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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Is there anything that anyone can say anymore without someone taking offense. Some people have too much time on their hands
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
No CPO (Join to see) and I take offense to that :-) yes I agree with your second sentence, which is why I posted this satire.
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I think it is ridiculous to stop referring to ships as She... People these days are going to extremes over nonsense....
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I am the King of Political Correctness but I am a Traditionalist and a Romatic. HELL NO! I'm still pissed that the US Navy got rid of the Grog Ration.
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Having spent many years at sea, standing engineering watches in the pulsing heart of the ship and bridge watches figuratively in the saddle of a warhorse charging through the wake of a typhoon with a "bone in her teeth" (yes, I said 'her"), I can assure you that every ship has a very human personality. When she is 'christened' (just like a human baby) shortly after completing initial construction and fitting out, she begins to assume a personality that is an amalgam of the officers, chiefs, and other crewmen that came together in the pre-commissioning unit and who will go on to take her through her acceptance trials and her "maiden voyage." The personality may change over time with new men (and now women, to the Navy's credit) reporting aboard and others departing, but it is always there and I have found it a most sensible presence during quiet night watches on long Pacific or Atlantic deployment transits. Wives and husbands of those who serve aboard her can sense and sometimes resent the special filial attachment many of us develop with our ships, but it is unthinkable that a ship should ever be referred to as "it", particularly by those who serve aboard her.
From "Table Salt" (USNA Plebe knowledge): "Me mother was a mermaid, me father was King Neptune. I was born on the crest of a wave and rocked in the cradle of the deep. Seaweed and barnacles are me clothes. Every tooth in me head is a marlinspike; the hair on me head is hemp. Every bone in me body is a spar, and when I spits, I spits tar! I'se hard, I is, I am, I are! Sir!" I first learned that 53 years ago and still remember it. Not bad for a former Missouri farm boy who went to off sea.
From "Table Salt" (USNA Plebe knowledge): "Me mother was a mermaid, me father was King Neptune. I was born on the crest of a wave and rocked in the cradle of the deep. Seaweed and barnacles are me clothes. Every tooth in me head is a marlinspike; the hair on me head is hemp. Every bone in me body is a spar, and when I spits, I spits tar! I'se hard, I is, I am, I are! Sir!" I first learned that 53 years ago and still remember it. Not bad for a former Missouri farm boy who went to off sea.
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Don't we have bigger problems than the gender of a ship? (Shake my head) let tradition stand
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Apparently not on the particular day I posted it MSG (Join to see) :-) Actually I was tired of talking about Redskins and helicopters, so I said, WTF can I talk about that will stir up some doo-doo!.
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MSG (Join to see)
Oh I support changing topics, I just think if anyone is genuinely upset because ships are referred to as the female gender they are overly sensitive.
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PO3 Michael Cienfuegos
SSG (Join to see) - Not only is society hypersensitive, they are turning into bunch of cupcake crybabies. I'll take an eighteen year old sailor, Marine or soldier over one of these crybaby cupcakes any day of the week. None of these cupcakes would last twelve hours in basic training. What a disappointing waste of youth!. Blame it on the permissive politically correct education we have today. Bah!
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This is stupid political correctness run amok. That even such a question is posted here shows the degeneration of our culture. I spent most of my life in academia and the people who are so offended by such gender references have no problem saying very bigoted and offensive things about the military, servicemen, barbie dolls, Christians, conservatives, and Republicans.
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Cpl Brett Wagner
MAJ Robert Petrarca - I am sitting here with my index finger curled and in my mouth like a fish being caught. I feel so dumb you got me pretty good sir.
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PFC Thomas Graves
By the way Major, I was a PFC over 30 years ago. A better title would be Dr. Graves since I have a Ph.D. in Linguistics from SUNY at Buffalo. And I like your "shit" pronoun idea because I always had to keep my mouth shut around the closed-minded liberal academicians who love to impose their bad ideas on everyone.
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We had this argument in the AF concerning planes. Ships and planes since around WWII and earlier for the Navy, have always been referred to as "SHE." There is an old saying in the military concerning equipment. "Treat it like a lady and it will always bring you home." The PC crowd needs to lighten up. And yes it is confusing when you have ships named after men.
I should also point out that there were even some fellow Female Airmen that agreed with keeping as she.
I should also point out that there were even some fellow Female Airmen that agreed with keeping as she.
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"I like all you Navy guys (and your female ships). Every time we've got some where to go, you guys always give us a ride."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
As your Taxi Service we do appologize for the Crappy Neighborhoods we drop you off in.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
See, now I wish I really was a Marine, I'm so feeling the love!! I was just quoting that great line from, "A Few Good Men"
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PO1 (Join to see)
What? Do you really think Jack's attempt to be a bad ass Marine was the FIRST time one of your fellow officers attempted to insult a sailor to his face? Sorta reminds me of the time I was waiting on a taxi at the San Francisco Air Port.....I was feeling no pain, and happened to notice a snappy dressed Marine...all in his Dress Blues...
Having some difficulty seeing at any distance due to the heavy imbibing previously completed...I sensed a moment that could not be wasted. At which moment I yelled loudly at said Marine: " Yo! Bellhop! Get these bags and load them into to cab...on the double!"
You can imagine my confusion when said Marine insisted that he was a butter bar (my term) and was very insistent that I behave in a manner I was not inclined. Unfortunately, there was a short scuffle - in which there was an exchange of POSSIBLE physical contact which resulted in both of us being taken to the local holding cells......seabags and all.
Having some difficulty seeing at any distance due to the heavy imbibing previously completed...I sensed a moment that could not be wasted. At which moment I yelled loudly at said Marine: " Yo! Bellhop! Get these bags and load them into to cab...on the double!"
You can imagine my confusion when said Marine insisted that he was a butter bar (my term) and was very insistent that I behave in a manner I was not inclined. Unfortunately, there was a short scuffle - in which there was an exchange of POSSIBLE physical contact which resulted in both of us being taken to the local holding cells......seabags and all.
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PO2 Mark Saffell
You forgot. We watch over you and bring you food and supplies. An we rule the skies and seas.
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NO! All this thin-skinned PC crap is destroying our society and our nation. Some people need to stop taking themselves so seriously, develop a sense of humor, and get a life. This crap of some people wanting the whole world change just so their feelings don't get hurt is getting old!
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