# Things you find just too precious **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627 "2011-05-12T05:14:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/1 "2011-05-12T05:14:16Z")
Not sure if this will be as successful as the [companion thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=607771), but here goes. By “precious” I guess I mean personal habits, monikers, speech patterns or what not that are just too cutsily self-aware, either in practice or in original inspiration. It probably bears some overlap with “pretentious,” though I’m thinking such things more frequently smack of some insincere self-depreciation. For me, it’s: giving a name to your vehicle. Giving _yourself_ a nickname. Wearing a hat. Deliberately mispronouncing five dollar words. Designating yourself and a couple of friends as “the \_\_\_ club/gang/posse” Referring to family members as extensions of your message board user name, e.g., “Koxingalass” “Koxingaspouse,” “Koxingalad” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/2 "2011-05-12T05:17:20Z")
Wearing a hat? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/3 "2011-05-12T05:19:57Z")
[Sometimes](http://www.hownottowearahat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hipster-hat.jpg), [yes](http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2007/07/23/gal_hats4.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/4 "2011-05-12T06:09:49Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > [Sometimes](http://www.hownottowearahat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hipster-hat.jpg), [yes](http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2007/07/23/gal_hats4.jpg). What makes those hats “precious,” in particular? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/5 "2011-05-12T06:37:20Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Wearing a hat. Yikes. I’ve been wearing hats for about thirty years now. Sorry. But then again, I can think of several fashions (trendy and otherwise) that I find abhorrent and over the top. > [@](#): > > Referring to family members as extensions of your message board user name, e.g., “Koxingalass” “Koxingaspouse,” “Koxingalad” Yikes again. I don’t use names here and making up a fake name would be weird. I stay with Mrs. Devil and the Dudeling as needed–preserves anonymity yet gets the point across. But then again, I shudder when I see references to DH or DS (dear husband and dear son). Is admitted wishy-washyness on your list? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/6 "2011-05-12T08:59:02Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Not sure if this will be as successful as the [companion thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=607771), but here goes… Might not be as you opened with hats but what the hell, I’ll give it a shot. Links to cats doing “cute” stuff on YouTube. Seriously, enough! ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/7 "2011-05-12T10:49:35Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Wearing a hat. I generall agree with this - that fashion for ‘pork-pie’ hats is cringeworthy. But I think that it’s reasonable for older/balding gents to wear them (I expect they’ve all breathed a sigh of relief to hear that). ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/8 "2011-05-12T11:17:31Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Referring to family members as extensions of your message board user name, e.g., “Koxingalass” “Koxingaspouse,” “Koxingalad” Agreed with some of them, but I like the familynaming. It is clear who they mean, and it is often done quite creatively. What are five dollar words? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/9 "2011-05-12T11:41:01Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > > [@Koxinga](#): > > > > Wearing a hat. > > I generall agree with this - that fashion for ‘pork-pie’ hats is cringeworthy. But I think that it’s reasonable for older/balding gents to wear them (I expect they’ve all breathed a sigh of relief to hear that). You’re just jealous because you lost your Stetson. ---
**Author:** ![Lorski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Lorski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorski)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/10 "2011-05-12T12:05:36Z")
Pictures of sleeping newborns/tiny babies dressed up in costumes or shopped to make it look like they are sleeping in a giant sunflower or something. People that make their dogs/cats wear stupid costumes. Poor animals. Sweater in very cold weather for a little dog? Fine. Putting antlers on his head or a pirate costume? Gimme a break. Poor doggies. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/11 "2011-05-12T12:40:09Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > But then again, I shudder when I see references to DH or DS (dear husband and dear son). Yeah, the designations of DH and DS and DD are much worse than the extension of your board name (like YoSaffKids). Some of those are kind of clever, IMO. I can’t stand when people use cutsey versions of regular words, like sammies for sandwich. If you’re over 13, knock it off. ---
**Author:** ![Lorski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Lorski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorski)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/12 "2011-05-12T13:06:28Z")
> [@YoSaffBridge](#): > > Yeah, the designations of DH and DS and DD are much worse than the extension of your board name (like YoSaffKids). Some of those are kind of clever, IMO. > > I can’t stand when people use cutsey versions of regular words, like sammies for sandwich. If you’re over 13, knock it off. Oopsies… _flees_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/13 "2011-05-12T13:19:31Z")
I have a friend that when someone says “Rob? Wait, who’s Rob?” we just say “Hipster fedora” and they inevitably say “Ohhhh, him!” But it’d have to be a pretty “cute” hat to be “precious”. I’d call most hats “OK”, and the rare “Look at me!” hat “pretentious”. [There is a thread going for that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13790286&posted=1#post13790286). My contribution: most of what passes for conversation between high school girls: _“And then he was like So? And I was like What. Ever. And then Ooooooh that is the cuuuutest baig! Ohohohmigahhhh I’ve got got to see that gimme that Oh, Jennifer Anderson, you find the adorablest stufffff!”_ Yes, there’s a clique that calls each other by both names. To be “precious”. Come to think of it, they’d consider that epithet a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/14 "2011-05-12T13:32:45Z")
Free Hat! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/15 "2011-05-12T13:36:51Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > You’re just jealous because you lost your Stetson. You win the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/16 "2011-05-12T13:41:45Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Might not be as you opened with hats but what the hell, I’ll give it a shot. Links to cats doing “cute” stuff on YouTube. Seriously, enough! Agreed. Keyboard cat is gross and trips all of my uncanny valley meters at once. Yeech. I love hats. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/17 "2011-05-12T14:31:59Z")
Personally, I think it’s just too precious when people make little lists of common, inoffensive behaviors and try to assign a label like “precious” to them. 😃 (meta? ironic? both?!) ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/18 "2011-05-12T14:41:32Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Personally, I think it’s just too precious when people make little lists of common, inoffensive behaviors and try to assign a label like “precious” to them. 😃 > > (meta? ironic? both?!) That’d only apply if, at the end of the list, I confessed, “Actually, I do all of these things. Tee hee!” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/19 "2011-05-12T15:13:38Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > For me, it’s: giving a name to your vehicle. Well, I haven’t named my vehicle, but the NAV system is called [Bitching Betty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty). I even conditioned my family into finally calling it Betty (‘just plug the address into Betty’). ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627/20 "2011-05-12T15:15:33Z")
I actually hate the word “precious” when applied as a positive attribute to something other than minerals you can exchange for money. It is particularly loathsome when applied to any behavior of a child though. There was a recent thread called something like “precious things children have said” and the phrasing set my teeth on edge. It’s ok to use it ironically once in a while as an insult, as in the thread title. Don’t overdo it though, or you’ll hear from me!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-find-just-too-precious/581627.md?page=2)