Re: [9fans] Fork: useless and painful?

[Jack Johnson <fragment@nas.com>]

On Fri, 2003-08-01 at 15:26, Jim Choate wrote:
> On Fri, 1 Aug 2003, Jack Johnson wrote:
>
> > Excuse my '80s-ism, but: DUDE!
>
> Actually that's originally a person who can't ride a horse (goes back to
> sometime in the 1800's), it was used that way until the late 60's and early
> 70's when disco folks picked it up. From there it's just become a general
> expression.

As a noun, referring to a man in excessive/fancy attire, it stems from
the late 1800 during America's westward expansion, literally from the
"duds" they were wearing.

As a replacement for "mister" or "sir" the usage comes from the '60s,
also from the difference in attire compared to the "hippies".

The evolution into generic interjection comes from the early '80s.

> I'd almost be willing to bet you were born in the 60's (probably late).

'70, which is close enough, I suppose.

-J