According to Wiktionary, the expression “Too Much Information” was first shortened to “TMI” by former Wall Street Journal reporter Joseph Checkler circa 1988. It was not until the late 1990s however, that the term was popularized by online communities.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but I was shocked to think “TMI” is still hanging in there, that old coot! I wonder how often the average person “TMIs”. Now it’s a verb, Wiktitionary! Anyway, TMI crossed my mind the other day when right after I responded to a friend’s comment, I thought, Oh, TMI! Why did I do that?
So what did I do? Well, I was out gardening with my partner and for some reason I looked at the zipper on my jeans. Why? No idea. Did I catch her looking at it? Did I feel a breeze sneaking in? Peering down, I saw that it was unzipped and zipped it up.
Now for the TMI…
She: I do that all the time. Me: It’s a good thing I have underwear on. I pull my jeans away from my belly and take a peek. Me: Yep, I do. She started cracking up. Me: I thought not only did I question the fact if I had any undergarment on below my waist, but that I had also shared it out loud. At this TMI, I smiled.