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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
The Potsy Thesis: More Slam-Dunk Evidence
According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), the modern term "nerd" has its direct and primary origin in the frequent use of "nerd" on the 1970s television sitcom Happy Days (particularly in the first few seasons).
Here's a bit of evidence I happened to find via newspaperarchive.com:
Salisbury, Md. Daily Times, April 15, 1977
DEAR : I would like some information about a word. This might sound silly to you but it sure has me puzzled. On Happy Days, they use it. They say, "Don't be a nerd." I would like to know what "nerd" means, so I won't hurt anybody if I say that to them. JANET L. POGUE, Casstown, Ohio
Nerd is one of those nonsense words that keep popping up to keep our American language vital. In my youth, the word was "goop." It's the same thing goop, nerd, jerk, screwball. It means, basically, a person who is clumsy, silly, foolish, acts nerdishly.
As I've noted before, 'nerd' was also given a big boost by Saturday Night Live, thanks to Bill Murray and Gilda Radner, but that was only after (and not long after) it had been popularized by Happy Days .
Here's a bit of evidence I happened to find via newspaperarchive.com:
Salisbury, Md. Daily Times, April 15, 1977
DEAR : I would like some information about a word. This might sound silly to you but it sure has me puzzled. On Happy Days, they use it. They say, "Don't be a nerd." I would like to know what "nerd" means, so I won't hurt anybody if I say that to them. JANET L. POGUE, Casstown, Ohio
Nerd is one of those nonsense words that keep popping up to keep our American language vital. In my youth, the word was "goop." It's the same thing goop, nerd, jerk, screwball. It means, basically, a person who is clumsy, silly, foolish, acts nerdishly.
As I've noted before, 'nerd' was also given a big boost by Saturday Night Live, thanks to Bill Murray and Gilda Radner, but that was only after (and not long after) it had been popularized by Happy Days .
Top answer
Here's some evidence in support of both the Potsy and Fonzie Theses: From the Plainfield (Iowa) News, May 26, 1976, apparently written by a teenager about a fellow teenager: "Happy Days" or a good movie starring John Wayne, with Hi-C and sandwiches at his side, is what Stuary C. Dietz enjoys relaxing to after a hard day of fishing and golfing (his hobbies). .
- Here's some evidence in support of both the Potsy and Fonzie Theses: From the Plainfield (Iowa) News, May 26, 1976, apparently written by a teenager about a fellow teenager: "Happy Days" or a good movie starring John Wayne, with Hi-C and sandwiches at his side, is what Stuary C.
- Dietz enjoys relaxing to after a hard day of fishing and golfing (his hobbies).
- .
- Stuart can't stand a Nerd who acts cool, as this is his Pet Peeve.
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21 Answers
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Here's some evidence in support of both the Potsy and Fonzie Theses:
From the Plainfield (Iowa) News, May 26, 1976,
apparently written by a teenager about a fellow teenager:
"Happy Days" or a good movie starring John Wayne, with Hi-C and sandwiches at his side, is what Stuary C. Dietz enjoys relaxing to after a hard day of fishing and golfing (his hobbies). . . . Stuart can't
From the Plainfield (Iowa) News, May 26, 1976,
apparently written by a teenager about a fellow teenager:
"Happy Days" or a good movie starring John Wayne, with Hi-C and sandwiches at his side, is what Stuary C. Dietz enjoys relaxing to after a hard day of fishing and golfing (his hobbies). . . . Stuart can't
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[nq:1]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?)[/nq]
"His real name was Warren Weber, but he was only ever called Potsie. The unusual moniker was bestowed on him by his mother, due to his fondness for making things out of clay as a child."
http://www.tvland.com
"His real name was Warren Weber, but he was only ever called Potsie. The unusual moniker was bestowed on him by his mother, due to his fondness for making things out of clay as a child."
http://www.tvland.com
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Areff wrote on 30 Oct 2004:
[nq:1]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), the modern term "nerd" has its direct and primary origin ... the same thing goop, nerd, jerk, screwball. It means, basically, a person who is clumsy, silly, foolish, acts nerdishly.[/nq]
Aha! Here is strong evidence that despite Raymond Wise's appreciation of the alleged humor of calling outstandi
[nq:1]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), the modern term "nerd" has its direct and primary origin ... the same thing goop, nerd, jerk, screwball. It means, basically, a person who is clumsy, silly, foolish, acts nerdishly.[/nq]
Aha! Here is strong evidence that despite Raymond Wise's appreciation of the alleged humor of calling outstandi
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} According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), the } modern term "nerd" has its direct and primary origin in } the frequent use of "nerd" on the 1970s television sitcom Happy Days } (particularly in the first few seasons).
}
} Here's a bit of evidence I happened to find via newspaperarchive.com: }
} Salisbury, Md. Daily Times, April 15, 1977
}
} DEAR : I would li
}
} Here's a bit of evidence I happened to find via newspaperarchive.com: }
} Salisbury, Md. Daily Times, April 15, 1977
}
} DEAR : I would li
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[nq:1]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), the modern term "nerd" has its direct and primary origin ... Gilda Radner, but that was only after (and not long after) it had been popularized by Happy Days .[/nq]
Yes, this article and the one from 1976 that you quote in another post were published in that crucial period between the Dec. 2, 1975 Happy Days episode "They Call I
Yes, this article and the one from 1976 that you quote in another post were published in that crucial period between the Dec. 2, 1975 Happy Days episode "They Call I
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[nq:1]Areff wrote on 30 Oct 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), ... basically, a person who is clumsy, silly, foolish, acts nerdishly.[/nq]
[nq:1]Aha! Here is strong evidence that despite Raymond Wise's appreciation of the alleged humor of calling outstanding compensation lawyers "jerks", ... on you and the cartoonist, Raymond. Franke: EFL teacher &
[nq:2]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), ... basically, a person who is clumsy, silly, foolish, acts nerdishly.[/nq]
[nq:1]Aha! Here is strong evidence that despite Raymond Wise's appreciation of the alleged humor of calling outstanding compensation lawyers "jerks", ... on you and the cartoonist, Raymond. Franke: EFL teacher &
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Raymond S. Wise wrote on 30 Oct 2004:
[nq:2]Areff wrote on 30 Oct 2004: Aha! Here is strong ... and foolish. The joke's on you and the cartoonist, Raymond.[/nq]
[nq:1]You've been out of the country too long. The following is from MWCD11: (quote) Main Entry: 1jerk Function: ... Merriam Company, (C) 1981: (quote) 2jerk n *4 :* a stupid, foolish, or unconventional person. (end quote)[/
[nq:2]Areff wrote on 30 Oct 2004: Aha! Here is strong ... and foolish. The joke's on you and the cartoonist, Raymond.[/nq]
[nq:1]You've been out of the country too long. The following is from MWCD11: (quote) Main Entry: 1jerk Function: ... Merriam Company, (C) 1981: (quote) 2jerk n *4 :* a stupid, foolish, or unconventional person. (end quote)[/
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In alt.usage.english, Areff quoted:
[nq:1]DEAR : I would like some information about a word. This might sound silly to you but it sure has ... know what "nerd" means, so I won't hurt anybody if I say that to them. JANET L. POGUE, Casstown, Ohio[/nq]
DEAR JANET: Can you tell me about your name? S. Hines says I am an 'arrant pogue'. Is a pogue a type of spaniel? BOB L., Washington D.C.
[nq:1]DEAR : I would like some information about a word. This might sound silly to you but it sure has ... know what "nerd" means, so I won't hurt anybody if I say that to them. JANET L. POGUE, Casstown, Ohio[/nq]
DEAR JANET: Can you tell me about your name? S. Hines says I am an 'arrant pogue'. Is a pogue a type of spaniel? BOB L., Washington D.C.
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[nq:1]"Goop" sounds vaguely like something that might have been in Highlights for Children . Is "nerd" at all releated to Mortimer Snerd?[/nq]
The Goops they lick their fingers,
And the Goops they lick their knives;
They spill their broth on the tablecloth
Oh, they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I'm
The Goops they lick their fingers,
And the Goops they lick their knives;
They spill their broth on the tablecloth
Oh, they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I'm
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[nq:1]According to the Potsy Thesis (is it "Potsy" or "Potsie"?), the modern term "nerd" has its direct and primary origin ... Gilda Radner, but that was only after (and not long after) it had been popularized by Happy Days .[/nq]
There's a 'word history' in AHD that cites the word in 1970, with about the meaning it has now, from which I quote one sentence:
"The third appearance of ne
There's a 'word history' in AHD that cites the word in 1970, with about the meaning it has now, from which I quote one sentence:
"The third appearance of ne
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