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Whats with all these tigers being kidnapped?

  • 23-12-2008 12:31pm
    #1
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭


    :confused:


Comments

  • #2
    flogen
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭flogen


    Can you elaborate on the point of this thread, particularly its relation to the media?

    Thanks.


  • #3
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Sorry for the AH opening gambit.

    Such a silly description of a nasty crime. I imagine either some hack/sub ed was idling at his desk and then had a flash of inspiration or he knew of the phase from elsewhere (as it was never used here until a couple of years ago) and thought it appropriate for Celtic Tiger Ireland. Anyway all and sundry are using a tabloid level phase which really should stay there.

    /rant over


  • #4
    Pen1987
    Closed Accounts Posts: 870 ✭✭✭Pen1987


    It's an old phrase, far older than the celtic tiger and not one that was first used in Ireland. It's been in use internationally for a few decades AFAIK. I'd say its probably older than tabliods newspapers themselves actually.


  • #5
    flogen
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 10,247 Mod ✭✭✭✭flogen


    mike65 wrote: »
    Sorry for the AH opening gambit.

    Such a silly description of a nasty crime. I imagine either some hack/sub ed was idling at his desk and then had a flash of inspiration or he knew of the phase from elsewhere (as it was never used here until a couple of years ago) and thought it appropriate for Celtic Tiger Ireland. Anyway all and sundry are using a tabloid level phase which really should stay there.

    /rant over

    Aye, I heard the phrased used on the radio today and wondered about its origins; like you I wondered if it was related to the celtic tiger.

    But I did recall there being some reference to it beyond that - when it was first used in the Irish media a few years ago I'm sure journalists explained it in a way that didn't relate to the celtic tiger.

    According to that ever reputable source, the Wikipedia, it's called a Tiger Kidnapping because of the stalking and observation required before the attacker strikes.

    Not much detail on where it was first coined and when but a bit of a hunt around the interwebs might unearth something more.

    Regardless of that I'm not a fan of the term at all - I mean surely most kidnappings involve some kind of preparation and ground-work and it's just a kidnapping and ransom situation, albeit slightly more elaborate.

    There's also a problem that cliches like this seep into common parlance, their origins become obscure and their definitions; ill-defined from the beginning; become irrelevant.


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