[ WP ] One day , you wake up in an alternate universe that is exactly like ours except for one difference : it is illegal to say the word `` it . ''

I woke up one day to find everything perfectly normal. 
 
 Well, maybe'normal' is a bit of an exaggeration. Everything started when I greeted a friend with'Nice weather we're having, is n't it?' 
 
 Well, that really set everyone off. `` Aaaaugh! Aaaugh! ``, they cried, and my friend told me, `` Do n't say that word.'' 
 
 I was bewildered, I did n't think that I had said anything forbidden: I asked him, `` What word?'' 
 
 He contemplated for a moment, before telling me, `` I can not tell, suffice to say is one of the words... one of the words people can not hear.'' 
 
 As you'd expect, I found that this only served to inflate my confusion... `` How can I not say the word if you do n't tell me what it is? ``, I wondered aloud. 
 
 `` Aaaaugh! Aaaugh! ``, the people again yelled. 
 
 `` What,'is'? ``, I said in shock. My friend replied, with equal tones of frustration and derision, `` No, not'is' -- we could n't get very far in life not saying'is'.'' 
 
 At this point, my girlfriend showed up. She woke up here too, and I guess she had n't figured out the particular insanity of this place either. 
 
 I greeted her with nonchalant pleasure - `` Oh, Robyn!'' 
 
 Robyn immediately replied, with some sarcasm in her voice, `` My liege! It's good to see you!''. She liked to do things like that, she said such acts made her feel like she was dating a king. I certainly did n't mind. 
 
 Apparently, everyone else did mind. Again, `` Aaaaugh!'' echoed down the street. 
 
 My friend, starting to hate the both of us, turned to the crowd and sneered, hiding his pain, `` She said the word!'' 
 
 I ignored him, and replied playfully to Robyn, `` Surely you've not given up your quest for the Holy Grail?''. 
 
 She laughed. She liked my jokes, especially when they made her life sound like awesome quests for a special cup. `` Shut up! No, no, no -- far from it.'' 
 
 Shocked, my friend yelled, `` She said the word again!'' 
 
 I could tell that reaction made Robyn lose her train of thought. She had a response in mind, and tried nervously to continue: `` I was looking for it.'' 
 
 Guess what everyone around us yelled? Yeah, that's right - `` Aaaaugh!'' 
 
 That did n't help Robyn with her thought: `` Uh, here, here in this forest.'' 
 
 I tried to help her out, pretending to ignore her gaffe. `` No, it is far from --'' 
 
 Of course, I got interrupted by the bystanders. If you're careful, by now you've noticed why. If not, you might soon. 
 
 `` Aaaaugh!'' 
 
 My friend, unsurprisingly, agreed with them. `` Aaaaugh! Stop saying the word!'' 
 
 By then I was pissed. `` Oh, stop it! ``, I shouted as a reply. 
 
 `` Aaaaugh!'' 
 
 `` Oh! He said it again! ``, my friend cried to no one in particular. 
 
 This was an error on his part, and by now I'm sure you know why. I said to Robyn, `` Come, dearest, let us leave this place''. She chuckled, and took my outstretched hand. We walked off as a cascade of voices echoed behind us. 
 
 My friend yelled, in anguish, `` Aaugh! I said it! I said it! Ooh! I said it again!'' 
 
 Every sentence was shortly followed by cries of pain behind him. `` Aaaaugh!'' 
 
 ***** 
 
 Alright, I'll fill you in on what stupid madness befell me that day. Apparently, in the middle of the night, Robyn and I had apparently managed to switch realities. Our new home was identical in every way except one: There was a certain word which caused every person great pain. 
 
 We did some searching: This word had been played over a megaphone in the trenches of WWI as a weapon of war, and was promptly banned thereafter. Over the years since, this word had slowly drifted out of the memory of every human being, as this word was never said, *ever*. 
 
 Well, until one day when some idiot showed up and said the word inconspicuously to a friend. No one knew what the word was, only that there was a word which could not be said. They were as bewildered as Robyn and I were, and luckily none of them knew of the legal status of our blunder. 
 
 Over time, Robyn and I integrated. We learned to fake agony at hearing the word. And, we've gotten quite used to avoiding the use of said word. In fact, as I'm sure you've noticed if you've realized which word we can not say, I've even learned to avoid the use of that word when I write!
