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

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

[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.

[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

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

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