h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

i've heard dude used as a noun, as in a friend or buddy: "hey, dude." but it is also used as an exclaimation, like "dude! that was sooo cool!" the most i've heard "dude" used in a short span of time was in those Barq's ads i hear on the radio all the time: "dude, the kitty busted my skateboard." "dude, barq's has bite" i find that to be quite annoying, because it's mocking how skaters talk (though none that i know talk like that) just to sell their product.

The fact that some people still use the word "dude" in everday language scares me.

Where I come from the word "dude" can mean just about anything. The meaning changes with the inflection/gestures.

In my opinion the most inappropriate use of 'dude' was encountered by a friend of mine. Trevor is in the T.A. (Territorial Army - the British equivalent (sort of) of the National Guard). A few years back, while on exercise, he was working with some American soldiers. In the course of events they met up with some members of the S.A.S. One of the Americans asked who they were. On being told 'They're from the S.A.S', the American replied 'Say! Cool dudes!'

The S.A.S are an elite group of men, and you can use any number of superlatives to describe them. But 'Cool dudes'!!! Please!!!