Why Interrobang?!

Why Interrobang?!

An interrobang is this punctuation mark: ?! Interro for question, bang because in the old timey days an exclamation point was called a bang. I loved the word the second I heard it, because it is the perfect blend of huh? and WHAT! I feel that word in my soul.

Interrobang is an incredibly useful and versatile word. I use it in place of the following phrases which used to cost me an arm and a leg in swear jar fees when I was unable to refrain from exclaiming them aloud:
– Fuck!
– Fuck fuckity fuck fuck fuck!
– What the fuck?!
– What in the actual fuck?!
– What fresh fucking hell is this?
– What is this fuckery?!
– How is this my fucking life?!
– Are you fucking kidding me?!
– This is not fucking happening.
– I don’t fucking think so, fucker.
– You have GOT to be fucking kidding me.
– Am I being fucking punk’d?!
– There is no fucking way this is real.
– Fuck this fucking shit.
– Fuck you, fuckaroo.

Lest you believe that interrobang is only good for WTF purposes, inflection and tone of voice can greatly alter the meaning. For example, the classic facepalm moment is greatly enhanced by softly uttering “interrobang”. When something unexpectedly wonderful happens, a perky “interrobang” is appropriate. In moments of defeat, when I just can’t believe that nothing I have tried in an attempt to solve a problem has had any effect and I am out of ideas and hope, a whisper of the word will help. Sometimes when sex is so mind blowing that I can’t believe it, I have thought it but never exclaimed it because my boyfriend already thinks I am strange enough. During a moment of awe, usually when I am stargazing or overcome by some scene of beauty in nature, when I wonder about my place in the universe and the meaning of existence, a soft “interrobang” akin to a “wow” can really fit the bill.

Gramatically speaking, the word interrobang is a real multitasker. Obviously it is a noun describing the punctuation mark “?!” but it also makes a great verb. When I am in therapy processing the massive shit pile that is my life or journaling like my hair is on fire, I often think to myself that I am “interrobanging”. I’d like to make a sign for my door that says “Gone Interrobangin’” like those “Gone Fishin’” signs for when I am unavailable due to being in an online OT or EMDR appointment. It’s a great adjective, as well. In response to “How’s it going?” I often have to stop myself from replying “Oh, it’s an interrobang kind of day.” Again, people already think I am strange enough.

It often feels as though I am living a bad soap opera, like there must be a crew secretly filming me a la Truman Show. I have come to think of such moments as Interrobangs. This blog will jump around a lot, traveling through time depending on random memories (flashbacks, panic moments, and crap that comes up in EMDR) and I will put the date of the event as part of the title rather than the date it was written. I will begin with some of the biggest Interrobangs.

Last but not least, and most importantly, the word “interrobang” is fun to say. When I’m having another dark night of the soul or going through an event that is so ridiculously awful I can’t even believe it’s real, the only thing that gets me by is finding humour in the dark. Having a fun word to say has saved me more times than I can count. That, and making inappropriate jokes in my head about terrible things. I tend to do that more than is healthy. WTF is wrong with me?! Interrobang.