Why do we say "Foo" and not "Fu"?

[mr danny ross]

As the "Foo" is usually paired with "Bar" (i.e. "FooBar") we are reminded of the original acronym "FUBAR" (#*$!ed Up Beyond All Recognition).

Sooo, how come we use "Foo"?

I realise Kernigan & Ritchie used "Foo" in their book and that "Foo" is inoffensive. Unlike "Fu".

But still...

[Macguru]

Welcome to the Zoo, mr danny ross!

King Kong named it Foo, and no one here wants to argue with him.

[graywolf]

FUBAR: Failed UniBus Address Register from DEC/VAX

[limbo]

FOO, foo [solvalou.com]: def - 1. Noun - A weasel flinging device used by archers to postpone the onset of battle - not to be attempted without wearing protective.... 2. Noun - Underpants worn only in extreme conditions i.e. even when the kilt wearering archers are freezing their **llocks off. 3. Verb - meaning: content to talk unequivocal **llocks i.e. What the foo is this foo? or; when she foos she really foos! or just; he's fooing bonkers.

[Debbie_King]

In the British armed forces (especially the Navy) 'foo-foo' is the term used to describe talcum powder and other bathtime 'smellies'.

[sem4u]

Foo = UFO

As in the band Foo Fighters?

[encyclo]

Foo and Bar are recognised at standard words for technical documentation. They are "metasyntactic variables" (whatever that is supposed to mean!):

[rfc.net...]

[mr danny ross]

metasyntactic variables? Well let's ask Google... Interesting. These yokeimabob's look fun...

[onlinedictionary.datasegment.com...]

say Rutgers University use "flarp". And that New Zealanders use "blarg". They also mention the ever popular "wibble".

What do other people use?

I like "Bok" myself.

Bokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbokbok

[lawman]

Welcome mr danny ross. Looks like you'll fit right in with Foo.

[Macguru]

mr danny ross, can "bok" call for "bar"?

In this case, you ow everyone here 16 boks each.

Cheers!

[Woz]

"bok" sounds too "Swedish Cook" to me.

Onya
Woz

[Macguru]

Sounds like a litre of German beer to me. ;)

BTW, Woz, Bjork was born in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Bjork Bjork Bjork!