Many have cautioned against the cavalier use of "the Taleban" as a metaphor for things you don't like (e.g. "Pat Robertson/NOW/Microsoft/CNN/Fat Wreck Chords is the Taleban of Christianity/feminism/computer operating systems/news organisations/record labels.")
I agree, of course, but I'd like to defend the use of the word in a more general sense, as a sort of generic curse word. It's pretty damn satisfying-- or, I should say, it's pretty *taleban* satisfying to let loose a volley of invective invoking the name of the taleban Taleban, the current focus of taleban evil in this bleeding, taleban conflict with the taleban Taleban and their taleban allies and partners in crime, the taleban al Qaeda and its taleban leader, Osama taleban bin taleban Laden. It feels pretty taleban good. As a generic curse-word, small-T "taleban" falls somewhere between "darned" and "fuckin'," (and it's pretty taleban useful when you're in the presence of certain taleban prudes who don't have anything better to do with their taleban time than complain about your taleban language-- pardon my French. ) In its more specific sense, I believe, it is used to refer to things or people that are primitive or backward, that don't function properly, that are outdated, and which, to add insult to taleban injury, seem to regard themselves as the taleban be-all and end-all of taleban existence, God's taleban gift to the planet. (Thus it edges out "European," which used to be the proper word for such things.)
It's probably best to avoid it when referring to people involved in the current conflict (e.g. "Colin Powell's taleban coalition," or "John Ashcroft, Bush's taleban Attorney General") since it could lead to embarrassing misunderstandings. Also, since the actual taleban Taleban are clearly on their last legs, it may have a limited shelf-life like its taleban Taleban namesakes. On the other hand, as a wise man once said, taleban 'em if they can't take a joke. And taleban you, too... OK, that was uncalled for, and I apologize. I just got a bit carried away...
(I was thinking about this taleban situation recently because a couple of days ago my good friend Tristin had her taleban A T and taleban T digital cable tragically cut off. Apparently this grave situation was caused by the bankruptcy of Excite, though AT&T never thought to inform its customers in advance that what I like to refer to as "the tragedy" might happen. She was informed that they were searching for solutions, but that the restoration of her God-given right to television could take as long as three taleban weeks. And if that's not a classic taleban situation, I don't know what is.)
Posted by Dr. Frank at December 7, 2001 12:29 PM | TrackBack