Re: CHAT: Tacos et al.

Thomas Wier wrote:

>Which reminds me:  has anyone noticed
>that people have been using the word "folks" /fouks/ as a
>synonym with "people (in general)" more often lately? I could
>swear I started noticing this before Bush took office.
For me, "folks" is kinda diminutive, and as a result, can be rather
condescending. As in "They're just folks." (meaning: "They're simple,
honest, but naïve, unmannered hicks.").  When Blacks refer to Whites
as "White folks", I usually take it to mean "overly uptight, perhaps
well-meaning, WASPs who are totally uncool and totally clueless as to
anything remotely pertaining to the African American experience". If
there is an increase in the use of "folks" in the media or by
politicians (which I haven't particularly noticed myself), I'd take
it to mean "corn-fed, salt-of-the-earth Midwestern Americans"
(hard-working, religious, patriotic, roast-chicken-for-Sunday-dinner,
who vote).  Robert Mapplethorpe ain't "folks". "The Artist Formally
Known as..." ain't "folks". Sinead O'Connor ain't "folks". Jimmy
Stewart *is* "folks". Laura Bush is "folks".

Kou