from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
asbestos cork award
n.
Once, long ago at MIT, there was a {flamer} so consistently obnoxious
that another hacker designed, had made, and distributed posters
announcing that said flamer had been nominated for the asbestos cork
award. (Any reader in doubt as to the intended application of the cork
should consult the etymology under {flame}.) Since then, it is agreed
that only a select few have risen to the heights of bombast required
to earn this dubious dignity -- but there is no agreement on which
few.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
asbestos cork award
<humour> Once, long ago at {MIT}, there was a {flamer} so
consistently obnoxious that another hacker designed, had made,
and distributed posters announcing that said flamer had been
nominated for the "asbestos cork award". (Any reader in doubt
as to the intended application of the cork should consult the
etymology under {flame}.) Since then, it is agreed that only
a select few have risen to the heights of bombast required to
earn this dubious dignity - but there is no agreement on
*which* few.
[{Jargon File}]
(1996-02-06)