"Callin out" or "woffin"

I hear and see these two words (callin out) more and more!
Seems everyone is using them now instead of just stating their case for something and letting it go at that!

I really didn't know until recently that the term is African American slang.
Tribes in Africa used it to intimidate or "show off" in front of others in order to avoid physical altercation or possibly death. Sometimes included threatening dances.
Often it proved sufficient to "save face."

The "passing out of woof tickets," "talkin trash," "junk yard dog" barking," usually means no intent for physical harm--only a display to make one's point when most good words fail them

It is similar to "rasslin," where displays are meant to be sufficient to be the winner!

Can't we all just use other words to say the same thing?

We sometimes call it bluffing, but disagreeing, ignoring stupidity, not acting out, and other good and tried civil altercations are much better.

baroombrawl's blog | login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Submitted by Nitpickers on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 9:12pm.

I have just thought of a legitimate use of the term, "callin someone out!"

In the old west, according to the old movies, the bad guy always stood in the dusty street outside and "called out" the good guy inside--usually in a bar. The time was usually either "high-noon," or "gone before dawn."

Submitted by mysteryman on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 8:58pm.

Or clownin kinda like the stuff you see on the National Geographic Channel, Usually in American this form of expression usually results in a subsquent weapon being brandished and the crowd or posse disbursed.... BLESS

S. Lindsey's picture
Submitted by S. Lindsey on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 9:58pm.

posse disbursed aka.. fleeing..running.. getting the hell out before I get shot..
Laser helps with the downrange shots..


Submitted by mysteryman on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 10:07pm.

And to think this type of behavior was looked upon as art, a few years ago. God help us.....BLESS

Submitted by baroombrawl on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 1:02pm.

I don't think we Americans knew what the strange "acting out" on the old 20-30-40s movies made in Africa meant.

I suspect most people thought it was for one of two purposes.
Getting worked up for s spear war, or putting on a show for glass beads!

We generally drink a lot of beer in the sun and go to a NASCAR race in order to act similarly!
The flying cans and bottles used to be rail dangerous, and then getting out of the parking lot without a crash was artful.
The crowds outside a "rasslin" match after it is over are also an adventure!

Maybe we are all alike, just different!

Submitted by mysteryman on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 7:15pm.

Is a classic epic that depict a young mans rise to power, and triumph over adversity, several of the Acting out scenes in this movie preempt a showdown or battle, that usually results in folks being impaled with spears. So yes i agree with you. that through time mankind has always found new ways to kill each other, since the dawn of time, and will not cease to do so until the bell tolls.....PEACE..

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.