# Things that people just knew that became "Official". **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527 "2016-11-20T15:05:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/1 "2016-11-20T15:05:54Z")
I know that’s a terrible subject but I couldn’t think of a more concise way of saying what I meant. Hopefully the examples will make it clear: For a long long time the term “Black Friday” was just (false?) trivia about the day after Thanksgiving. “You know retailers call it ‘black Friday’ because that’s the day they start making a profit”. The day after Thanksgiving didn’t really have a name. Now it does have a name that everyone knows and have essentially become official. Growing up Dunkin’ Donuts was a doughnut shop first and foremost but people who went would often mention as an aside, “You’d be surprised but they actually have really good coffee”. It was kind of like an open secret. Nowadays, DD is a coffee shop that also has doughnuts. The coffee is the reason most people go and the business has basically positioned itself as a competitor of Starbucks not Krispie Kreme. Can you think of other examples of this phenomenon? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/2 "2016-11-20T17:26:31Z")
Columbus Day (and some other holidays) were observed for a long time before state legislatures designated them to be official holidays. I was watching a Pirates game one night, and saw that a Pittsburgh bedding outlet was “The official mattress store of the Pittsburgh Pirates”. I didn’t think they needed one, since pitcher Kris Benson’s wife was traded to the Orioles, with Benson himself thrown in on the deal. All you have to do is buy a big advertising contract for a team’s telecasts, and you can be the “official” purveyor of something to the team. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/3 "2016-11-20T17:44:23Z")
In fiction this is [ascended fanon](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AscendedFanon). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/4 "2016-11-20T18:27:17Z")
Thanksgiving itself. It was made official in the 1860s to prop up the poultry industry. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/5 "2016-11-20T18:59:51Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Growing up Dunkin’ Donuts was a doughnut shop first and foremost but people who went would often mention as an aside, “You’d be surprised but they actually have really good coffee”. It was kind of like an open secret. Nowadays, DD is a coffee shop that also has doughnuts. The coffee is the reason most people go and the business has basically positioned itself as a competitor of Starbucks not Krispie Kreme. No. If this were true, Krispie Kreme’s attempt to enter the New England market would’ve been successful, not have completely failed and left within two years. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/6 "2016-11-20T19:02:11Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Growing up Dunkin’ Donuts was a doughnut shop first and foremost but people who went would often mention as an aside, “You’d be surprised but they actually have really good coffee”. It was kind of like an open secret. Nowadays, DD is a coffee shop that also has doughnuts. Dairy Queen has long been trying to reinvent itself as a fast food joint that also has a variety of ice cream-based desserts. I’m not sure if they’re there yet. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/7 "2016-11-20T19:23:05Z")
Do you mean like how some people jokingly referred to McDonald’s as “Mickey D’s”—and then McDonald’s themselves started using the name in their marketing? Or how some people refer to the Solstices and Equinoxes as the “official first day of” the season? ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/8 "2016-11-21T02:13:18Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you mean like how some people jokingly referred to McDonald’s as “Mickey D’s”—and then McDonald’s themselves started using the name in their marketing? They did that in Australia too with “Maccas”. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/9 "2016-11-21T02:45:09Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Growing up Dunkin’ Donuts was a doughnut shop first and foremost but people who went would often mention as an aside, “You’d be surprised but they actually have really good coffee”. It was kind of like an open secret. Nowadays, DD is a coffee shop that also has doughnuts. The coffee is the reason most people go and the business has basically positioned itself as a competitor of Starbucks not Krispie Kreme. Um, back in the 60s, every Dunkin’ Donuts had “World’s Best Coffee” on the sign outside every shop. It was as much a coffee shop then as it is today. (Well, nowadays, Dunkin’ Donuts is not really interested in selling donuts). How about Avon Skin So Soft which was believed to be an insect repellent? They now manufacture a version that actually is an insect repellent. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/10 "2016-11-21T03:48:25Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > How about Avon Skin So Soft which was believed to be an insect repellent? They now manufacture a version that actually is an insect repellent. This is actually a perfect example of what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/11 "2016-11-21T12:43:32Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Or how some people refer to the Solstices and Equinoxes as the “official first day of” the season? Also, Memorial Day and Labor day are considered by some to be the start and end of summer. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/12 "2016-11-21T14:02:55Z")
For years, Coca-Cola used to run ads telling customers not to call it “Coke,” for fear of losing their trademark. Eventually, they trademarked “Coke” and now use it interchangeably. (This is separate from the usage of “coke” to mean any soft drink.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/13 "2016-11-21T14:42:40Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Also, Memorial Day and Labor day are considered by some to be the start and end of summer. And July 4th, Independence Day ,the middle of summer. September 11th is referred to as Patriot Day, and it will probably become official. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/14 "2016-11-21T16:55:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > How about Avon Skin So Soft which was believed to be an insect repellent? They now manufacture a version that actually is an insect repellent. The same thing happened with Mane and Tail for horses. Rumor went around that it made women’s hair luxurious and, voila, it’s now a regular product sold in Walmart. I think that also was the case for Bag Balm or Udder Cream and something just for babies that’s been re-marketed to target adult skincare. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/15 "2016-11-21T17:44:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Um, back in the 60s, every Dunkin’ Donuts had “World’s Best Coffee” on the sign outside every shop. It was as much a coffee shop then as it is today. (Well, nowadays, Dunkin’ Donuts is not really interested in selling donuts). They used to serve it in real mugs if you were having it at the counter. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/16 "2016-11-21T22:02:21Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I was watching a Pirates game one night, and saw that a Pittsburgh bedding outlet was “The official mattress store of the Pittsburgh Pirates”. _ **I didn’t think they needed one, since pitcher Kris Benson’s wife was traded to the Orioles, with Benson himself thrown in on the deal.** _ All you have to do is buy a big advertising contract for a team’s telecasts, and you can be the “official” purveyor of something to the team. Dafuq is this? 😕 What a bizarre response to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/17 "2016-11-21T22:48:26Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Dafuq is this? 😕 What a bizarre response to the OP. Yeah i don’t get it either. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/18 "2016-11-21T22:57:33Z")
Cigarettes were known as “coffin nails” or “cancer sticks” practically from day one. It wasn’t until the 1964 Surgeon General’s report that it became official that they were. (That’s the US. In the 50s in the UK.) ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/19 "2016-11-21T23:55:27Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > For a long long time the term “Black Friday” was just (false?) trivia about the day after Thanksgiving. “You know retailers call it ‘black Friday’ because that’s the day they start making a profit”. The day after Thanksgiving didn’t really have a name. Now it does have a name that everyone knows and have essentially become official. This is just a phrase catching on as the phenomenon it describes becomes more prevalent. It’s somewhat rare to see in action, but it does happen. The others are more “knowledge” things than “word” things, but it’s interesting that they can flow a similar pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527/20 "2016-11-22T01:23:25Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Yeah i don’t get it either. Made me laugh tho. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-people-just-knew-that-became-official/772527.md?page=2)