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In lugnet.robotics.rcx, Rainer Balzerowski writes:
> In lugnet.robotics.rcx, Jeffrey Hazen writes:
> > I had to laugh out loud at Ralph's description: "Mindstorms for Dummies
> > really
> > does live up to its name."
> >
> > Not likely, but does anyone remember seeing a cartoon called The Ultimate
> > Video Game? Just a single panel, showing an arcade game with a rifle
> > pointing out at the joystick. The game was called "Test Your Mortality."
> >
> > (Rant Mode On)
> >
> > The whole "Whatever for Dummies" books baffle me. I have to think that
> > this is an American phenomenon. True?
>
> No ! You can get such books in Germany too.
> I'm not sure of the meaning of "dummies" in american english (more than this
> puppets used for crash simulations ?)
> In geman "dumm" means "stupid". -> dummies = stupid persons
> The same in american english?
>
> > Why on earth would you buy a book
> > targeted specifically at dummies? AOL for Dummies I understand. It seems
> > like an oxymoron, Mindstorms for Dummies. What's next, Advanced Nuclear
> > Physics for Dummies.....Boom?
> >
> > (Rant Mode Off)
> >
> > Jeff
> >
> > Jeffrey Hazen
> > North Mill Technology
> > jeffrey.hazen@northmill.net
The english word dummy is derived from the word dumb which has evolved to mean
stupid but originally (and still) means silent or does not speak as in a deaf
person that does not speak. The use of the word to mean stupid developed due to
the incorrect impression that persons who cannot speak are inherently stupid.
The use of dumb to mean not speaking has fallen mostly into disuse. I do not
normally buy into PC (political correctness) word mangling but I due try to
avoid this particular term.
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Mindstorms for Dummies (off topic)
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| (...) No ! You can get such books in Germany too. I'm not sure of the meaning of "dummies" in american english (more than this puppets used for crash simulations ?) In geman "dumm" means "stupid". -> dummies = stupid persons The same in american (...) (24 years ago, 23-Jan-01, to lugnet.robotics.rcx)
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