In The World’ in passing above, I’ve started whistling the tune, even though I can’t say I care for it much. It’s an interesting phenomenon in pop that sometimes it’s very hard to tell between a song you like, and one which is merely so entrenched in your head, and played so repetitively, that you sort of cave in. I sometimes think that a lot of the biggest hits are songs which no-one would actually say they loved, but which just seep so effectively into the public consciousness that it becomes immaterial whether you enjoy it so much. I mean, this is hardly a revelation, this is why record companies fight ruthlessly over airtime, but I just thought I’d share it. A famous example in my family was back in the late nineties/early 00s when my brother finally confessed he was starting to enjoy the song ‘Just Looking’ by Stereophonics after a two- or three-year battle to not like it. As for me, right now I just can’t summon up any fondness for ‘Little Lion Man’ by Mumford and Sons (I realise I’m one of the only people in the universe to feel this way), but I seem to hear it at least eight times a day, so – hey – another 100 or so and I guess I’ll be on board.
Yep. So. I’m off to do the opening show of the Melbourne Comedy Festival. This is one of those galas where Minchin hosts and about 76 comics are on for two minutes each. Like the one at the O2 which I did last year (and am also doing this year, gig fans. May 24th.) Then my actual show starts tomorrow. Exciting. And frightening. As usual.
Posted by Laura on March 31, 2011
Thank god someone else mentioned Black Eyed Peas. If I hear that fucking I Gotta Feeling song one more time I might kill someone.
Folipping is an excellent word. How long does it take to get a word included in the OED?
Posted by Britt on March 31, 2011
Good luck for your show, Mark. I’ll be outside the Town Hall with a small camera crew tonight, chatting to both comedians and punters for the SYN fm website, so if you happen to walk past some young-ish people with almost professional-looking equipment, come over and say hello!
Posted by Tibbs on March 31, 2011
Folipping definitely gets my vote, and I quite like the alliteration Helen suggests as well.
Good luck with the tour! I’m very sad that I ended up not being in Australia right now.
Posted by Helen on March 30, 2011
I’m rather fond of Folipping as the new word. It seems like it would slip into general conversation quite nicely. Also, if you’re really cross you can say ‘what a fucking folliper’.
Anyway, Good Luck with the Gala, you shall be hilarious as ever I have no doubt!
Posted by ChrisP on March 30, 2011
Mark what happened to the Spotify play-list that you were going to do every Friday or whatever it was? I am now the proud owner of Julian Casablanca’s album (and the new album from The Strokes which I would have got anyway and it’s brilliant), but more importantly 3 of the New Pornographers albums who I wouldn’t have heard of if it wasn’t for you.
So someday when you get the chance… do another one! Cheers, Chris.
Posted by Georgie on March 30, 2011
You were great at Opening Night tonight! Everyone loved you. Overheard the people in front of us say they were going to buy tickets to your show. Pity that I didn’t get to see you after, but seeing your show on Sunday so see you then x
Posted by Lydia on March 30, 2011
Solipsism is a word that makes me happy because I didn’t know what it was for ages. Now I know (why I didn’t just look it up when I first heard it (however long ago I started reading slightly pretentious books) I don’t know) I feel like I’m in on something. Sometimes I can’t believe what a dork I am.
I like folipping. By the end of the 9 years we have left we may need a dictionary of Watsonisms/Watsonianisms.
Posted by Rachael on March 30, 2011
Although, there are greater evils e.g. Black Eyed Peas.
Posted by Rachael on March 30, 2011
I vote ‘folipping’ too. I resent that they can make us like songs against our better judgement, it makes me abit uncomfortable because I want to make my own decisions. And why should these people get to be more successful than people who are actually more talented? sigh. I, too, am not a fan of Mumford and Sons.
Posted by Anji on March 30, 2011
I’m with you on Mumford and Sons in general. Don’t know, don’t like and don’t care! Annoyingly I was looking for a new ringtone the other day and did settle for Rihanna. I think I would like to be made to feel like the only girl in the world. But honestly, I don’t really care about the song that much! Peer pressure of a different type I guess.
Hope all goes well today – enjoy
Posted by Tracey on March 30, 2011
Hi Mark. I take your point totally regarding the people who ignore warnings to stay in their seat on aeroplanes – it’s intensely annoying. Also, regarding waiting for the “wineries ” couple I can appreciate this too as, many years ago I was out shopping with a friend and we were looking fo a parking space. We spied an elderly couple, in their car who looked to be on the point of leaving. Indeed, the bloke said “I think we’ve just got time for coffee.” We waited for them to pull out, only to see them settle down and open a flask! So, I empathize there too. Regarding the Rihanna songs – I quite like a few of hers but then I also appreciate Lady Gaga – all this does come from my seventeen year old daughter but I do actually like the songs. However, “Poker Face ” initially entered my consciousness in the way that Rihanna’s song did yours,so yes, they can insinuate themselves into your head until you’re unable to banish them and end up liking them.Regarding fear? It’s the dentist for me and. as a filling fell out last Friday, I’m off there this afternoon. Hope you, Emily and Kit are well,take care, Tracey x
Posted by Misha on March 30, 2011
Follipping sounds like something a rabbit would do I think. Like a cross between lolloping and flopping. Hmm.
Incidentally, one of my favourite jokes ever is about solipsism: “Two solipsists walk into a bar and…”
On the subject of plane loos, I relish the opportunity to stretch my legs out personally, as i’m apparently too freakishly tall to fit into the seats.
Anyway, have fun in aus!
Posted by Alex on March 30, 2011
One of my best friends is a faffer of epic proportions. We were on holiday a couple of years ago and he’d be down at least an hour later than the rest of us. We’ve always suspected he just likes picking things up and putting them back down again but we had it confirmed by the boys sharing a room with him. He’s the kind of person that you have to lie to about the times things start. Useless. But lovely. So I will stick with faffing for him, but I think the word folipping is excellent.
Posted by Clembear on March 30, 2011
Its very easy to be fairminded when you’re not in the moment – sounds like a monstrous flight. And someday the winery couple will be fathomable. Or not, like the construction of the Pyramids.
I like folipping, because of the near “plop” sound in it making it fun to say. Thumbs up.
Its tricky to distinguish actual liking with excessive familiarity. I almost felt nostalgic when talking about the Crazy Frog recently and then rightly stopped myself.
Posted by Amy B on March 30, 2011
Aha! Knew it was tonight (sort of)! In that case I shall see you very shortly. As I already suggested on twitter- you and Minchin should definitely have a race. I volunteer to be the referee, or whatever it is they have in races.
Folipping. I like it. The word that is, not the phenomenon. I share your annoyance on that front.
Posted by Ally on March 30, 2011
Glad to see you’re being optimistic!
Good luck with the MICF Gala! I’m looking forward to seeing it on TV and I hope you make it onto the broadcast (though I don’t know why you wouldn’t)
Posted by Rick Procter on March 30, 2011
Folipping – like it
Also, is this the first comment? Result! At last, getting up early feels like it might be worth it for once.