going tonto

[Mark A Mandel]

On Sat, 18 May 2002, Douglas G. Wilson wrote:

#I suspect that "go tonto" refers to Tonto the Indian [taken as stereotype]
#in "The Lone Ranger", with the connection "go on the warpath". A stupid
#derivation of a stupid expression IMHO.
#
#The typical user of expressions such as "majorly", "go tonto" does not
#speak foreign languages ... perhaps can hardly manage his domestic one ....

In that case the person whose post I am quoting is highly atypical. I
suggest you reexamine your stereotypes.

-- Mark A. Mandel