Parity or Parody?

In Issue 2489, we provided the results for the poll that had asked about the best boat for the 33rd America’s Cup. Based on the poll results, it was evident that folks liked the boats used in the 32nd event this past summer, because they provided close racing. The phrase we used was that “Joe Public likes parody.”

When will we learn? Somebody please smack us over the head, and help us say “parity” when referring to “closeness.” This seems to be a reoccurring problem, and as always, the astute ‘buttheads were there to point it out. Here is a great letter from Rick Hatch:

“The America's Cup may indeed be a parody (see definition no. 3 below) of the "friendly competition between foreign countries" envisaged by the settler of the Cup (George Schulyer); however, Joe Public is more interested in PARITY!"

par·o·dy (n)
1. amusing imitation: a piece of writing or music that deliberately copies another work in a comic or satirical way
2. parodies in general: parodies as a literary or musical style or type
3. poor imitation: an attempt or imitation that is so poor that it seems ridiculous
[Late 16th century. Via late Latin from Greek paroidia , from para “secondary, indirect” + oide “song.”]

par·i·ty (n)
1. equality: equality of status or position, especially in terms of pay or rank
2. similarity between things: the quality of being similar or identical
[Late 16th century. Directly or via Old French parite , from late Latin paritas , from par “equal” (see par).]