"Literally"

This post has been a long time coming. I'm like a fire hydrant wanting to gush... a so here it goes

People, let's first start with the meaning of the word "literally"

lit·er·al·ly 

[lit-er-uh-lee]

adverb

1. in the literal or strict sense
2. word for word
3. actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy

Now, I'm not sure where in California or what high school pep squad imposed the mutation of this word, but the word "literally" is meant to be used to describe things as they "really are."

So please refrain from exaggerations such as...

• I literally dropped dead when I saw him look at me.
• I literally put her head through the window when I saw her kissing him.
• I literally threw up when I saw what she was wearing.

Um, no you didn't. I don't even know you, but I know you didn't "literally" do that. It's funny, it's like it was adapted into "oh my gosh" vocabulary to make non-sensical stories seem real. I can see it now, it's like these girls (ok maybe guys too) realized that their crazy stories seemed unlikely and needed to find a fix... so they threw a "literally" in there and wa-la... instant legitimacy? (I put a question mark because I have to question those who would believe a story based on a semantic change)... Anyhow, there you go, word mutation. But I motion that we start campaigning for word purification, and take back our rights to 1) rational story-telling and 2) legit definitions. I'll start making the buttons and signs and let you all know when the first rally will be.