simple explanation request

[climb]

In many threads I find the following expression, I fear i'm not wholly understanding:

"Silly Season"

According to my english knowledge, silly means "stupid", but in those threads this term seems to be used with completely different sense.
I just can't catch it.
Could someone kindly explain me what does that mean?

Many thanks

[F3lollipops]

Climb

'Silly season' is pretty much used to describe the period of time when all kinds of wild rumours start flying around - before the facts start to be announced.

In the context of this site, a lot of it is along the lines of pure speculation about who will drive for whom and when...

I hope that this helps

[Wrex]

It has 2 meanings at the moment climb.

Firstly is motorsport, where driver contracts are being negotiated.

The second is christmas time, also refered to as the silly season.

[JimW]

"Silly season" is a term used colloquially in the UK (at least) to refer to a time over the summer season when Parliament is not sitting and traditionally, many of the people important in government, society and business went on holiday. Thus there was not much "news" of real importance but the press still needed something to pad out the advertisements.

So trivial stories of little importance got lots of press exposure because there were fewer important stories.

By extension then the term has come to be applied to any period of low real news activity but journos still needing to get paid for something.

Typically used ( by some ) to apply to the F1 season between October and March. (Rubbish is the term to be applied to F1 between March and October.)

A hackneyed phrase which ought to be regarded as a cliche and consigned to the dustbin for a long rest.

Regards

Jim

[Wrex]

silly season

n : a time usually late summer characterized by exaggerated news stories about frivolous matters for want of real news.

[thebear]

Originally posted by Wrex
silly season

n : a time usually late summer characterized by exaggerated news stories about frivolous matters for want of real news.

It was also the tile of a science fiction short story published in the 1950's during the "Flying Saucer" popularity. It followed the theme described in the prior posts. In the story space aliens had been monitoring terrestial newspapers/radio/tv and used the "goofy story line" as a method to invade Earth. Their efforts were undone by a news reporter who checked on the wierd happenings and managed to get his editor to convince the authorities to investigate and act before the actual invasion.

[climb]

Thanks everybody for these rich explanations mates!

[Mr V]

Originally posted by JimW
"Silly season" is a term used colloquially in the UK (at least) to refer to a time over the summer season when Parliament is not sitting and traditionally, many of the people important in government, society and business went on holiday.

If the MP's are all on holiday, surely this should be regarded as "sensible season".

"silly season" for when they all come back from their holidays

[DAVID PATERSON]

Originally posted by Mr V
If the MP's are all on holiday, surely this should be regarded as "sensible season".

"silly season" for when they all come back from their holidays

Surely, this would depend if the silly party or the sensible party are in power.

[paulzinho]

What sensible party? They're politicians aren't they!!