Why "her?"

[mickeyfinn]

I pay a lot of attention to words and how people use them.

I've always wondered why some folks refer to sexless, inanimate objects as "she" and "her." The most common examples seem to be firearms and cars.

"For some reason she has trouble cycling hollow points." Why not say, "It has trouble ... ." ?

Cars too. "She's running a little rough."

I don't care about, or object to, this use of feminine pronouns to describe things that have no feminine attributes. I'm merely curious as to how and why it started.

Who here describes their gun(s) or car(s) as "she" or "her?" I think it may be a family type thing that's passed down. But that doesn't explain how it started.

(You know, maybe I have too much time on my hands).

[jocko]

what words would u use to describe Monica Lewinsky????? Just sayin

[yqtszhj]

what words would u use to describe Monica Lewinsky????? Just sayin

Vacum cleaner :eek:

Well if a guy loved his firearm or car and said "I just love him" I think he would get some funny looks.:rolleyes:

[Bawanna]

I think you might be onto something. Guns and nice cars are a predominantly male owned thing, not to say there aren't violets into guns and cars too and as much as I'd like to see more it's till a vast majority male thing. To most girls cars are just transportation.

So as you say calling your gun or a car a him just don't seem natural.

For some reason all dogs to me are boys, girl dog just don't compute. Don't have the same attitude towards cats. They don't come when you call or care about anything but themselves so guess they don't matter.

[berettabone]

I think you might be onto something. Guns and nice cars are a predominantly male owned thing, not to say there aren't violets into guns and cars too and as much as I'd like to see more it's till a vast majority male thing. To most girls cars are just transportation.

So as you say calling your gun or a car a him just don't seem natural.

For some reason all dogs to me are boys, girl dog just don't compute. Don't have the same attitude towards cats. They don't come when you call or care about anything but themselves so guess they don't matter.
All dogs are boys because they run, eat, sleep, crap, fart, and lick themselves, and they like beer.http://kahrtalk.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[mickeyfinn]

what words would u use to describe Monica Lewinsky????? Just sayin

Many names flashed through my mind, jocko, but I have been cautioned about my use of language here. I must be careful.


Cigar holder
human humidor
Hoover
sperm receptacle

Those are the least objectionable ones I have to offer. And I'm sure some will object. To those people, I apologize.

[mickeyfinn]

Vacum cleaner :eek:

Well if a guy loved his firearm or car and said "I just love him" I think he would get some funny looks.:rolleyes:

I dare say you are correct but why not use the indefinite, sexless pronoun "it?"

Or just use the object's name? "I love my Kahr." "I love my Mercedes." "There's nothing like a good Lewinsky."

[muggsy]

Men usually refer to things of beauty and grace as she. They often call their most cherished possessions she. The urge to do this usually subsided shortly after marriage. :)

[b4uqzme]

Who here describes their gun(s) or car(s) as "she" or "her?" I think it may be a family type thing that's passed down. But that doesn't explain how it started.



I do but I'm sorry that that doesn't 'splain anything. :)

[johnh]

I do believe it is an extension of the ancient practice of referring to warships using a feminine gender, applied later to other military vehicles and mechanical weapon systems. Planes, tanks, canons, etc.. As to when it was first applied to firearms, I have no idea.

[deadeye]

what words would u use to describe Monica Lewinsky????? Just sayin
Next Secretary Of State. Hilly didn't get her turn.

[O'Dell]

For me, guns, motorcycles, and cars are 'it's', and ships and aircraft are 'she's'. I've spent most of my life around all five, but I don't have a clue why it worked out that way.

[Armybrat]

Maybe because some inanimate tools & machines give guys a bon... uh, woo.... uh, a har..... uh, a thrill?

[JohnR]

In the romance languages, "pistola" is feminine. "La pistola." Ella es bonita - she's pretty. They have no word for "it." I don't think they use that to personify inanimate objects, it's just how the language works, and language is a messy, fussy thing.

As for ship, "barco" is masculine, so that theory kinda falls apart. Car is masculine. Airplane is both - "el avion," and for small planes, "la avioneta."

[CJB]

what words would u use to describe Monica Lewinsky????? Just sayin

Ponygirl

[wyntrout]

My PM45, A.K.A. "Boomer", A.K.A. "FrankenBoomer", is a "HE". I don't really use "she" with any of my pistols... usually "it", but it could be a harem that's a bit too large for me to "bang" all of the time. :D

I don't have a regular rotation for shooting them all at the range... "banging" them. I have reduced the harem quite a bit, selling off those that I just don't seem to want to shoot as much as the others. And, like many similar "harem owners", I would like to add to my "stable", but our finances took a bit hit over the Christmas holidays with the major van repair... new AWD drive train, holiday travel and unfortunate Biloxi casino "tour", and then federal taxes. :eek: Then there are travel commitments to see my granddaughter on her first birthday... a happy event.

Selling a few safe queens has helped, but now I can't afford to add any new fillies to the stable for a while... and the next gun show here isn't until 7/8 June... and there are TWO that weekend. That sucks because I already paid in advance for the smaller show and I'll miss the larger one where I could have really "shopped" since our largest dealer Shooters exhibits at that one. :(

It's hard to complain, though, since I do have a nice stable of Kahr and Glock fillies, plus a few others for company.

Wynn:)

[jocko]

In the romance languages, "pistola" is feminine. "La pistola." Ella es bonita - she's pretty. They have no word for "it." I don't think they use that to personify inanimate objects, it's just how the language works, and language is a messy, fussy thing.

As for ship, "barco" is masculine, so that theory kinda falls apart. Car is masculine. Airplane is both - "el avion," and for small planes, "la avioneta."

spelling is also a fussy thing to some on this forum to. Never could quite figure that out. Just sayin

[getsome]

Ponygirl

I'm glad you mentioned our little buttercup gal Monica Lewinsky...

Some of you may remember that last year Getsome Enterprises was able land Monica a new Cable TV show and after that successful role and several guest host appearances on "The View" her show became the number one hard to beat reality show on cable TV and now I'm proud to announce that Monica has been selected to star in a new Hollywood feature movie coming this fall so we here at Getsome Enterprises in cunjunction with Spunk Monkey Productions would like to offer up the top 10 names for the new Monica Lewinsky Movie....And now from the home office,

Coming in at,

Number 10,.. Swindlers Fist

Number 9,... My Friend Flicka

Number 8,... Gulp Fiction

Number 7,... As Wood as it Gets

Number 6,... Anatomy of a Squirter

Number 5,... Jack Billy

Number 4,... Maximum Bob

Number 3,... Sperminator III

Number 2,... Romancing the Bone

And now the most selected name for the new Monica Lewinsky Hollywood Movie coming in at,

Number 1,... Gag the Hog

What a crowd!!!....Goodnight everybody, I'll be here all week......:p

[jocko]

I would have voted for #1 to but #8 wasn't bad either, actally #6 was gtood top, #5 was super. But #1 stands "erect" IMO, Just sayin

[jocko]

I would have voted for #1 to but #8 wasn't bad either, actally #6 was gtood top, #5 was super. But #1 stands "erect" IMO, Just sayin

Ur a very sick man getsome.

[getsome]

Thank you sir, may I have another?....A complement like that coming from my mentor makes it even more special!!!...:bump2:

[TheTman]

As far as firearms go, Daniel Boone (at least on the tv show) called his rifle Ole Bess or Ole Betsy or something like that. So I figure firearms have been feminine for a LONG time.

[Armybrat]

Mons Meg - the 20" Scottish cannon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mons_Meg