And I first encountered it (2004?), exclusively verbally, as a way to soften asshole. As far as I could tell and assumed to this day, it was taken up primarily aesthetically (sounds nicer than asshole and looks nicer in text, literally aesthetics here).
Still, it had the same implication of someone who is sort of oblivious to other people (asshole) but in a somewhat endearing or amusing or not all that serious a way.
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And I first encountered it (2004?), exclusively verbally, as a way to soften asshole. As far as I could tell and assumed to this day, it was taken up primarily aesthetically (sounds nicer than asshole and looks nicer in text, literally aesthetics here).
Still, it had the same implication of someone who is sort of oblivious to other people (asshole) but in a somewhat endearing or amusing or not all that serious a way.