# Those annoying attempts to create fads out of whole cloth

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 23, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727 "2006-07-23T18:31:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/61 "2006-07-27T11:59:15Z")

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[QUOTE=ASAKMOTSD]  
When I was in high school in the late 70’s it was Mickey D’s or Mac-D’s. I believe we also said KFC then as well. Heck, I should be seeing a check or something!  
[/QUOTE]

Or something.

> **[Redirect Notice](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:%2F%2Frawlings.com%2Fprod_images%2Fbats%2Fbblm.jpg&imgrefurl=http:%2F%2Fwww.sport-world.net%2Fbaseball.htm&h=307&w=367&sz=16&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=d846XCk1Ws89aM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=122&prev=%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dbaseball%2Bbats%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG)**

I also remember some jerk movie that came out sometime after Fast Times at Ridgemont High, with a Sean Penn lookalike. His attempt at cool inventiveness was “Hey, that’s _CASUAL_.” Wowee! Didn’t Youth USA just jump right on that one! Talk aboutj trendsetting!

hh

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**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/62 "2006-07-27T12:01:54Z")

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[QUOTE=handsomeharry]  
Or something.

> **[Redirect Notice](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:%2F%2Frawlings.com%2Fprod_images%2Fbats%2Fbblm.jpg&imgrefurl=http:%2F%2Fwww.sport-world.net%2Fbaseball.htm&h=307&w=367&sz=16&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=d846XCk1Ws89aM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=122&prev=%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dbaseball%2Bbats%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG)**

hh  
[/QUOTE]

Oops! I forgot the 😃 .

hh

(I even previewed…for the first time, even.Sorry.)

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**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/63 "2006-07-27T12:04:25Z")

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[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.]  
‘What can Brown do for you?’  
[/QUOTE]

“Stain my undershorts” is my typical response, ever since I thought of that response at the beginning of a plane trip and cracked myself up (to my companion’s disgust) by remembering the quip every fifteen seconds until we landed.

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**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/64 "2006-07-27T12:11:09Z")

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**Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!**

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**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/65 "2006-07-27T12:12:45Z")

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**Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!**

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**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/66 "2006-07-27T12:23:44Z")

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**Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!**

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/67 "2006-07-27T12:25:14Z")

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Gods, I hate that one.

I don’t even know what it’s supposed to do. All they say is that you can put it on your forehead.

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**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/68 "2006-07-27T12:57:55Z")

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That is _hella_ annoying.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/69 "2006-07-27T13:48:45Z")

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I remember one of the producers of the 70s sitcom _Happy Days_ (Gary Marshall?) talking about attempts at starting artificial fads based on the shows characters. Fonzie had become a cultural icon, and people were going around spouting “Sit on it!” and “AAAAAY!” (with thumbs upturned).

So they tried to start another fad – tying a bandana around one thigh. When Scott Baio came on the show as Chachi, Chach often wore a bandana around his leg. Needless to say, this never caught on as cool.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/70 "2006-07-27T13:51:46Z")

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[QUOTE=RumMunkey]  
**Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!**  
[/QUOTE]

What is that from?

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**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/71 "2006-07-27T13:59:33Z")

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[QUOTE=bordelond]  
What is that from?  
[/QUOTE]

“Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!” comes from a commercial for a product apparently called “Head On!” which is a frequent advertiser on “Wheel of Fortune” and Jeopardy!" The script for the commercial includes “Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!” and little else, and footage of a woman applying something directly to her forehead. I have no idea what it does, but at least on the “Jeopardy!” end credits, when the sponsors are being thanked, it comes in extra-strength. Whatever it is, one applies it head-on, directly to the forehead.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/72 "2006-07-27T14:04:46Z")

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Ah – thought of another failed artificial fad from TV. This one’s much more recent.

When the CBS sitcom “How I met Your Mother” debuted last fall, the character Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) often suggested that a lovelorn buddy of his should “Suit Up!” to impress the ladies … “Suit Up!” meaning “to wear a suit and tie to casual places that absolutely don’t require dressing up”.

Maybe six months later, I started seeing signs in the men’s sections of Target stores urging men to “Suit Up!” (yep, Target carries suit separates now).

Hmmm :dubious:

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**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/73 "2006-07-27T14:08:50Z")

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[QUOTE=Boyo Jim]  
Southern Comfort being re-named to SoCo is very annoying.  
[/QUOTE]  
I and many others have been calling it SoCo since the early 80s.

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**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/74 "2006-07-27T14:15:18Z")

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[QUOTE=D\_Odds]  
I and many others have been calling it SoCo since the early 80s.  
[/QUOTE]

I call it “undrinkable swill”. 😉

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**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/75 "2006-07-27T14:23:18Z")

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[QUOTE=Martini Enfield]  
I call it “undrinkable swill”. 😉  
[/QUOTE]

The problem is it will never be cool to be so familiar to that stuff that call it by a pet name. A good bottle of scotch, on the other hand, has a pet name for you. It’s the one that it uses to get your attention as you walk by it in the liquor store. I often wonder if vodka connoisseurs had the same experience in the old Soviet Union.

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**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/76 "2006-07-27T14:26:43Z")

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Scotch and I have an adversarial relationship. I’ll stick with my whisky and bourbon and occassionally tequila.

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**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/77 "2006-07-27T14:59:10Z")

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Re: “Head-on”: [Here you go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is3icfcbmbs).  
You’re welcome.

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**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/78 "2006-07-27T15:22:06Z")

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Apple is currently pitching a painfully obvious “we’re hip, they’re square” message to prospective computer buyers. I find it exasperating and annoying–and I’m a Macintosh fan …

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**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/79 "2006-07-27T16:17:41Z")

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[QUOTE=Gordon Urquhart]  
“Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!” comes from a commercial for a product apparently called “Head On!” which is a frequent advertiser on “Wheel of Fortune” and Jeopardy!" The script for the commercial includes “Head on! Apply directly to the forehead!” and little else, and footage of a woman applying something directly to her forehead. I have no idea what it does, but at least on the “Jeopardy!” end credits, when the sponsors are being thanked, it comes in extra-strength. Whatever it is, one applies it head-on, directly to the forehead.  
[/QUOTE]

It’s a homeopathic headache remedy. It doesn’t say what it does, because it can’t, because of FDA and DSHEA law. If they claim it cures a diagnosable medical condition (cures a headache), they’d have to have FDA approval and studies to back that up - it’s called making a “health claim”. Some herbal supplements get around this by saying their products “support \<body system\> health” (“Supports Endocrine Health!” “Supports Female Well-Being”, etc.) but Head-On’s decided to be even more vague. If you don’t make a claim, you don’t need to prove it.

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**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-annoying-attempts-to-create-fads-out-of-whole-cloth/365727/80 "2006-07-27T16:40:13Z")

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How about attempts to manufacture fads from TV shows? The aborted attempt that came to mind when reading the OP was Chachi’s bandana worn just above the knee on Happy Days. I read the producer did this just to see if kids would copy it.

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