There is a bizarre new meaning being attached to the old word ‘ratio’ in American slang.
(At least, I think it’s bizarre.)
We all learned ‘ratio’ (pronounced RAY-shee-oh) back when we were schoolkids.
It means ‘a relationship between two amounts, represented by a pair of numbers showing how much bigger one amount is than the other’ (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English).
As in ‘there’s a ratio of two-to-one here.’
It came into English in the 1500s from a classical Latin word meaning ‘calculation’ or ‘proportion.’
Now, here’s the new American usage, which I find so bizarre—see if you are as surprised as I am by this.
The Merriam Webster Dictionary people have recorded (in the ‘Slang and Trending’ part of their big dictionary) this word ‘ratio’ being used to mean ‘to give considerably more negative than positive responses on a social media post.’
And here’s the explanation those clever lexicographers provide to back up their observation of this new usage:
‘A social media post—as on X, Facebook, or other platforms (such as Truth Social)—is said to have been “ratioed” when it has received more comments and reposts than likes, implying that it was tremendously unpopular. In other words, to “ratio” a post is to (collectively) give it more comments or reposts than likes or favourites.’
Do you agree with me that this is a bizarre use of an old mathematical term?
It seems that ‘ratio’ can also mean ‘to receive more downvotes than upvotes’ on websites where such on-screen icons are an option.
That a familiar (and fairly straight forward) bit of English (and one that is more than 500 years old) should be twisted around in this way is odd—but then, it’s happening in an odd place: in the weird world of social media.
As we all know, social media is an abuse loaded, cheap, downmarket, dog-eat-dog world.
So, not only are people very rude to each other in the word of social media, but they also have no respect for the English language.
To be ‘ratioed’ on social media is usually considered humiliating, unless the account being ‘ratioed’ views the opprobrium of their intellectual opponents as a badge of honour.
And one final word from the Merriam Webster people: ‘”ratio” tends to carry a whiff of schadenfreude.’
'Schadenfreude' (pronounced SHAH-duhn-froyd) comes from German and means taking pleasure in the discomfort of others.
And all of this is why you and I stay well away from social media!
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BY THE WAY...
The latest edition of Quadrant magazine is now in the newsagents -- including my article on 'Recognizing Racism".
The May-June issue of Australian Geographic is out now (with the tree frog on the cover) -- inside are my two small columns on 'Placenames' and 'Ozwords'.
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
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