Dave Dryden Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Why do people--particularly men-- like to use this term so much when describing the attribute of a hockey player or team not being particularly quick to engage in physically violence? Or constantly calling bad goals soft-- or like Miller being Mr. Softie. Don't want to get banned here or anything so I want to say this right, but it seems to be used a lot, and with very pejorative sexual overtones many times. I mean, there are lots of other terms that could be used to describe not liking to fight, or giving up bad goals, but soft is used over and over again when people talk hockey. Is it a way to vent anger, personal issues, or what? Or is it just an expansion of the use of the word as soft meaning people who are physically unfit or unwilling to put in effort, so it is nothing more than an expanded use of a word in modern culture? Or is it like "soft on crime?" The term gets used so much vis the Sabres it makes one think the team should be using Viagra as a vitamin supplement--especially with all the medical commercials on Sabres' broadcasts.. Anyone care to give me some insight on this particular repeated use of a word? DD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Take your pick. Lots of uses of the word that fit hockey descriptions. Definition soft[ sawft ] soft·er comparative soft·est superlative 1. malleable: easily shaped, bent, or cut 2. yielding: giving way to externally applied pressure or weight "a soft cushion" 3. smooth-textured: having a texture that is smooth to the touch "soft fur" 4. with smooth outline: having no sharp or jagged edges "furniture designed with soft lines" 5. quiet-sounding: quiet and soothing in sound 6. easy on eyes: lacking glare or intensity of light or color 7. mild: not blowing strongly or falling heavily "a soft rain" 8. affectionate: conveying love and tenderness 9. emotional: easily moved to tender emotions 10. cowardly: lacking determination or strength of character 11. lenient: lenient in treatment or punishment, often too lenient 12. undemanding: requiring little effort or attention ( informal ) "a soft job" 13. not well toned: out of good physical condition 14. incapable of enduring hardship: unable or unwilling to put up with hardship or privation, especially from having lived a life of ease 15. lacking good sense: lacking intelligence or sound judgment ( informal ) 16. lacking significance: dealing with other than serious issues or facts "soft news" 17. not easily verifiable: relating to, dealing with, or based on data that is not easily proved or disproved using scientific method 18. not coercive: based on negotiation, flexibility, and good will rather than on coercion "a soft sell" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Dryden Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Take your pick. Lots of uses of the word that fit hockey descriptions. Definition soft[ sawft ] soft·er comparative soft·est superlative 1. malleable: easily shaped, bent, or cut 2. yielding: giving way to externally applied pressure or weight "a soft cushion" 3. smooth-textured: having a texture that is smooth to the touch "soft fur" 4. with smooth outline: having no sharp or jagged edges "furniture designed with soft lines" 5. quiet-sounding: quiet and soothing in sound 6. easy on eyes: lacking glare or intensity of light or color 7. mild: not blowing strongly or falling heavily "a soft rain" 8. affectionate: conveying love and tenderness 9. emotional: easily moved to tender emotions 10. cowardly: lacking determination or strength of character 11. lenient: lenient in treatment or punishment, often too lenient 12. undemanding: requiring little effort or attention ( informal ) "a soft job" 13. not well toned: out of good physical condition 14. incapable of enduring hardship: unable or unwilling to put up with hardship or privation, especially from having lived a life of ease 15. lacking good sense: lacking intelligence or sound judgment ( informal ) 16. lacking significance: dealing with other than serious issues or facts "soft news" 17. not easily verifiable: relating to, dealing with, or based on data that is not easily proved or disproved using scientific method 18. not coercive: based on negotiation, flexibility, and good will rather than on coercion "a soft sell" From Weave's "New English Dictionary?" 10 looks like a good fit. But my point, to clarify, is not that the word is being incorrectly used, but that the term is so popular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 First hit on a Bing search Mr. Snarky. Type "soft" into your favorite search engine and find all kinds of applicable stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Dryden Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 First hit on a Bing search Mr. Snarky. Type "soft" into your favorite search engine and find all kinds of applicable stuff Not being snarky. A luddite maybe, but not snarky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 It's popular because it has a wide area fo acceptable usage. 2. yielding: giving way to externally applied pressure or weight "a soft cushion" (could describe a "soft" personality ie. Connolly or a physically weak player) 7. mild: not blowing strongly or falling heavily (a soft shot) 10. cowardly: lacking determination or strength of character (see non-response to Lucic) 11. lenient: lenient in treatment or punishment, often too lenient (a "player's coach" for instance or a weak captain) 12. undemanding: requiring little effort or attention ( informal ) (1-3-1) 13. not well toned: out of good physical condition (Raffe Torres apparently) 14. incapable of enduring hardship: unable or unwilling to put up with hardship or privation, especially from having lived a life of ease (I think has hockey relevance) 15. lacking good sense: lacking intelligence or sound judgment ( informal ) (hockey relevant) I think all of these definitions are hockey relevant and don't necessarily have sexist overtones as you suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Not being snarky. A luddite maybe, but not snarky. Well, I can certainly excuse that !! :P :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eleven Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 From Weave's "New English Dictionary?" 10 looks like a good fit. But my point, to clarify, is not that the word is being incorrectly used, but that the term is so popular. Because it has so many meanings, and more than one is applicable. From WNED, nos. 2, 10, 11, 13, 14, and maybe 1 and 15 work when describing what people sometimes see (and some people always see) in this team. It's tough to find another adjective that covers all of those bases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I think we use it because it reminds us that we have a penis,.. in case we forgot in the last 4 seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I think we use it because it reminds us that we have a penis,.. in case we forgot in the last 4 seconds. so why does chz use it then? wait....... ooohhhhhhhh... I see now...... :huh: :blink: :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 If you think that term is bad, there is a proposal for everyone to wear blue and gold instead of purple for the next gay anti-bullying day. Carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I think we use it because it reminds us that we have a penis,.. in case we forgot in the last 4 seconds. better than the rejoinder i was trying to craft. @dryden: was your original implication that the term "soft" is so popular because, whether people know it or not, they seek to liken the absence of a team's collective courage to a flaccid penis? because that would be sort of a weird thing to suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korab rules Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Why do people--particularly men-- like to use this term so much when describing the attribute of a hockey player or team not being particularly quick to engage in physically violence? Or constantly calling bad goals soft-- or like Miller being Mr. Softie. Don't want to get banned here or anything so I want to say this right, but it seems to be used a lot, and with very pejorative sexual overtones many times. I mean, there are lots of other terms that could be used to describe not liking to fight, or giving up bad goals, but soft is used over and over again when people talk hockey. Is it a way to vent anger, personal issues, or what? Or is it just an expansion of the use of the word as soft meaning people who are physically unfit or unwilling to put in effort, so it is nothing more than an expanded use of a word in modern culture? Or is it like "soft on crime?" The term gets used so much vis the Sabres it makes one think the team should be using Viagra as a vitamin supplement--especially with all the medical commercials on Sabres' broadcasts.. Anyone care to give me some insight on this particular repeated use of a word? DD Are you a Downy saleman? Snuggle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 age of most board members Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NowDoYouBelieve Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Why do people--particularly men-- like to use this term so much when describing the attribute of a hockey player or team not being particularly quick to engage in physically violence? Or constantly calling bad goals soft-- or like Miller being Mr. Softie. Don't want to get banned here or anything so I want to say this right, but it seems to be used a lot, and with very pejorative sexual overtones many times. I mean, there are lots of other terms that could be used to describe not liking to fight, or giving up bad goals, but soft is used over and over again when people talk hockey. Is it a way to vent anger, personal issues, or what? Or is it just an expansion of the use of the word as soft meaning people who are physically unfit or unwilling to put in effort, so it is nothing more than an expanded use of a word in modern culture? Or is it like "soft on crime?" The term gets used so much vis the Sabres it makes one think the team should be using Viagra as a vitamin supplement--especially with all the medical commercials on Sabres' broadcasts.. Anyone care to give me some insight on this particular repeated use of a word? DD Internet sports commenters having an irrational predilection for machismo? I've never heard such a ridiculous assertion in my life... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksabre Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Sorry, I just like my team to have some sack. Has anyone here watched women's hockey? I have. I've watched a lot of it. Enough to know that if there aren't any goals being scored it's boring as hell because body checking is illegal. The talent of the players overshadows the lack of hitting. We don't want them playing "soft" because soft is already reserved for the no-check leagues. The NHL isn't one of those leagues. So go effing hit someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 If you think that term is bad, there is a proposal for everyone to wear blue and gold instead of purple for the next gay anti-bullying day. Carry on. I wish I could remember's who sig had the quote about calling the Sabres gay is an insult to the gay community or something along those lines. It was priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Internet sports commenters having an irrational predilection for machismo? I've never heard such a ridiculous assertion in my life... What does the Internet have to do with it? All the meat heads on Vs were visibly aroused when questioned about the Sabres "softness". (ironic...dontcha think) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Dwight Drane Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I wish I could remember's who sig had the quote about calling the Sabres gay is an insult to the gay community or something along those lines. It was priceless. Seriously....a lot of gay guys are gym rats. Maybe we should say we want pitchers and not catchers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Aud Smell Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 I wish I could remember's who sig had the quote about calling the Sabres gay is an insult to the gay community or something along those lines. It was priceless. i think it was your signature block, actually. :blush: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Dryden Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 Well, I can certainly excuse that !! :P :D Gracias. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Dryden Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 If you think that term is bad, there is a proposal for everyone to wear blue and gold instead of purple for the next gay anti-bullying day. Carry on. Not bad, just asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Dryden Posted November 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 What does the Internet have to do with it? All the meat heads on Vs were visibly aroused when questioned about the Sabres "softness". (ironic...dontcha think) :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 #1- all the Sabres are strong. #2- all the other teams are stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted November 16, 2011 Report Share Posted November 16, 2011 It is overused, but I hate its use without context. Soft how? Soft when and where? Those are usually my follow up questions. Perhaps 2 teams won the cup with the tough model in the last 10 years - Boston and Anahiem. Tampa, Carolina, Detriot, and Pittsburgh were all more skilled and not particularly dominant physically in years they won. Burke tried to build the Anahiem model initially in Toronto, but really gave it up after the second year when it was apparent he had created a bad team from the net out. Buffalo really can't match Boston in a brawl between the whistles (who can?) - but they are perfectly capable of winning the puck and going to net during gameplay, which isn't soft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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