It drives me nuts when, during the course of conversation, someone will list a series of events, topics, opinions, etc. by using the words “firstly”…“secondly”…“thirdly”. Is this proper English, or is my current reaction of mercilous ridicule (often to the point of tears) appropriate?
Pot meet Kettle. This is General Questions, not the Pit.
I am aware of that. Is this not a legitimate question regarding the proper use of the English language?
I can’t stand it because it requires me to do math in my head. 
I think you’re foaming at the mouth without cause, Photog. At dictionary.com it says:
first·ly (fûrstl)
adv.
In the first place; to begin with.
Usage Note: It is well established that either first or firstly can be used to begin an
enumeration: Our objectives are, first (or firstly), to recover from last year's slump. Any
succeeding items should be introduced by words parallel to the form that is chosen, as in
first... second... third or firstly... secondly... thirdly.Ellen is correct in saying that either term is correct. Here’s The Mavens’ Word of the Day article on firstly v. first.
Firstly, yes it is proper English, and no, ridicule is not appropriate. Especially in GQ.
Secondly, I use it sometimes, and I don’t appreciate being called an idiot by someone ignorant of something that is taught in high school.
Thirdly, take it to the Pit if you want to rant.
Finally, it’s merciless.
Delightful link, Ellen.
God, I love Strunk & White.
Well appropriate or not you’re just making an ass of yourself if you berate people mercilessly for what is, at worst, a somewhat stilted and stylistically clunky way of expressing themselves. People who know the English language better than you apparently do, will simply think you are an ignorant cretin if you begin a tirade based the awful crime of someone enumerating their points as you describe.
Hijack: And “orientate” is also a perfectly legit word. Look it up. Just because some people think a certain word is ugly doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
My horse likes hats!
Wait. Wait. I gotta hijack too.
My bottle of Suave conditioner claims it “corrects and restructurizes” hair.
“Restructurizes”? That’s a horse with a bridal veil.
Thirdly: Hi Opal!
I changed the title of this thread so it wouldn’t sound so Pittish.
(Which probably wasn’t a real word before I just made it one.) - Jill
My goodness! A few of us take ourselves a bit too seriously don’t we.
I don’t actually ridicule anyone for their (what I now understand to be) clumsy speech. Furthermore, it was not my intention to sound as though I was ‘ranting’ or ‘foaming at the mouth’. The wording of my post was an attempt (albeit a clumsy one) at humor. Perhaps my own language skills could use some work.
Forgive me. In the future, I’ll leave the humor out…I didn’t realize it was so stuffy in here.
Jill, you’re an idiot. 
It sounds to me like you are suggesting that this thread resembles Brad Pitt.
I don’t get no respect around here.
I assumed you weren’t serious about the “mercilous ridicule (often to the point of tears)” wasn’t literal. I think the problem was more the original Pitish (ah, that looks better to me) title of the thread in the GQ forum. This place isn’t really stuffy; it’s more a matter of getting used to different humor styles. Just chalk this up as a learning experience.
See, this is what happens when you change thoughts mid-stream and don’t use the preview button.
Whoops, sorry JeffB. E. B. White’s deft turn of phrase left me a bit giddy. 
To be a true pedant, you must say:
Primus, secundus, tertius.