Negative Nancies and other related musings

[Jonathan Lighter]

Both GI J's (not just the dolls) can be applied to individuals. "John Law"
(usu.) and "John Q. Public" personify groups.

JL

On Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 7:15 PM, Mark Mandel <thnidu at gmail.com> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Mark Mandel <thnidu at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Negative Nancies and other related musings
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Unless you mean the dolls, how are the GI J's significantly less generic
> than John Law? -- and why not John Q. Public?
>
> m a m
>
> On Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 4:45 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
> >wrote:
>
> > Also GI Joe and GI Jane.
> >
> > I assume we're ignoring more abstract personifications like "John Q.
> > Public"
> > and "John Law."
> >
> > JL
> >
>
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