A modest proposal

[billyskank]

Use of clichés in liberal opinion pieces should become an international crime. Tariffs will depend on the level of overuse of the reference in question. I propose the following guidelines to begin with:

Biblical References
The writing is on the wall - 3 years.

Hans Christian Andersen
The emperor has no clothes - 10 years.

The Wizard of Oz
I don't think we're in Kansas any more - 1 year.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain - death.

Alice in Wonderland
Any reference - 6 months.

This proposal is a work in progress. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.

[Crazy Dave]

1. "How many is a brazillion?"

Death

[Richardo]

2. Gratuitous reference to Jonathan Swift - 3 months time off for good behavior

..or, for you, 'behaviour'.

:thumbsup: billyskank, you have my full support on this project. By that, I mean I'm applying a magnetic ribbon to my car featuring the Union Jack. :patriot:

[miss_american_pie]

3. Sigh...

:loveya:

[Richardo]

4. "Bush is toast" = five minutes in a full bathtub, with a toaster set to 'Dark'

:eyes:

[BigMcLargehuge]

5. addendum to "Alice in Wonderland"

use of "through the looking glass" - Death by stoning.

[xchrom]

14. hey -- that's one of my favs!!!

you can't take one of my fav gay cliches -- i'll get short of breath or something.

[jpgray]

29. Down the rabbit hole too

Archaeological posts of course are exempt.

[Flying Dream Blues]

39. Ok, so I had no idea I'm a walking cliche'...should I

change my name? It was the first thing that came to my mind...that everything seemed so surreal...

:shrug:

[lizziegrace]

6. Billy!!

:loveya:

[billyskank]

7. Kick

this is important, dammit

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. billy!

:hug: I'm thinking...but first, a Hug! :loveya:

[billyskank]

10. Hey

:loveya: you too. :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. From WWE... Use of the smackdown and/or slapdown...

i.e. Boy, Kerry really gave Bush the smackdown today... - a real smackdown...to the mat.

[crim son]

11. LMAO!

I am the worst offender. I can't help it... I got no brains! :shrug:

[wildhorses]

12. billy!!

:*:hug:

[billyskank]

13. Hi there 'horses

:hug:

[Quantess]

15. Can we keep comparing him to a Chimp?

I don't want to give that one up.

And what if you do a twist on "The Emperor Has No Clothes" story, by phrasing it differently. That reference is just too poignant and true to abandon completely.

[billyskank]

16. Why yes, of course

And alternative takes are fine too. Novelty is good.

I just got fed up when I read the umpteenth article in which the author sagely points out that it's just like in The Wizard of Oz when the dog pulls back the curtain revealing the small little man, and I thought "haven't you read any of this other shit? Do you really think you are the first person to point this out?"

:banghead:

[Mutley]

17. The writing is on the wall, billy

that the emperor has no clothes. It is for that reason that I think we are no longer in Kansas, and that we should Not pay attention to the man behind the curtain.

Who cares? Wanna watch Alice in Wonderland with me? :bounce:

[billyskank]

20. Hi muts!

:hug: Sure! I'll be right over. :D

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. NOW you've gone and done it!

You've gotten me started.

:grr:



Okay... first up, "slippery slope."

Offenders shall be pushed off of one.

[billyskank]

21. Yes, really it's just the tip of the iceberg.

Some say it is the thin end of the wedge. :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

26. ...

Wanker. :spank:

[Ariana Celeste]

23. lol

:thumbsup:

[Truebrit71sbruv]

19. Beautiful, just beautiful mate...

... but now, as a guilty party, I have to go and wash my mouth out with soap...

Cracked me up geezer...

[billyskank]

22. Glad you enjoyed it

:hi:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. How about "a modest proposal"

I'd say people who use it should have their children devoured.

[lildreamer316]

25. Sheesh.

That was horrible. Really.:spank:

[billyskank]

27. It's ok

I don't have any kids. ;)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Not anymore.

*burp*

[Richardo]

32. Do you know what Jonathan Swift's "Modest Proposal" was?

That's the key to the hooligan's witty remark.

[lildreamer316]

38. Yes....

But I wanted to spank him anyway.

[jpgray]

28. Adding "Gate" to anything scandal-related

With the possible exception of Blue Jay's "masturGate." :D

[sarge43]

31. Thank you. n/t

[otherlander]

41. Unless the Watergate hotel gets robbed.

Then we can call it watergategate.

[swimboy]

33. any reference to "spinning in his or her grave"

Any perpetrator is to be spun in grave.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

34. Invoking the name or work of George Orwell

A boot to the head

[billyskank]

36. Holy crap, how could I forget 1984?

:o

[WritingIsMyReligion]

42. No! Orwell kicks ass!

I will reference 1984!

:P

[Zomby Woof]

35. Use of "meme"

A pretentious throwback to the primaries of yesteryear.

Use of this lamest of pseudointellectual terms shall constitute being forced to listen to Christopher Hitchens read his entire oeuvre, while you make him his cocktails.

Now that torture is the norm, I don't see a problem with this method of punishment.

[Burma Jones]

37. Long Strange Trip

six months......

[redqueen]

40. Awwww...

but I like clichés.