Cool

Another week has arrived and I've cranked out another column. That, pholks, is cool, at least for me.

Although I've no plans to turn this issue into a Master's Degree thesis, I am waxing a bit on the word “cool.”
On my drive to work last week, a couple of sports radio jocks were discussing the NCAA basketball playoffs or some other current issue, when one said, “that's cool.” For the next 90 seconds or so they discussed the virtues of cool.

I totally agree with their conclusion that “cool” isn't going away anytime soon. That, of course, is cool. It's far better than “awesome,” “right on,” “A-OK,” “fine and dandy,” groovy,” “rad” and “far out.” “Wow” isn't too bad, but just no match for cool.

There are lots of other phrases or terms which we will get to later.

Cool is one of those everyday four-letter words which almost everyone, even if they aren't really that cool, use so often it is second nature. Even semi-square pholks say “cool” though probably not as much as the average Joe, Jane, Sam, Walter, Kim or Susan.

Cool's major value as an everyday term is it is so flexible, limber, universal, all-encompassing and variable. There are very few ways to use cool in an un-cool way.

Cool is one of those words which is fun to try and define when you know that doing so is, from a practical sense, nearly impossible yet universally understood. You know what you mean when you use it and so do those who hear it.

Checking cool out on the internet resulted in just about what I expected.

Examples: When someone is cool they are popular, suave and you like them. The same goes for objects. “That really is a cool car” means you like it, admit it and probably wish you had one.

Cool generally has little to do with temperature, though it can. A hot roast beef sandwich or a great looking or especially attractive pizza can be cool. A cold beer is a cool thing. So is a cold root beer or orange soda. I think “It's It” (a famous ice-cream, graham cracker cookie, marshmallow, chocolate-covered treat) is really cool, especially if you don't let them get warm. Chocolate chip cookies are really cool, especially freshly baked and still warm.

Despite my obsession with the proper use of the English language, I have always kept up with current slang. It's hard to misuse the word cool by itself. Generally, it is the lack of proper grammar which causes problems. Things like “Me and my sister seen that movie and it was really cool,” or “I ain't got no money to buy that really cool pair of shoes,” drive me crazy and I have to bite my tongue when I hear that, especially from pholks who should know better.

As to the origin of “cool,” there are lots of theories, most of which have some merit, but probably no really solid base.

One Internet user suggested it became popular in “West Side Story” but there are many others including the so-called Beat Generation where every genuine beatnik and assorted wanta-be's used “cool” in every utterance and certainly in any response. If a jazz musician has any kind of talent, he or she has to be cool or at least play cool jazz.

I'm not a real jazz phan, but when I listen to something cool I know it.

Teen slang seemed to adopt the word in the '60s and it evolved into everyday language where it likely will continue for decades to come.

Sure, every once in a while I chill out and show my hip side, which I admit is not awesome or, you know, far out, when I let it all hang out. I try not to be too rad in my writing and try my best to write about what is “in,” especially in this era of sonic-paced change.

And for those of you who still rag on me about my use of pholks, that's cool. I ain't gonna change.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com