[extropy-chat] Redneck Transhumanists

[Olga Bourlin]

From: "Damien Broderick" <thespike at satx.rr.com>

> At 01:44 PM 7/3/2004 -0700, Olga wrote:
>
> >"The "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson
(Facts
> >on File, New York, 1997) has this to say about the term: "REDNECK. A
poor,
> >white, often rowdy southerner, usually one from a rural area. The word,
> >which is sometimes derogatory, has its origins in the sunburned necks of
> >farmers and outdoor laborers, and originally meant a poor farmer."
>
> My understanding (from an ancient biochemistry course I took in the '60s)
> is that it derived from the visual symptoms of the niacin deficiency
> disorder pellagra, marked by photosensitive dermatitis, diarrhea,
dementia,
> and ultimately death. This disease was often found in poor farmers working
> wretched land.

Interesting.  I was not aware of this particular derivation.

"Redneck" made its first impression on me in late 1966 (strange that I can
still remember this incident).  Walt Disney died.  An acquaintance of mine
said (of Disney) - "He was a redneck."  At that time "redneck" was used
interchangeably with "cracker" and "racist," and meant a white Southern
bigot.

Olga

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