What is the meaning of 'the so-what-ishness' in the following sentence? 'What makes it so irksome is the so-what-ishness of this rather brandnew restaurant.'
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2See also meh.– SrJovenCommented Jan 22, 2015 at 23:45
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I suggest whateverishness.– Erik KowalCommented Jan 22, 2015 at 23:57
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2ho-humitude and dull-osity– JoffanCommented Jan 23, 2015 at 0:17
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1Did this sentence come from this review? telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/restaurants/10321252/… If so, you should include the link to it in your question.– Nick2253Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 0:50
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The Dude abides.– DrewCommented Jan 24, 2015 at 1:57
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3 Answers
"So what?" is a response that (with the right intonation) conveys a sense of being unimpressed by, of not seeing anything special in what what just said or indicated.
So here, "so-what-ishness" might reasonably be replaced by "unimpressive nature".
I don't mind coinages - like "so-what-ishness" - but "rather brandnew" seemed a very odd coupling to me.
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2I think "so-what-ishness" describes the attitude of the restaurant. They do not care or are indifferent in their attitude. If someone says this is quite unconventional they will answer "So what?". Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 9:14
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1It could also be about attitudes, but the suggested original article doesn't carry that impression.– JoffanCommented Jan 23, 2015 at 14:19
"So-what-ishness" (though not an established word--hyphenated or not) means displaying an attitude of, "so what!" (notice this is not a question but a statement), and "so what" means: "I don't care!" This attitude conveys indifference, apathy, and a terminally hip posture.
INDIFFERENCE
1: the quality, state, or fact of being indifferent 2 a: archaic: lack of difference or distinction between two or more things b: absence of compulsion to or toward one thing or another
Related to INDIFFERENCE
Synonyms apathy, casualness, complacence, disinterestedness, disregard, incuriosity, incuriousness, insouciance, nonchalance, torpor, unconcern
Merriam-Webster Dictionary online
APATHY
1: lack of feeling or emotion: impassiveness 2: lack of interest or concern: indifference
Related to APATHY
Synonyms affectlessness, emotionlessness, impassiveness, impassivity, insensibility, numbness, phlegm
And, last but not least, some cultural slang
Terminally hip or Terminally cool: so incredibly laid back, disengaged, and lethargically uncaring and cool (usually in a contrived or studied way) that one is liable ultimately to die (literally expire) from lack of participation in one's own environment
“Dirk is terminally hip: just look at him lying on the floor with his eyes shut during the dance, while all those women are flirting with him.”
Hip: Cooler than cool, the pinnacle of what is "it". Beyond all trends and conventional coolness. Not to be mistaken for "deck".
"Stay away from the tacky velvet-rope MTV frat-boy clubs on the beach. Check out this party downtown instead, it's gonna be hip."
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+1 I really enjoyed "Terminally hip". Haven't heard it yet! but you could maybe, for the sake of answering, describe that the question "so what" conveys indifference. Hence; So-what-ishness" describes an attitude of indifference or "terminal hipness". Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 9:12
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Thanks! @AverageGatsby - didn't I do that!?– user98990Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 9:17
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it might be seen as a logical conclusion that this is what you mean but I cannot even find the phrase "so what" in your answer. just a minor sentence prior to the deffinition of indifference maybe?^^ Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 9:25
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Oh! @AverageGatsby - I didn't think to include "so what" because it's embedded in "so-what-ishness". So I'm assuming (and you know what thy say about assumptions!) the OP will notice that. Where you from?– user98990Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 9:32
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well, in that case I can't find "so-what-ishness" in your answer ;). in the end I agree that it isn't necessary buut... Germany, currently living in Denmark. Commented Jan 23, 2015 at 9:45
There is an expectation of others to be 'fault tolerant', when one says 'so what?'. It goes in the line of X: XYZ lost the match Y: So what?
There is also an air of 'downplaying' (not necessarily 'dismissive').
