Posted on Jun 28, 2014
Should we stop referring to Naval vessels as, "She" as it may unknowingly be offensive?
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http://goatlocker.org/resources/nav/shipshe.htm
Naval ships have historically been referred to as, "She". A bit confusing when the ship is named after Ronald Reagan or Abraham Lincoln, but I'm willing to roll with it. Does anyone else feel differently?
Naval ships have historically been referred to as, "She". A bit confusing when the ship is named after Ronald Reagan or Abraham Lincoln, but I'm willing to roll with it. Does anyone else feel differently?
Gender
Navy
Naval/Maritime History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 69
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Admiral Foley said it best and thoroughly. I fully agree that Ships and Submarines are all to be called SHE. They are unpredictable, have breakdowns without cause, take lots of love and care to keep working properly, once you have fallen in love with a ship, you always love HER. Men and women who understand the SEA know that a good ship will protect them like a loving mother or sweetheart. If you treat her like a lady, she responds in the best possible way.
Most important of all She provides all of the comforts of home no matter how far away you roam. Your bed, food, and lifeline is always there for you and you know you can count on her to her dying day!
Most important of all She provides all of the comforts of home no matter how far away you roam. Your bed, food, and lifeline is always there for you and you know you can count on her to her dying day!
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SN Timothy Ehrenhaft
PO1 Glenn Cunningham - WTF is your malfunction? I stand WITH the tradition. Please don't disparage me in an attempt to distract others from your apparent inability to comprehend my original reply. I challenge you to produce actionable evidence to support your accusation that I am a sexist. If that's proves to be yet another thing you're not capable of doing, please do the world a favor - go back to school. Thank you.
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AA Glenn Montgomery
TRADITION people, So tired of all these snowflakes crying in their milk Guess what you just pissed in my post-toasties, There is a reason it's called tradition and not Butt-hurt feeling of the day. See that over there son? That was once America the land of the brave, Now it's just a bunch of pussies afraid of hurting each others feelings. I don't even want to imagine what WOG day has become with all these Snowflakes on board.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
PO1 Glenn Cunningham - Did you not understand SN Timothy Ehrenhaft when he said only to the uneducated, ie. dumb shits? Don't fight shipmates you are on the same side!
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PO2 Michael Lopez
Thank you Master Chief. As a former Bubblehead Torpedoman, i couldn't agree with you more!!!@
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COL Roxanne Arndt
I agree with you on the being tired of all the politically correct crap. People who spend all their time begin offended or crying about how they deserve this and that need to get a life!
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PO3 Amanda Perez
Ugh! Can we please stop with all the politically correct craziness?! Ships have traditionally been referred to as 'She' and that's the way it should stay. I'm so tired of hearing people whine and cry about being offended by this thing or that thing. Grow some thicker skin, suck it up, and get over yourselves! Just saying...
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LT John Stevens
Thanks you so much ladies, sailors, and officers. You do our nation proud and I thank you for your service.
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Avast ye landlubber! Ships have been she's since the first sailor.....avast with ye political correctness and begone!
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PO1 (Join to see)
SEA CORPORAL!
See to it the Major is outfiited with the biggest oversized mittens we have - immediately! And see if the pecker checker is available to get the proper size for the white coats and black tie affair tonite in the officers mess. Yes, It seems the Major has passed the "at sea check" and has been promoted to the satelitte watch for the rest of the cruise.
No, I think we'll put the major with the officers this time...on the foc'sle if you please where we can keep on eye .... discreetly monitor them....and have the subjugation crew ready with the 8 inch fire hoses if you will please.
And Corporal - try not to leave any marks on his face this time - I'd like to give his wife and kids a real picture this time - not the photoshopped version we did for the last dogfaces.....if you please.
That will be all ..... carry on.
See to it the Major is outfiited with the biggest oversized mittens we have - immediately! And see if the pecker checker is available to get the proper size for the white coats and black tie affair tonite in the officers mess. Yes, It seems the Major has passed the "at sea check" and has been promoted to the satelitte watch for the rest of the cruise.
No, I think we'll put the major with the officers this time...on the foc'sle if you please where we can keep on eye .... discreetly monitor them....and have the subjugation crew ready with the 8 inch fire hoses if you will please.
And Corporal - try not to leave any marks on his face this time - I'd like to give his wife and kids a real picture this time - not the photoshopped version we did for the last dogfaces.....if you please.
That will be all ..... carry on.
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PO2 Jonathan Smith
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca - Ummmm noone fires a seawiz... its connected to a radar. just saying....
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I say we just adopt a singular, non-gender specific pronoun that says, she, he and it all in one - SHIT.
for example:
I love serving aboard the {your ship name here}. Shit is the best ship in the fleet. Shit takes us wherever we want to go. When we have to push it to all ahead full, shit gives us no shit about it.
for example:
I love serving aboard the {your ship name here}. Shit is the best ship in the fleet. Shit takes us wherever we want to go. When we have to push it to all ahead full, shit gives us no shit about it.
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COL Roxanne Arndt
As a female this does not offend me, it's a compliment I think for a female to think that referring to a ship as a 'she' means that it represents that power and magnitude 'she' has being on the seas! This whole "I'm offended thing" sometimes gets out of hand, next thing your know someone will say they are offended because helicopters are named after Indian tribes!
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PO1 Jim Spencer
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca - Come on, you're from R.I. you can't get any closer to seafood than that. Now, that being said, it would be appreciated if you would stop all this PC talk about not referring a Ship as She. BTW, I may be in PA. (hell) now, but I grew up in a little town you may have heard of on the southern tip of Aquidneck Island.
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I'll go with 'tradition'. Actually I'll roll with anything EXCEPT time to be politically correct... I'm sick and tired of politically correct.
Not surprising that ships are referred to as 'she', so are most men's cars, bikes, etc. I realize that Navy vessels are now commanded by females as well, but let's just call it tradition and leave it be. I believe planes are pretty much treated the same way?? Any USAF want to comment on that??
Not surprising that ships are referred to as 'she', so are most men's cars, bikes, etc. I realize that Navy vessels are now commanded by females as well, but let's just call it tradition and leave it be. I believe planes are pretty much treated the same way?? Any USAF want to comment on that??
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LCpl Steve Wininger
I couldn't agree more Master Sargent. PC is gotten way out of control. In the words of Igor, "It's Alive."
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TSgt Scott Hurley
MSG Huffaman, Yes we in the AF referred to the planes as "she". The majority of the Bombers in WWII were named after women and that tradition continued with the B-52.
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CPL Troy Piper
MSG Huffman, I completely agree. The military is all about tradition, from the dress uniform each branch wears to the salute. Leave tradition alone.
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I voted no, it is tradition, however, I am sure in this age of being politically correct some vessels might become offended and rebel. Perhaps we should rename the entire fleet Jenny 1, 2, 3, etc. Just so no one is offended... Wait, that may offend Jenny. Maybe we could rename them all She 1, 2, 3, etc.
This could also have serious repercussions on the Air Force, I think they refer to their birds as she also.
Call an emergency session of Congress, this could shut down the entire military.
This could also have serious repercussions on the Air Force, I think they refer to their birds as she also.
Call an emergency session of Congress, this could shut down the entire military.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
I considered referring to all vessels as it, but then we would upset Cousin It and the entire Adam's family clan, and that could have serious consequences.
I think the POTUS should be notified and an emergency session of Congress called. This is more serious than one thinks. The future of the entire Navy hangs in the balance here.
I think the POTUS should be notified and an emergency session of Congress called. This is more serious than one thinks. The future of the entire Navy hangs in the balance here.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
PO2 Heather Ashby Thanks, just trying not to leave anyone out. We don't really know what is under all that hair, so better to be safe than sorry. Who knows, the good cousin could be related to Wild Mike, and we seen what damage he can do!
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
LCpl Steve Wininger I used to work at an Airport, and I was talking to the LoadMaster of a C-141 that brought in the Presidential Limo's and He would refer to his Bird as "She" so its not just Ships at Sea, its Ships of the Air as well. "To quote an old Our Gang Comedy, "Things of Beauty, Speed and Grace and often referred to as 'SHE'" Hell I bet a few old Tank Commanders would refer to their Hunks of Steel as She too.
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I feel like it's not meant to be offensive. More like a term of affection, or familiarity as said above. Example: I refer to my vehicle as a 'he' or 'fonzi' ... people just need to relax and not be so sensitive.
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I have never been offended by calling a ship a she... Maybe some if the reasons people come up with as to why they are called she, but never in the designation itself. I actually always felt a little honored that given how long females have been descrimated against and excluded from things, a female has always been there in their hearts. I know this may sound corny, or even unsupportive of equality (which trust me I support), but if the ship sank the crew died. They depended on her to bring them home safe. We still are depended upon to take care of people. I just want to be paid the same to do it is all. I would bet anything guns, tanks, and cars might be more likely to be designated as female as well? Why the big deal on ships then? Of all the issues out there this one might be splitting hairs, but I'm also not offended by it.
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The Russians refer to their ships as "he" but I'll defer to Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz: "A ship is always referred to as 'she' because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder." Now that is probably politically incorrect nowadays but TS!
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