# Things that went out of style due to negative connotations (ex: the Hitler 'stache) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067 "2007-03-08T04:44:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/61 "2007-03-09T16:20:06Z")
I hesitate to say it was a “style” but it was not unknown for people to get electro-shock treatment for some nervous disorders. But after McGovern’s running-mate Missouri Senator Thomas Eagleton was piloried for it and forced to drop out of the race, I am told that the proceedure is virtually non-esistent. \*Mild side note here, Eagleton died just a couple of weeks ago \*(depending how long this thread lasts) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/62 "2007-03-09T16:37:59Z")
I have news for y’all: lobotomy and electroshock therapy haven’t gone anywhere. They’ve just got new names: [Electroconvulsive Therapy.](http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70085-0.html) [Bilateral Cingulotomy](http://bipolar.about.com/b/a/235165.htm) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/63 "2007-03-10T02:53:20Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] The governor in Texas 30 years ago was Dolph Briscoe. I assume Dolph was short for Adolph, and he’s probably the only one I’me aware of. Of course, he was born before that whole Hitler thing. [/QUOTE] Nah, it looks like [Dolph’s name](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolph_Briscoe) was just Dolph ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/64 "2007-03-10T06:16:26Z")
[QUOTE=BMax] My Old Testament knowledge is a little Rusty, but wasn’t Nimrod the one who had sex with his mother in hopes of creating a pure race? [/QUOTE] Not sure what you were thinking of there, but it wasn’t Nimrod. He only gets mentioned in the Bible as being a mighty hunter, and as the founder of Babel. It doesn’t explicitly say he commissioned the tower, but the association is there. Maybe you were thinking of Lot’s daughters (who, after their city was destroyed, got their father drunk and slept with him because they thought they were the last people left on earth). ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/65 "2007-03-10T13:53:06Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] I have news for y’all: lobotomy and electroshock therapy haven’t gone anywhere. They’ve just got new names: [Electroconvulsive Therapy.](http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70085-0.html) [Bilateral Cingulotomy](http://bipolar.about.com/b/a/235165.htm) [/QUOTE] A Bilateral Cingulotomy is hardly the same thing as a Transorbital Lobotomy. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/66 "2007-03-10T14:20:46Z")
The U.S. Army got rid of olive drab wool uniforms in the 1950s after a decade of WW2 veterans wearing Wool, O.D., as civilian work clothes. For a few years after the war it apparently wasn’t unusual for an entire gang of day laborers to show up in pieces of old uniforms. Thus were born the fatigues and the dark green dress uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/67 "2007-03-10T16:24:01Z")
Torchlight parades seem to have gone out of style after the Nazis. What a shame, because how neat are they? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/68 "2007-03-10T18:10:58Z")
You might be wearing shoes named for one the company’s founders, Adolph “ADI” DASchler. I may have misspelled Adi’s last name. When crooked lobbyist Jack Abramoff was on trial, he was often photographed on the courthouse steps in a natty overcoat and a black fedora. Many reporters talked about how Jack was decked out like a mob boss. Very few men wore fedoras at the time, anyway, but I wondered if fedora sales were affected a little by Jack’s snappy lid. I’m still wearing mine. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/69 "2007-03-10T19:03:32Z")
“Cult” use to be a perfectly respectable word. But now it’s usually used in a derogatory sense. ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/70 "2007-03-10T21:00:29Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree] Torchlight parades seem to have gone out of style after the Nazis. What a shame, because how neat are they? [/QUOTE] They continued to be a feature in big election campaigns in Chicago for quite a time thereafter. The most famous is probably [the one on November 4th 1960](http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/kennedy/rjdjfk.html) when Mayor Daley led John F. Kennedy and a huge crowd - the Machine claimed that a million people were present - of Democrat supporters from the Loop out to the Chicago Stadium for a rally, but there was [one for Carter](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914568,00.html) as late as 1976. The usual explanation in this instance is that they were finally killed off by the dominance of TV electioneering. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/71 "2007-03-10T21:09:29Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] The red 'fro began, and simultaneously ended with [this man](http://www.nevadamagazine.com/Carrot.Top.jpg). [/QUOTE] [Not true](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jimmyv.org/content/contentimages/news/commodore.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jimmyv.org/news.cfm%3Fnewsid%3D215&h=259&w=212&sz=23&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=_obPxsXVGHvv7M:&tbnh=112&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMike%2BCommodore%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/72 "2007-03-10T21:29:20Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] The Ayd’s Diet Plan was the first thing I thought of. The governor in Texas 30 years ago was Dolph Briscoe. I assume Dolph was short for Adolph, and he’s probably the only one I’me aware of. Of course, he was born before that whole Hitler thing. [/QUOTE] Dolph Lundgren, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/73 "2007-03-10T21:34:07Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Slant] Dolph Lundgren, perhaps? [/QUOTE] No. [Dolph Lundgren - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Lundgren) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/74 "2007-03-10T21:47:05Z")
Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/75 "2007-03-11T01:03:20Z")
[QUOTE=Spectre of Pithecanthropus] First, when was it ever used in the U.S.? Do you mean our armed forces used to use it? [/QUOTE] I think you’re referring to the Nazi salute, but the swastika was used on the patches of the [45th Infantry Division](http://www.fpp.co.uk/Hitler/swastika/Walker_200105.html) ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/76 "2007-03-13T07:18:47Z")
[QUOTE=Si Amigo] Well, this [guy](http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030405/saddam.jpg) and this [chick](http://www.berets.com/media/monica-beret-sm.jpg) were the downfall of the beret. [/QUOTE] I guess [this guy](http://home.earthlink.net/~thezombiequeen/blog/jamie.jpg) never got the word. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/77 "2007-03-13T07:36:43Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] You might be wearing shoes named for one the company’s founders, Adolph “ADI” DASchler. I may have misspelled Adi’s last name. When crooked lobbyist Jack Abramoff was on trial, he was often photographed on the courthouse steps in a natty overcoat and a black fedora. Many reporters talked about how Jack was decked out like a mob boss. Very few men wore fedoras at the time, anyway, but I wondered if fedora sales were affected a little by Jack’s snappy lid. I’m still wearing mine. [/QUOTE] Allright, Drudge. You know everyone here hates you so just get off the board. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/78 "2007-03-13T13:33:48Z")
Well, I don’t know whether they were ever _in_ style, but in Germany you can’t wear Lonsdale clothing anymore since [neo-Nazis decided to wear them](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060322/ai_n16145990) (for the NSDA in the middle of the name). Als to Adolf, I don’t think there are a lot of younger people named that way - [here is a site where you can see when it went out of fashion](http://lexikon.beliebte-vornamen.de/adolf.htm)… ---
**Author:** ![Sid\_Hatfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Sid\_Hatfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sid_Hatfield)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/79 "2007-03-13T13:45:48Z")
How about the word “discriminate?” Its original meaning is positive, meaning to discern truly the qualities of someone or something and to favor that which is highest in quality. Then it was narrowed to mean only “irrational racial bias” which is truly a failure to discriminate sensibly. Now the word has a bad connotration, so you’ll seldom see an advertisement appealing to “the discriminating shopper.” ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067/80 "2007-03-13T13:46:17Z")
Similarly, Burberry has fallen out of fashion in the UK due to its association with chavs. Cider has also suffered a similar fate, of sorts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-went-out-of-style-due-to-negative-connotations-ex-the-hitler-stache/395067.md?page=5)