Well:
1. I think it's better than using Joe-Six-Pack b/c it implies that working
class men have drinking problems
2. The particular person they chose as an achetype was not your averaging
working class guy - he would have been better suited as a representative
persona for a small business owner
3. The focus on demographic stereotypes and not qualitative or quantitative
data means that even if that Joe they used was more accurate - it was more
of a stereotype than a real persona
4. Using a real persona for addressing real political and economic issues
might actually make a lot of sence - imagine political campaigns using
personas and user research in designing their campaigns, messaging, and
white papers - instead of constantly changing their message based on the
latest polls which don't give an accurate picture of the electorate

Really good point you bring up though. I know when Steve Mulder was writing
The User is Always Right - he really hoped it would gain traction outside
the arena of UX people and be adopted by marketing and advertising folks as
well

On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 11:37 AM, Michael Micheletti <
[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> In the US Presidential debate last night, there was considerable discussion
> about "Joe the Plumber". Turns out he's a real person, but nevertheless I
> heard him used as a sort of proxy or persona. Anybody else flash on this
> too? Is he the right persona to be designing an economic turnaround for?
> Other secondary personas to consider? Just wondering what you wise and
> witty
> folks will come up with...
>
> Michael Micheletti
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-- 
~ will

"Where you innovate, how you innovate,
and what you innovate are design problems"

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