SOPA and PIPA

The words “SOPA” and “PIPA” make any Russian speaker smile.

“SOPA” sounds like an euphemism for жопа (zhopa) which means “ass”. The word not only names an actual part of the body, but also describes a really bad situation. E. g. “we are in жопа” means we are screwed, we are doomed, we are toast. Or “this UI is жопа” means the UI is a mess where it’s impossible to figure things out.

“PIPA” brings up associations with a diminutive for “penis”. The word “пипка” (pipka), which used to mean a pipe for smoking (and has actually derived from it), now means just about anything small that sticks up. A mum can use it to call her 1-year-old boy’s penis. But it would be odd. And “PIPA” is technically a big pipka. This makes no sense, and that’s funny.

And even if you ignore the possible meaning, both words sound plain stupid. You can’t call laws like this and hope they will pass.