It’s not, actually. Some people thought it was, but apparently the creators had never heard of smegma before and it was just an unfortunate coincidence.
Lexicographer Tony Thorne, in his 1990 Dictionary of Contemporary Slang (ISBN 0-7475-2856-X), reports instances of “smeg” (and derivatives) being used as a term of “mild contempt and even affection” among “schoolboys, students and punks” as early as the mid-1970s — a decade or so prior to the inception of the Red Dwarf phenomenon — and claims unequivocally that the etymology of the term traces back to “smegma”.
Actually several people already bothered to answer, their answers just haven’t federated to your instance yet. One answer that just says “Red Dwarf” is already at 8 upvotes on my instance of Lemmy.
Okay, what’s “Oh Smeg” from? I don’t know and it drives me mad
It’s from Red Dwarf, a British scifi comedy from the late 80s-90s. It’s their take on fake future swears.
I figured out what’s missing. He needs a shiny H on his forehead.
It’s short for smegma, i.e. dick cheese.
It’s not, actually. Some people thought it was, but apparently the creators had never heard of smegma before and it was just an unfortunate coincidence.
The creators may claim as much, but…
Alright, alright, people coming out of the woodwork to tell me about smegma, Jesus. You win the dick cheese argument. 'Gratz.
And people say this server doesn’t have any value!
No, my friend, smegma is and has been a word and it has a meaning.
They chose it as an obscure and disgusting word to use as an insult.
So if you’re uncircumsized, and have ever not washed your dick in a few days, you’re intimately familiar with what smegma is.
It is categorically not a made-up “future swear.”
Red Dwarf
Red dwarf, amazing show
Since nobody else bothered to answer: it’s from Red Dwarf
Actually several people already bothered to answer, their answers just haven’t federated to your instance yet. One answer that just says “Red Dwarf” is already at 8 upvotes on my instance of Lemmy.
It was a joke, because three people had already answered.
I got whooshed. Right over the head.
I disguise a lot of my humor as inane comments. Some people obstinately refuse to acknowledge the joke before eventually resorting to slurs.
Thanks for not doing that.
Okay, this feels too cozy here… let’s bring a little of the good ol Reddit vibe over. It’s not what I really think, but someone has got to do it:
"What joke, you moron?! Come in, you said stupid shit and now try to pass it off as joke! Besides… no /s so you can’t be joking!
Needs more ableist slurs.
Red Dwarf.
It’s the sound your make when your retro fridge breaks down because you looked at it the wrong way. Common occurrence sadly.