pejoration of "stuff?"

[Laurence Horn]

>We might also take note of the (proverbial?) expression "It's just
>stuff" (or "It's all just stuff"), often uttered, for example, to
>console someone (or oneself) over the loss of material property in a
>fire or storm. To call the property "stuff" is to devalue it.
>
>--Charlie
>
Another instance:  Jason Giambi, New York Yankees slugger prominently
linked to the illegal use of anabolic steroids, has been in the news
recently for his semi-apology and semi-admission when he told a USA
Today reporter last week "I was wrong for doing that stuff."
Everyone takes this to be a reference to his steroid use, but of
course he doesn't exactly say that, and there's been a lot of debate
(some of it addressed in a "Sports of the Times" column by Harvey
Araton in today's NYT) about whether this counts as Giambi being
commendably "stand-up" or just too little, too late.  (Wonder how far
back that one goes.)  Plus it seems Giambi tested positive for using
amphetamines recently; evidently, greenies aren't "stuff", or at
least they're not *that* stuff.

LH

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