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"'''Shit happens'''" is a common [[slang]] phrase, used as a simple [[existentialism|existential]] observation that life is full of imperfections, or "''[[C'est la vie]]''". The phrase is an acknowledgment that bad things happen to people for no particular reason.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19950501-000018.html|title=Shit happens|journal=Psychology Today|location=New York|date=May 1995|accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref>One [[minced oath]] form is "'''stuff happens'''". Another minced oath form is "'''It happens'''" which, may perhaps explain the origins of the phrase; on the other hand, that explanation may have a [[false etymology]]. |
"'''Shit happens'''" is a common [[slang]] phrase, used as a simple [[existentialism|existential]] observation that life is full of imperfections, or "''[[C'est la vie]]''". The phrase is an acknowledgment that bad things happen to people for no particular reason.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19950501-000018.html|title=Shit happens|journal=Psychology Today|location=New York|date=May 1995|accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref>One [[minced oath]] form is "'''stuff happens'''". Another minced oath form is "'''It happens'''" which, may perhaps explain the origins of the phrase; on the other hand, that explanation may have a [[false etymology]]. |
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The origin or earliest use of the phrase is uncertain. In a review of a book of quotations, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' critic [[Louis Menand]] observed that it was "extremely interesting to know, for instance, that the phrase 'Shit happens' was introduced to print by one Connie Eble, in a publication identified as ''UNC–CH Slang'' (presumably the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), in 1983."<ref>{{citation|last=Menand|first=Louis|title=Notable Quotables (Book review of “Yale Book of Quotations”, ed. Fred Shapiro)|journal=The New Yorker|year=2007|issue=February 19, 2007}}.</ref> It was in common use by early 1988, appearing for instance in a April 1 edition of the ''Penn State Collegian''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=CLG/1988/04/01&EntityId=Ar00902|title=View Point on Life|publisher=Penn State Collegian|accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref> That same year, a man was charged with obscenity for displaying a bumper sticker with the phrase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1278077.html|title=VA Bumper Sticker Charge Dropped, But Case Still Sticky|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref> |
The origin or earliest use of the phrase is uncertain. In a review of a book of quotations, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' critic [[Louis Menand]] observed that it was "extremely interesting to know, for instance, that the phrase 'Shit happens' was introduced to print by one Connie Eble, in a publication identified as ''UNC–CH Slang'' (presumably the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), in 1983."<ref>{{citation|last=Menand|first=Louis|title=Notable Quotables (Book review of “Yale Book of Quotations”, ed. Fred Shapiro)|journal=The New Yorker|year=2007|issue=February 19, 2007}}.</ref> It was in common use by early 1988, appearing for instance in a April 1 edition of the ''Penn State Collegian''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=CLG/1988/04/01&EntityId=Ar00902|title=View Point on Life|publisher=Penn State Collegian|accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref> That same year, a man was charged with obscenity for displaying a bumper sticker with the phrase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1278077.html|title=VA Bumper Sticker Charge Dropped, But Case Still Sticky|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref> |
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The phrase has inspired a list of [[joke]]s on religious and philosophical views, disseminated widely on the [[Internet]] and sometimes known as the "Shit List". Various views (e.g., of [[Catholicism]], [[Buddhism]], [[existentialism]], [[Communism]], etc.) are summed up into variations on the phrase, for instance: ''"Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us?"''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/shit-happens.html|title=Shit Happens|publisher=gnu.org|work=Humor collection|accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref> |
The phrase has inspired a list of [[joke]]s on religious and philosophical views, disseminated widely on the [[Internet]] and sometimes known as the "Shit List". Various views (e.g., of [[Catholicism]], [[Buddhism]], [[existentialism]], [[Communism]], etc.) are summed up into variations on the phrase, for instance: ''"Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us?"''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/fun/jokes/shit-happens.html|title=Shit Happens|publisher=gnu.org|work=Humor collection|accessdate=2007-11-25}}</ref> |
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Before the official title for the third Star Wars movie, ''[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith]]'' was revealed, fans of the series used the name''[[Sith]] Happens''.{{fact|date=November 2008}} Three days before the release of the film (on May 16, 2005), an official trailer was posted with the phrase "In 3 days, Sith happens."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/tminus3.html|title=Trailer|publisher=starwars.com}}</ref> |
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A number titles say or allude to the phrase: |
A number titles say or allude to the phrase: |
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Revision as of 05:13, 19 January 2009
Look up shit happens in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
"Shit happens" is a common slang phrase, used as a simple existential observation that life is full of imperfections, or "C'est la vie". The phrase is an acknowledgment that bad things happen to people for no particular reason.[1]One minced oath form is "stuff happens". Another minced oath form is "It happens" which, may perhaps explain the origins of the phrase; on the other hand, that explanation may have a false etymology.
The origin or earliest use of the phrase is uncertain. In a review of a book of quotations, The New Yorker critic Louis Menand observed that it was "extremely interesting to know, for instance, that the phrase 'Shit happens' was introduced to print by one Connie Eble, in a publication identified as UNC–CH Slang (presumably the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), in 1983."[2] It was in common use by early 1988, appearing for instance in a April 1 edition of the Penn State Collegian.[3] That same year, a man was charged with obscenity for displaying a bumper sticker with the phrase.[4]
The phrase has inspired a list of jokes on religious and philosophical views, disseminated widely on the Internet and sometimes known as the "Shit List". Various views (e.g., of Catholicism, Buddhism, existentialism, Communism, etc.) are summed up into variations on the phrase, for instance: "Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us?"[5]
Before the official title for the third Star Wars movie, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was revealed, fans of the series used the nameSith Happens.[citation needed] Three days before the release of the film (on May 16, 2005), an official trailer was posted with the phrase "In 3 days, Sith happens."[6]
A number titles say or allude to the phrase:
- Popular hardcore band Every Time I Die released a DVD entitled "Shit Happens" in 2006.
- Debbie Lazarus published "Sh*t Happens: The Book" in December 2006.
- A book by Stephen Clarke is entitled Merde Happens.
References
- ^ "Shit happens". Psychology Today. New York. May 1995. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- ^ Menand, Louis (2007), "Notable Quotables (Book review of "Yale Book of Quotations", ed. Fred Shapiro)", The New Yorker (February 19, 2007).
- ^ "View Point on Life". Penn State Collegian. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ "VA Bumper Sticker Charge Dropped, But Case Still Sticky". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Shit Happens". Humor collection. gnu.org. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
- ^ "Trailer". starwars.com.