Does Mickey Signify Crud?

[Talsonic]

When I was a young man, several common expressions were used to denote cheap or inferior work. The most ubiquitous expression of this sort was, "That's Mickey Mouse". A cheap car such as a Yugo was "Mickey Mouse". Bad shoes or out of fashion clothes were also called, "Mickey Mouse". I haven't heard that expression used in recent years until the other day. I was in a computer store and walking past a display that had e-machines. A young girl (about 17) said to her friends, "That is soooooo Mickey Mouse!". The girl and her friends all walked away and made a few derisive gestures (and sounds) in the general direction of the e-machines. So, my question is does the term "Mickey Mouse" once again refer to poor quality and cheap or inferior product?

 

[JLW11Hi]

I read about this in the Walt Disney bio, "An American Original", by Bob Thomas.

Before I go to bed, I am going to post an exerpt.

"Mickey has suffered the devaluation of his name into a derogatory adjective....The term has even entered the dictionaries as describing something "childish, oversimplified, unrelated to reality, etc."

 

[Maria]

Wow.... I didn´t know it was already in the dictionary! I heard that term for the first time and started using it in 1994!

 

[tenchu]

It's widely used over here too.

 

[Erika]

I had heard it used to mean something silly or simple, but not neccessarily cruddy.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

"I would say that this whole thing has been a Mickey Mouse operation...but that'd be an insult to Mickey Mouse."

-Former Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight, regarding university investigations into his behavior

 

[The Mom]

I agree with everyone on the "childish, silly, cartoonish" usage. I did once hear it (or interpreted it as) a term used to denote an inferior product....someone asked what time I had on my "Mickey Mouse" watch, and since I was wearing a mid-priced one (not absolute top of the line, but not a drug store brand, either...definitely a 3 figure item, and this was 20 odd years ago!) I was a little offended. But I was also much younger.

I would not have interpreted those remarks to mean that the girls considered the products to be "cheap or inferior", just unsophisticated or not "cool." (Which is a sin if you're an easily impressed and peer-influenced teenager....most adults...and many teenagers... have a bit more judgement)

 

[General Grizz]

Where I come from, Mickey Mouse means WDW...and that ain't cruddy! (Unless the people are Universal fans... )

Like other things...I'm sure this wlil soon fade out...

....and people will start saying...that is SOOO uuuuuuuuuniversal!




No, just kidding about "part 2."

 

[JLW11Hi]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall

....and people will start saying...that is SOOO Universal!

No, just kidding about "part 2."

Mabey, this is soooooo Six Flags!

 

[Maria]

I don´t know what cruddy means, but I learned to use it for things that are cheap and/or inferior quality.

"A Mickey Mouse watch" would mean for me, a really cheap one or a "made in Taiwan" one if you know what I mean... :animwink:

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
Where I come from, Mickey Mouse means WDW...and that ain't cruddy! (Unless the people are Universal fans... )

Like other things...I'm sure this wlil soon fade out...

....and people will start saying...that is SOOO Universal!




No, just kidding about "part 2."

Oh...my..lord... what is the world coming to? Grizz capitilized that...that... 'u' place! :fork:

 

[General Grizz]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I failed you, Mr. Disney!!

Maybe I was mad at Test Track and other things in other threads that I just forgot!

uNIVERSAL MUST FAIL!!!

(How was that??! )

 

[Quentin Disney]

From what I've read, the originality of the "Mickey Mouse" insult referrs to the first Mickey Mouse watches. I believe they were made by Ingersoil. They were known for being very cheap, hence the term "Mickey Mouse".

But in our world, we know better not to say that!

 

[Hyperion93]

Originally posted by grizzlyhall
Where I come from, Mickey Mouse means WDW...and that ain't cruddy!D

Well, atleast that's how it is for me. Nothing is cruddy about WDW.