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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

83 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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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[–] ValiantDust@feddit.de 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Don't forget his wife, Erika Mustermann, geb. (née) Gabler. She's usually the one used for passports these days. I think there's a whole Mustermann family living in these templates.

[–] elvith@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Isn't it Erika Musterfrau?

[–] ValiantDust@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago

Sometimes, but I mostly see her name as Mustermann.