[sdiy] OT: How would you define "cheesy" ?

[Glen]

Okay this is not totally on topic, but it *is* related to synths, and they
way they sound. I keep reading one adjective over and over, and this is the
word "cheesy." Perhaps it's obvious to everyone here except me, but just
what is the definition of "cheesy", as applied to the sound of synths and
other electronic keyboards?

The word usually has a definitely negative connotation, but then again,
some people actually *like* an instrument that they consider "cheesy."
Also, I've yet to find any consensus on which instruments are "cheesy" and
which aren't. The only trend that I can spot is that a higher percentage of
younger people seem to use this word. 

Is being "cheesy" at least in part a function of an instrument's age? Some
people seem to think that anything built 3 years ago is not worth having
any longer, it's simply too "cheesy." The same has been said of synthesizer
patches as well. Sounds that were popular 3 years ago, are simply "cheesy"
by today's standards.

So I ask one last time, what *is* "cheesy" - exactly?


Later,
Glen