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Thursday, October 1, 2009

Teh Internets Wisconsin Tourism Federation and Our Changing Language

Posted by Grant Brissey on Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 1:53 PM

The Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (TFW), formerly known as the Wisconsin Tourism Federation (WTF) has changed its name for obvious reasons:

The folks at the Wisconsin Tourism Federation, a 30-year-old tourism lobbying coalition based in Sun Prairie, couldn't possibly have predicted how the Internet would change the lingo.

While its abbreviation, WTF, was fairly innocuous a few decades ago, it means something entirely different these days.

Before and after

Chris Matyszczyk over at Cnet adds:

They created their name 30 years ago, when the Web was not even a thought in the mind's eye of an engineering spider. I mean it's not as if the acronym said SLUT, is it? You're not familiar with SLUT? Ah, that would be the South Lake Union Trolley in Seattle.

Now, to the creators of the SLUT, I mean, WTF?

h/t: Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel and Cnet.

Comments (28) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Did they also change from a tourism to a trade federation?

Posted by T-O-M Tom on October 1, 2009 at 2:04 PM

I love the fact that the coffee shop that now sells those SLUT shirts has a big banner advertising their "S.L.U. Trolley" t-shirts:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/csb13/39619…

Posted by Chris B

on October 1, 2009 at 2:04 PM

"Trade" also implies something different than it did decades ago. You mean "Tourism."

Posted by rob!

on October 1, 2009 at 2:04 PM

HA! it's not actually the South Lake Union Trolley. WTF!

Posted by Max Solomon on October 1, 2009 at 2:06 PM

@3 You're right! I have corrected.

Posted by Grant Brissey

on October 1, 2009 at 2:09 PM

@4 not anymore...

Posted by Beetlecat on October 1, 2009 at 2:12 PM

Also, I believe it is now the "Tourism Federation of Wisconsin," not the "Wisconsin Federation of Tourism (WFT)." C'mon, read the dang source.

Posted by leek on October 1, 2009 at 2:13 PM

Splitters!

Posted by NapoleonXIV on October 1, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Why the Face?

They could have just embraced the lingo and gone for a positive spin with Federation for Tourism of Wisconsin.

Posted by Levislade

on October 1, 2009 at 2:19 PM

They should have renamed it the Federation for Tourism in Wisconsin (FTW).

Posted by goast on October 1, 2009 at 2:25 PM

*facepalm*

Posted by goast on October 1, 2009 at 2:29 PM

@9's "FTW" FTW.

Posted by Irena on October 1, 2009 at 2:36 PM

I think we've now covered all the possible permutations, but your lead sentence is still wrong, Grant.

Posted by Fnarf

on October 1, 2009 at 2:38 PM

and I'm hoping that the First Hill Streetcar goes by: First Hill Urban Connector (F.H.U.C.) since that will go perfect with the S.L.U.T.

Posted by Trolley4Ever on October 1, 2009 at 2:38 PM

I rather think SLUT was an intentional choice, meant to draw attention.

Posted by Simac on October 1, 2009 at 2:47 PM

I was in need of lunch.

Posted by Grant Brissey

on October 1, 2009 at 2:56 PM

Pacific Northwesterners are well known to be bad at naming things. Think about it when you go by SE 168th Pl. in Everett just prior to crossing NW 248th Dr. in Shoreline. Very unoriginal.

Also: "Washington" State. WTF? What is so George Washington about it actually?

Not to mention "Pacific" Northwest. Like, there's an "Atlantic North East" part of the USA? A "Pacific Southwest"? Is this to distinguish it from the "Atlantic North West"?

then we have the overuse of salmon this and orca that. One Regional Card for All....oh really, like it doesn't mean a whale? it's a triple entendre? Up in Anacortes they have come up with Oly the Orca as their symbol, muddling it up with the state capitol, which they seem unaware of. Or does that Orca drink beer?

Posted by The Glass House on SW 12994394949494 Pl Dr., Enumclaw on October 1, 2009 at 3:39 PM

LOL

Posted by very bad homo on October 1, 2009 at 3:44 PM

This is too fucked for words.

Posted by emma's bee on October 1, 2009 at 3:50 PM

there's actually a blog that collects all these called Acronyms Sometimes Suck. http://www.unfortunateacronyms.com. the best is port townsend school district. doh!

Posted by post traumatic stress disorder on October 1, 2009 at 3:54 PM

@8
And the fucking Judean People's Front!

Posted by Urgutha Forka on October 1, 2009 at 4:27 PM

making this even funnier is the prospect of luring tourists to the (beautiful, if boring) state of Wisconsin.

Posted by razorclammer on October 1, 2009 at 4:30 PM

Sun Prairie Wisconsin is a mere stone's throw from Kenosha, home of the Bong Recreation Area.

Posted by Joe M on October 1, 2009 at 4:36 PM

BFD @23, the Bong bridge is in WI, too. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimfrazier/…

Posted by emma's bee on October 1, 2009 at 5:35 PM

I have to admit for a short while, I thought the internet acronym FTW meant fuck the world. It made the internet a confusing space for a week or so.

Posted by geekgirl on October 1, 2009 at 10:05 PM

@25 Before the inter-tubes, that's exactly what FTW meant. Threw me for a while. too. I couldn't figure out why such a pleasantly deluded fellow like Will in Seattle was telling people to fuck the world.

Posted by drewl on October 1, 2009 at 11:12 PM

i learned a new one last night - i had a real beavis and butt-head experience up at my kids' school! it turns out there's an org called PNAIS ... pacific northwest association of independent schools. rad.

Posted by mr. herriman on October 2, 2009 at 9:24 AM

@27

There's a respected scientific journal named Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. I always made sure to cite them as much as possible in my research.

Posted by Max Power on November 10, 2009 at 2:45 PM