Jane, you ignorant...
We all laughed when Dan Akroyd said it in a mock newscast on Saturday Night Live a few decades ago, but try to slip the "S" word into a mainstream news program these days and forget it. Seattle's new street car has unofficially been dubbed the S.L.U.T., an unfortunate, albeit clever acronym for the South Lake Union Trolley. The problem in covering a story like that for TV is that I am not allowed to actually say that word.
Sure, I can write it all I want. Slut. There, I did it. But for some reason the word becomes more offensive when spoken -- at least by a reporter. I was told not to say the word in the story myself. Instead, I should leave that to the people I was interviewing in the piece. As you might imagine, that made telling a story about the notorious Seattle S.L.U.T. a bit challenging. Fortunately, the good people I did interview had no trouble whatsoever opining about all things S.L.U.T.-related. My thanks to them for taking the words right out of my mouth.
Comments from our readers
LMAO. . . .I noticed that this morning. my wife and i we're staring at each other sayin, "what, they can't SLUT now days either?" Interesting info
Posted by: skok | September 18, 2007 7:16 PM
Maybe you should just call it the "ho" trolly
That word seems to be OK.
Posted by: Linda | September 19, 2007 7:54 AM
I'd be happy to lend my voice to the reporters at King 5 to say SLUT for them when they can't, although I am really dying to hear either Jean or Dennis say it!!! I hope this name sticks!
Mayor Nickels will finally have a legacy as the mayor who brought the SLUT to Seattle!
Can we get rid of him already, before he gets so fat he can't leave city hall!
Posted by: Richard Boswell | September 19, 2007 11:13 AM
see...thats the difference between King and Thurston county. In King county, eveyone is up in arms over the name...in Thurston County, people would be trying to get a Bio-SLUT that runs off dreams and sunshine and advertises armpit hair and anti-Bush claims.
Posted by: Johnny 5 | September 19, 2007 1:59 PM
Yeah, I guess we could shorten it to "ho" but then new T-shirts would have to be printed up
"Ride 'Da "HO"
Posted by: Judi | September 19, 2007 4:30 PM
Reading this page gave me one of the best laughs ever. I will always call it the "Slut".
Posted by: Lola | September 19, 2007 7:56 PM
A great way to really get this one would be on Jay Leno or Dave! I think the entire country needs a wonderful laugh! And this is just one of the big screw-ups from our local government!
I love the story and I still laugh at the quote from the Mayor!
Posted by: Rolling Insanity | September 20, 2007 3:15 PM
Where do I apply to be the driver of the S.L.U.T?
Posted by: debevemos | September 21, 2007 8:04 AM
www.ridethelsut.com or just go to Kapow! Coffee 447 5587 and get your shirt today!
Posted by: Harry | November 8, 2007 6:55 PM
www.ridetheslut.com or just go to Kapow! Coffee 447 5587 and get your shirt today!
Posted by: Harry | November 8, 2007 6:56 PM