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David Carlyon's avatar

Trying to pick up some Spanish for a trip, I learned that "algo" is Spanish for "something."

There's something about algocracy...

Also, why does autocorrect turn "algocracy" into autocracy?

Freestyle | Daily Rhyme Game's avatar

The -maxxing suffix is having a moment — friction-maxxing follows looks-maxxing, looksmaxxing, and all the other variants. It's fascinating how the gaming/incel vocabulary has leaked into broader usage, often losing its original context while keeping that sense of 'optimizing' something to an extreme.

Also appreciated the note about 'algocracy' vs 'algothracy.' The simpler form was already in use (the Wikipedia article dates to 2014), but clearly people wanted something that felt newer and more pointed. Sometimes the less elegant coinage wins because it sounds angrier.

Rainbow Roxy's avatar

It's interesting how these coinages so accurately capture our current political landscape. Algothracy perfectly describes the perils of data-driven echo chambers. And AWFUL is an unsettling, yet apt, term for that particular kind of derision. Very insightful observatios.

Quiara Vasquez's avatar

My brain has been broken by the internet: I read the phrase "Nazi era" and was like, "damn, we really are 'in our Nazi era' here in the US of A..." before realizing you meant it quite literally...

Susan Bercu's avatar

Game cards would be fun…like Fictionary. Fritancionary. Can I steal some of your words for a party game to play at political social event?

Nancy Friedman's avatar

They're not my words -- they're out there in the wild for anyone to use. Have fun! (I'd do a little more work before settling on "Fritancionary," though.)

Quiara Vasquez's avatar

Dictionancy :D