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babies and ships are SHE not IT ;)
even animals don't like being called IT
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<even animals don't like being called IT >
Really? Did they tell you that?
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<even animals don't like being called IT >
"Really? Did they tell you that?"
Yep. It's the cats who get really angry, but the squirrels aren't too keen either. Doesn't bother my dog though.
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Ships, countries, guitars... All use girls' names (typically). It's to remind you to treat them like a lady... That's what the guy at the guitar shop told me when I first bought Jade... Then Silver... Then Ophelia... Then Josie...
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Referring to countries as "she" has become less common today, unless the person is trying to sound really formal or to effect a more old-fashioned sound.
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Guest,
<<I dunno, Benny, each time you post I say "It has submerged".>>
I don't even know what that means.
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<Referring to countries as "she" has become less common today, unless the person is trying to sound really formal or to effect a more old-fashioned sound. >
Or patriotic, emotional, romantic, etc.
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BTW, your thread question should be "what to call a baby".
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I think it's sad to dehumanise a baby by referring to her/him as an "it". You may as well refer to an adult as an "it" - what's the difference?
From what I know most babies have already had a name decided upon before s/he is born as the gender is usually known before birth anyway. If not then it's definitely she/he or her/him - never "it". You could be talking about a bag of potatoes and not a newly born real life human being, worthy of respect from the moment of conception.
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Then again, Damian, to genderise a baby before it has the time to develop male or female characteristics may also be dehumanising.
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The question was:
<<A woman was surprised that I call a baby "it". Why?<<
Why was a woman surprised?
Damian's explanation is valid.
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Why has nobody noticed that the name of this chat string is incorect?
"What to call a baby?" is correct, how indicates the manner of calling to a baby using the voice, rather than the naming of it. Here "it" is correct as there is no baby determined, therefore an abstract undetermined notion.
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This is not a chat string, this is very professional forum!
And you're right, the answer to: "How to call a baby?" is: Hey, baby!" or: "Goo, goo!"
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<Why has nobody noticed that the name of this chat string is incorect? >
Beat you to it: <<Guest Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:26 am GMT
BTW, your thread question should be "what to call a baby". >>
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<And you're right, the answer to: "How to call a baby?" is: Hey, baby!" or: "Goo, goo!">
Or by its name.
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