# What's the deal with this "M'kay" shit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 11, 2010, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770 "2010-10-11T09:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/1 "2010-10-11T09:09:26Z")
I don’t see it anywhere else but the SDMB. By context I take it to mean **O** kay. So why the **M’**? Is this some inside joke that I missed? Or is it, as I suspect, people trying to be cute? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/2 "2010-10-11T09:16:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t see it anywhere else but the SDMB. You’ve never seen **South Park**? ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/3 "2010-10-11T09:16:32Z")
I think it’s from Office Space - [Mr Lumbergh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19XnhIeVHbk&NR=1), isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/4 "2010-10-11T09:20:06Z")
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWkiWtqgOWc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWkiWtqgOWc) M’kay? ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/5 "2010-10-11T09:20:18Z")
It’s from mr Mackey on Southpark m’kay. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/6 "2010-10-11T10:40:11Z")
Ah, yes! Now I see. The folks here who are commited to fighting ignorance take their cues from cartoons! (What I really need here is a "bang your head against the wall smilie). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/7 "2010-10-11T10:43:25Z")
It’s a cultural meme that some find amusing, not a significant linguistic shift requiring a doctoral dissertation on English orthoepy. Relax. And we’ve fought your ignorance, so you’ve no grounds for complaint. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/8 "2010-10-11T10:50:32Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s a cultural meme that some find amusing, not a significant linguistic shift requiring a doctoral dissertation on English orthoepy. Relax. > > And we’ve fought your ignorance, so you’ve no grounds for complaint. m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/9 "2010-10-11T11:03:45Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Ah, yes! Now I see. The folks here who are commited to fighting ignorance take their cues from cartoons! (What I really need here is a "bang your head against the wall smilie). Aren’t you just so cute, thinking one of those things has anything to do with the other! Anyway, I just popped back in to say I found a thread you might feel more at home in. [Enjoy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=525027)! ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/10 "2010-10-11T11:10:28Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Ah, yes! Now I see. The folks here who are commited to fighting ignorance take their cues from cartoons! (What I really need here is a "bang your head against the wall smilie). you sir are a complete and total genius mmmmkay but not really get over yourself mmmkay ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/11 "2010-10-11T11:50:40Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > The folks here who are commited to fighting ignorance take their cues from cartoons! And proud of it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/12 "2010-10-11T11:57:15Z")
Geez, folks, who pissed in whose cornflakes this morning? _Everyone_, dial back the hostility, and the snark, please. Thanks, **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/13 "2010-10-11T12:18:10Z")
Um… (condescending remark), rinse, lather, repeat. M’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/14 "2010-10-11T17:15:08Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Ah, yes! Now I see. The folks here who are commited to fighting ignorance take their cues from cartoons! (What I really need here is a "bang your head against the wall smilie). Next you’ll be telling us that the “Chef Of The Future” sketch from _The Honeymooners_ isn’t high surrealism. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/15 "2010-10-11T17:28:12Z")
[The thrill of victory…](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yVLQh51xc0g/SEq_kQzXRYI/AAAAAAAACn8/v6Z6geQrmLA/s400/ABC+sportscaster+Jim+McKay+pics.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/16 "2010-10-11T18:15:15Z")
A point which I have not seen addressed yet is that the term “m’kay” is not really a neutral equivalent to “OK”. The use of the term is overwhelmingly in contexts where it’s meant to be somewhat condescending and dismissive, as if you are talking to someone slow witted or you feel you are making an obvious point to someone. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/17 "2010-10-11T18:19:36Z")
Yeah. One of the contractors on my project does it to me. Grrrrr. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/18 "2010-10-11T18:34:37Z")
> [@astro](#): > > A point which I have not seen addressed yet is that the term “m’kay” is not really a neutral equivalent to “OK”. The use of the term is overwhelmingly in contexts where it’s meant to be somewhat condescending and dismissive, as if you are talking to someone slow witted or you feel you are making an obvious point to someone. Yes–or, if you are addressing a subordinate being, whose approval is actually not needed or sought, as a straightforward query between equals would represent. “OK?” allows for “no” as a response; “m’kay” does not. Also, people, this isn’t “from” either _South Park_ or _Office Space_… it was used as a joke there because it already existed. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/19 "2010-10-11T19:39:29Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > > [@Peanuthead](#): > > > > Ah, yes! Now I see. The folks here who are commited to fighting ignorance take their cues from cartoons! (What I really need here is a "bang your head against the wall smilie). > > Next you’ll be telling us that the “Chef Of The Future” sketch from _The Honeymooners_ isn’t high surrealism. But can it core a apple? Mmmmkay. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770/20 "2010-10-11T19:42:23Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Also, people, this isn’t “from” either _South Park_ or _Office Space_… it was used as a joke there because it already existed. FWIW, I didn’t make any statement about its origins. The OP claimed to have never encountered it outside the SDMB. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-mkay-shit/556770.md?page=2)