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What's the "Joe Shmoe" of different cultures? Or the "John/Jane Smith"? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by ech@lemm.ee to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Explanations/etymology also appreciated!

For Joe Shmoe, it means a very average or below average person. It's a derivation of the practice of using "shm-" to dismiss something (eg "Practice shmactice. We're already perfect").

And "John Smith" is meant to be the most average name or person imaginable, so they have the "most common" (citation needed) first and last name as well.

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[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 1 points 1 year ago

Wish I could, but alas, I cannot.

I used to travel to the region, but never picked up any of many languages. Not for lack of trying, though. My brain, as I've learned, does not pick up languages easily at all.