Conference thebay::joyoflex

In its canonical usage, it means "get to work." I prefer Thompson's "When
the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

Is the Thompson you refer to the originator of Doctor Gonzo (Hunter S. Thompson)?

    John Mitchell, Nixon's Attorney General, used the phrase in the original
"buckle down to work" sense. I am sure he did not originate it. When
Mitchell bugged out after Watergate, the phrase was turned around to apply
to him, since he was identified with it.

    One variant I have heard is:
    "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping."

    Since the context of the above was ethnic, I leave it as an exercise
for the reader.

-cjc

Yes, the Thompson I alluded to was Dr. Hunter S.

	Jon

RE: .3

Mitchell's use of the phrase resulted in one of the more humorous moments in
the Watergate hearings.  Dean was testifying before the committee and recounted
Mitchell's use of the saying.  Sam Ervin feigned partial deafness, and said,
"What was that, Mr. Dean?  'When the going gets tough, the toughs get going'?"

--PSW

    
    
    The phrase "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" actually
    means:
    
     When times are hard, such as loss of a loved one, job status, bills,
    mortgage payments are up, to mention a few, "The tough get going",
    meaning toughen up and bare with these problems. 
    
    Example: lets say that your job is on the line and you might be
    fired or forced to resign, this would indicate the going (life)
    is tough. "The tough get going" implies that if you're a tough person,
    strong natured, and have the will to survive you will deal with
    the job so you don't get fired. Or perhaps, there might be a heavy
    work load bestowed on you, which would indicate the going is tough.
    You toughen up and deal with the work load.
    
    In short.... when times are hard, money is few, bills are many,
    instead of giving up, toughen up and work things out.
    This follows the same pattern as "Don't ever be to *big* to do a
   *small* job, or to *small* to do a *big* job
    

    The Marines used 'when the going gets tough' as a recruiting slogan
    in the Vietnam era.  So it had additional ironies when applied to
    Mr. Mitchell.  
    
    My favorite variation has always been, "When the going gets tough,
    the tough go fishing."
    
    --bonnie

    I wonder if this sort of `going' has anything to do with horse-racing.
    Horse-racing commentators refer to the state of the ground as `the
    going' - examples `the going will favour horse_x', `the going is
    hard'. In the latter, `hard' doesn't mean tough at all, it means plain
    hard (which would favour lighter horses, I think); the opposite
    of `hard' in this context is `soft' - which _could_ be the opposite
    of hard in the sense `tough', except that another description of
    this sort of going is `firm'.
    
    b

someone might check to see if the phrase was used by vice lombardi,
or about him.  i think i recall it from the 60s.
it was a cliche in motivation courses for salesmen by the mid 70s.

              <<< Note 83.9 by POLICY::BRADLEY "Chuck Bradley" >>>
                             -< by vince lombardi? >-

someone might check to see if the phrase was used by vince lombardi,
or about him.  i think i recall it from the 60s.
it was a cliche in motivation courses for salesmen by the mid 70s.

    Hunter S.
    said it the best. 
    
    Going,
    Going,
    Gonzo.