User talk:G Unit 14

“Off the Richter” is a phrase intended to represent an exciting occurrence. It is used in the same way as “Awesome” or “Tubular” would be used.

The term is coined through the existence of the Richter Magnitude Scale, which measures the severity of earthquakes. The phrase is saying that the occurrence is off the Richter Scale, meaning it was extremely powerful. It usually comes with a physical accompaniment that displays the Richter Scale and the measuring of it. The left forearm is placed horizontally in front of the body, representing the Richter Magnitude Scale. Then, the right elbow is placed on top of the left hand with the right forearm straight up in the air. This represents the off-the-charts measurement of the Richter Scale. The right hand makes the sign used to represent the phrase “call me” or the motion that many surfers use, with all fingers tucked in except the thumb and pinky. The right forearm rotates quickly as the person proclaims that an event was “Off the Richter!”

You might be asking yourself, “Self, who came up with this phrase and how in the world did it spread?” Well, only the latter question can be answered. The phrase was coined many years ago by an anonymous genius. It was resurrected from its tomb of silence by a group of teenagers including Brian Colley, Drake Farmer, and Mark Thorne-Thomsen. After this resurgence, the members of their cabin at a Colorado Camp did their part to spread the phrase to Atlanta, Houston, and to everyone at the camp from Dallas. This group of people includes the three listed above as well as: Stephen Yeargan, Matt Parker, Brian Motsenbocker, Blake Miller, Grant Heimer, Wills Brown, Zubin Teherani, Hunter Harrington, Taylor Swim, Brad Wegner, Clark Jones, Chase Blakeley, Michael Webb, Tanner Cobbs, Josh Richardson, and Billy Sanders.

Not long after this phrase became popular amongst the teenagers at the camp in Colorado, three members of the previously listed group went to a camp in Tyler, Texas, where they also successfully spread the phrase. Through repetition and others’ desire to use the wickedly awesome hand motion, the phrase was a huge success. Those who are credited with spreading the joy: Chase Blakeley, Grant Heimer, Clark Jones, Austin Godfrey, Clarke Kappmeyer, Vince Seidl, James Hatch, Iron Man, and Blender. Now the phrase will continue to spread throughout the Southern United States and eventually, the world. Hopefully you have searched for the phrase “Off the Richter” because someone you know has spread the phrase. Continue in their footsteps, friends, because no matter where you come from, something will always be “Off the Richter.”