4 ms·
As someone born in the 90s, I've only heard the term "erector set" maybe 2-3 times ever (I feel like maybe I remember it mentioned in a Calvin and Hobbes comic,
by saghm 3y ago
As someone born in the 90s, I've only heard the term "erector set" maybe 2-3 times ever (I feel like maybe I remember it mentioned in a Calvin and Hobbes comic, or something of that nature), so I have no knowledge about which term was more common, but one of them kind of sounds risque to me...did the word "erect" not have that connotation back then? It's not hard for me to imagine kids (or even adults, really) giggling every time someone used the term "erector set", so I'd expect that to be something people remembered more than "Meccano", which to me sounds like the name of a coffee brand or something.
- cf100clunk 3y agoDifferent times, so I doubt there was much blushing.
- dharmon 3y agoThe 1996 movie Jack with Robin Williams had a joke playing off this. I don’t remember the joke exactly, but one of the boys asks Jack if he’s ever had an erection, and he says something like “No, but I was hoping to get one for my birthday.”
- freetinker 3y agoIt’s exactly like you imagine. The connotation of the word hasn’t changed much. I can confirm the giggling (personal experience).
- monitron 3y agoFrom a Firesign Theatre album, 1969: “That's okay, I brought an Erector Set.” “Throw a towel over it!” “Do some pushups, Pablo, Maybe it’ll go away.”