A sampling of how this week’s technology metaphor, “Leveling up,” (birthplace: video games) is used across genres….
“Leveling Up: Career Advancement for Software Developers”
“Leveling up. Getting even with your friends in terms of the blood alcohol level.”
“In order to level up you need to work out for an hour a day, save a quarter of your paycheck, and read a book a week.”
Urban Dictionary tells me it’s also used as a reference to tripping on mushrooms, and that that’s a wink to Mario…but doesn’t a mushroom in Mario world cause a power up, not a level up? Mixed metaphors! There is no leveling up in Mario, at least in the versions I’ve played.
“Powering up” would definitely make more sense as a coffee reference. You can attain it over and over again and it doesn’t stem from or lead to any permanent gain in experience or ability.
PS …stem from. I might switch to botany metaphors after a while here.
PPS I wonder if Windows XP was an attempt at making a gaming reference?
