People Look At Me And Say Aww The Scrunkly

Okay, I'm just gonna say it. And brace yourselves. This might be an unpopular opinion.

The phrase "Aww, the scrungly!" is...overused. Maybe even…misapplied?

The Scrunkly Spectrum

Let's talk about the scrungly. What even IS a scrungly, anyway?

Is it just anything slightly awkward and endearing? Does it require a certain level of perceived helplessness? I think there’s a whole spectrum.

Think about it. You have your classic, undeniably scrungly creatures. Maybe a perpetually confused kitten. Or a dog who tries really hard but always fails at catching treats.

Exhibit A: The Accidental Scrunkly

These are the ones I feel for! They don't mean to be scrungly. It's just their natural state of being.

They're like that person who trips on air but manages to style it out. You simultaneously want to help them and applaud their resilience. Aww, the scrungly!...but also, good for you!

But then we have…the performative scrungly. And that's where I start to raise an eyebrow.

Exhibit B: The Performative Scrunkly

These are the ones who KNOW they're being scrungly. They lean into it. They weaponize it!

Maybe they're exaggerating a clumsy moment for attention. Or playing up their "innocence" to get out of something. It's scrungly by design, not by accident.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's cute. Sometimes it's hilarious. But sometimes…it just feels…calculated.

The Oversaturation Problem

Here's my main gripe: everything is a scrungly now! We've diluted the term.

A majestic eagle soaring through the sky? "Aww, the scrungly!" A perfectly executed backflip? "Look at that little scrungly go!"

Like, come on! Where's the line? Can we reserve the "scrungly" title for the truly deserving?

I blame the internet, obviously. Memes. TikTok. We've turned everything into a caricature.

The authentic, heartwarming awkwardness of a true scrungly is getting lost in the noise.

Reclaiming the Scrunkly

So, here's my (probably futile) plea. Let's be more discerning with our scrungly declarations.

Let's appreciate the genuine, unadulterated scrungliness when we see it. Let's not force it onto things that are just…normal. Or even impressive.

Because when everything is scrungly, nothing is. Right?

Think about it: the term loses its special power.

And let's be honest, a truly scrungly moment is a gift. A tiny spark of joy in an otherwise serious world.

So let's protect that spark. Let's cherish it. Let's use the word "scrungly" sparingly, but with intention.

Maybe then, when we DO see something truly, undeniably scrungly, we can all say, in unison, and with genuine feeling: "Aww, the scrungly!"

And it will actually mean something.

This has been my slightly unhinged take on the scrungly phenomenon. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go look at pictures of genuinely scrungly animals to cleanse my soul. Because some things are just meant to be.

And before I forget, please don't get me started on "blorbo from my shows." It's a slippery slope.

"Don't even think about the blorbos." - Me, just now.