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Friday, November 13, 2009

Life / Media Kids These Days: Friendly Stalkers and Forbidden Meeps

Posted by David Schmader on Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 10:47 AM

I caught this ad on TV recently and was simultaneously creeped out by its content (which was the point) and impressed by its defusing of an entire world of "friendly" aggressive behavior with one handy phrase: "That's not cool."

Meanwhile in Massachusetts, a high school principal has threatened to suspend students over "meeping". From Salem News:

Danvers High parents recently got an automated call from the principal warning them that if students say or display the word "meep" at school, they could face suspension. Meep doesn't mean much, unless you are Beaker—the hapless, orange-haired assistant to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew on "The Muppet Show."

While meep may be nonsense, what it represented was no laughing matter to the high school's administration. High school Principal Thomas Murray said students were using it and other words to disrupt school in a particular part of the building on Cabot Road.

Read the full story of Meepgate here and here. (Also, following Principal Murray's Footloose-esque meep ban, Danvers High should prepare itself for several years of pep-rally cheers and valdictorian speeches composed entirely of meeps.)

Comments (20) RSS

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Jesus christ, that principal needs a Xanax. I read both articles and I still can't figure out what the fuck his problem is. "Murray did not elaborate on how the students were acting out....Murray said students were not using the term to harass another student or a teacher...." Wow, it's not all in his head AT ALL.

Posted by starsandgarters on November 13, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Meep.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on November 13, 2009 at 11:45 AM

I a further development, Principal Murray denounced hula hoops as "the work of the devil" and said that doing yo-yo tricks "strikes at the very foundations of our democracy".

Posted by Fnarf

on November 13, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Aw shit. There goes my favorite internet pseudonym.

Posted by meeps on November 13, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Meep.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on November 13, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Meep? Meep! Meep :)

Posted by Karla Canadian on November 13, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Regarding the video, is this a preview of Diddlin' Queen: The Carrie Jean Prejean Story?

Posted by Fnarf

on November 13, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Who took the strawberries? And did you just mutter "meep", when my back was turned, Mr. Roberts?!?

Posted by Eric from Boulder on November 13, 2009 at 12:22 PM

So I remember this character from when I used to watch Sesame Street with my kids (but didn't the Coneheads say it as well)?

I did Google it and the urban dictionary had a fairly dirty (for me, not regular Slog readers) definition. That may be what the principal doesn't like.

But it's teenagers pushing the envelope. Ignore them and it will stop.

Posted by westello on November 13, 2009 at 12:23 PM

What if everyone called (978) 777-8925 and chose option 6 and then option 1 and left a few meeps in the principle's voicemail box???

Posted by baconpussy on November 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM

The Road Runner in the old Wiley Coyote cartoons flicks its tongue out and goes "Meep meep!" Antique usage.

Posted by betsio on November 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM

@9- Urban dictionary has a pretty dirty definition for almost every word in the English language and most sounds a human can make. It is so useless.

I'm guessing "meep" is actaully "M.E.E.P." and the M is for Murray and the rest is about something embarrassing and true.

Posted by dwight moody on November 13, 2009 at 12:40 PM

Meep.

Posted by The Amazing Jim

on November 13, 2009 at 1:16 PM

meep meep.

Harumph! what is that infernal meeping?

meep meep meep

Harumph harumph!

meep meep Harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph meep harumph

Posted by matt! on November 13, 2009 at 1:18 PM