The ‘Ruh-Roh’ Disease
October 30th, 2005
It is a disease that affects over five-hundred thousand American citizens each year.
It is an ailment that appears without warning and it is also a condition that can disappear without any medication or treatment overnight. It is something that primarily affects men between the ages of 17 and 36 and women between the ages of 21 and 28. It is often met with confusion and annoyance whenever the symptoms of the disease occur, especially in public places or around those who are free of the disease.
It’s when people say Ruh-Roh in a Scooby-Doo voice… As if, someone told them, at some point, that this is the funniest thing on the face of the Earth.
Scientists and medical theorists have never quite figured out just why young adults and middle-aged men find the need to utter the gutteral phrase Ruh-Roh at the first sign of a Benny Hill-esque prat fall or Larry David-esque societal/moral argument in a public place. It’s not as if the American public finds themselves entranced in the #1 show called Scooby Doo on a weekly basis. The show is primarily off the air and only shows up periodically on such channels as the Cartoon Network and late night local channels whose programming quality is directly related to the lack of money they have to purchase programs.
So, why then, must grown men (and some women) be afflicted with the Ruh-Roh disease?
It seems after some research and double-blind trials, scientists and comedians alike have determined that those who find it necessary to use the phrase Ruh-Roh in social situations and to describe or react to embarrassing situations are also extremely bad at telling jokes. In looking at the results of their tests, it appears as if those who use Ruh-Roh also often make the Wah-wah-wah, waaaaah sound when someone’s reaction to a joke isn’t the expected hilarious result and also can be found telling the “What’s Grosser Than Gross” jokes at parties and at religious bible discussion groups. The same person who uses Ruh-Roh has also been categorized as the type of person to put a tack on a chair in elementary school and is the type of individual who finds the act of “hiding in their own house” long enough to scare another household member by jumping out at them to be extremely hilarious and more fun than shooting harmless metal pellets at squirrels from an opened, second-floor, bedroom window.
Just how to stop such individuals from being afflicted by the Ruh-Roh disease is anyone’s guess. Without much funding to combat the problem, it seems as if individuals must simply be left to find a cure on their own (as is normally the case), and which is mostly achieved by simply allowing time to pass (and maturity to set in). Still, it can be a tough 3-10 years while one waits for their son, daughter, fiancee, best friend or father (in some cases) to get over the ailment.
Here at WFME, all we can do is provide you with the information and hope that you use it in the best, most positive way that you can.
We wish you the best of luck.
I had no idea it was such a world wide problem. This is serious.
Comment by Daniel Nicolas — October 30, 2005 @ 11:34 am
You should start a support walk. The 5K Run to Prevent Ruh-Roh. Nike can sponsor it.
Comment by Keith — October 30, 2005 @ 11:40 am
Look guys, I’m not joking here on this one. This IS serious.
Comment by Pauly D — October 30, 2005 @ 1:21 pm
I beg to differ. I think it’s the Ruh-oh disease. But a firm slap in the face will usually cure it.
Comment by Glen C. — October 30, 2005 @ 2:35 pm
Before we cure this one, can we cure people of “Doh! Syndrome”?
I mean, I know the media gives a lot of attention to “Ruh Roh” and it’s very chic and PC to support Ruh Roh research. But Doh! Syndrome affects many more people.
Comment by AJ — October 30, 2005 @ 4:45 pm
Ruh roh just sounds silly. it’s much more acceptable to say, “D’oh!”
Comment by Dawn (webmiztris) — October 30, 2005 @ 8:28 pm
I thought it was “Rut-roh.” I don’t like it either, but if someone can giggle like Scooby after saying it, it isn’t so bad…
Comment by Flower Girl — October 31, 2005 @ 6:24 am
“Primarily off the air”? Apparently someone’s never heard of a little show called “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” Eh? Kids’ WB? Any of this ringing a bell, Paul?
Comment by Will — October 31, 2005 @ 9:36 am
I refuse to answer Will’s question as it may incriminate me.
Comment by Pauly D — October 31, 2005 @ 9:40 am
Well, what do you expect to happen when you eat a box of Scobby Snacks? There’s a good chance even your flatulence will have a hint of ‘Ruh Roh” in it.
Comment by monkeyinabox — October 31, 2005 @ 9:42 am
Doh!
Comment by Dave — October 31, 2005 @ 1:55 pm
umm, so what if i know this girl…you know, a friend…who always thought it was the Jetsons’ dog, Astro, that used to say, “Ruh-roh, George!”
yeah, what about that?
Comment by kristine — November 1, 2005 @ 12:57 pm
Kristine, I think that Astro also did that, because that’s what I (ahem, I mean “my friend”) oftentimes say. “Ruh-roh” is never without a “George” (pronounced “Rorge”) at the end for me, er, “my friend”.
Comment by Kristi — November 1, 2005 @ 1:30 pm
exactly!
Paul, would you address this, dear?
Comment by kristine — November 1, 2005 @ 2:39 pm
Pauly - you do know that the direct ancestors of Scooby were White Fang and Black Tooth. They were large dogs that hung out out with Soupy Sales. All you ever saw were their humungous paws and they spoke (Clyde Adler was their voices) just like Scooby.
Enough of history - Scooby is jst too cute. I still do his voice and Henri loves it. And anything that Henri wants . . .
Comment by anon — November 3, 2005 @ 4:26 pm
Ruh-roh, Shaggy has rupus!
Comment by todd — January 21, 2007 @ 1:38 am