NASTY WOMAN

I often refer to the LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES:

"outcomes that are not the ones foreseen or intended by any purposeful action."

Of course there is no such law, but like Murphy's Law, it is now usually used in a humorous way.  Although the idea is referenced by John Locke, Adam Smith, and others, the phrase was popularized by the American sociologist Robert K. Merton.

My favorite recent example:  NASTY WOMAN.   

During the Third Presidential Debate Secretary Clinton's opponent referred to her as a "nasty woman" and within a day, there were tee-shirts, and all kinds of merchandise emblazoned with the logo NASTY WOMAN available.  Celebrities such as Katy Perry were soon spotted wearing the apparel.

In the intervening months since the intended insult the logo has continued and was quite prevalent at the March On Washington on January 21 and at other resistance movement events, I have seen quite a number of sisters wearing the symbol.   

Now, there are battles over the patent and copyrights as several people have applied for the rights.

I doubt if that is the outcome--the consequence-- Secretary Clinton's opponent had hoped for--intended-- with his insult.  My brother quipped, "The Litigator-In-Chief will probably be suing the ones trying to patent or copyright;  after all, he tried to copyright YOU'RE FIRED!"