RE: female models

G

GeorgeCW

New member
RE: female models

Speculation or knowledge; After reading the modeling thread,I wondered why are most if not all locomotives, ships, airplanes, trucks, cars, and other powered equipment referred to in the female gender, even if the piece of equipment has a male name. My loving wife suggested it was because it showed respect to power and reliability, I suggested another reason (I'm still putting cold compresses on my head and neck) anyone else willing to speculate?

George
 
I believe it goes way back to the wayback days: ie: something like "She's a real beauty".

Although the Flying Scottsman is a handsome manly like loco ... She is a beauty. As (most) women are generally more beautiful than us homely grubby looking Dudes. :hehe: I guess it shows respect for the beauty of the female ... My best guess.

If a loco was modeled after me, it would be akin to calling: He's a real rust bucket of bolts, junk heap ... it would be in need of total repaint and complete overhaul.:hehe:

Untill this all blows over ... My best advice, steer clear of women wielding cast iron frying skillets ... KaPangngngng ! :eek:

Edit: Several points in Pommie's post (below) really made me laugh outloud !:hehe:
 
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Its because machinery has to be handled carefully, coaxed to perform, and in general handled with tender loving care to get the most out of it or they are prone to unexplainable periods of low performance :eek:

Also it comes from when only men would be handling any kind of machinery, which is better, going to the pub and saying to your mates that "she" needed gentle handling today, or that "he" needed gentle handling :wave: :wave:

Cheers David
 
Historically ships are referred to in the feminine gender notwithstanding that some are named after males, so go figure. I don't know about the rest.

Cheers

AJ
 
I would say it was because they can some times be a bit prone to break downs and being a bit of a b*tch when it comes to sorting out problems when they refuse to co-operate. (Got any spare cold compresses GeorgeCW just got the same treatment from her who must be obeyed :hehe: )
 
It's all to do with the male mind works in it's own comfort zone.

We sit there & stroke,pat our car,boat,bike etc & use female terms to describe usually to describe looks,power & performance
then
we sit there & stroke/pat our dog/cat/horse & use male or female terms to describe looks,power & performance.

If it's a alive we refer to it as male or female

If it's man made we need to refer to it as female in most cases

dave
 
I think it's because females can do more than 1 thing at once, most machines do a lot of things at once, loco's for example, cogs and levers moving 'round and stuff
Jamie
 
I thought it was because you would take tender loving care for your woman, or your locomotive. Either way, if one of the two get's mad enough, they're more likely to use something metal to hurt you with.

Rock On!
Dusten
 
GaryP said:
Hurricanes are also named after women too. Himmmm hurricane Gary....
Click to expand...
Male hurricanes sued for a sexual discrimination case... receintly there have be some male hurricane names :cool:

I can't locate the video of George Bush saying: ... it was a "horble horkin".
 
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The use of female names on such things stems from two things. First, superstition. It was considered to be good luck to name your ship with a female name. (Also, it was bad luck to have a woman aboard.)

As for the second reason, it has to do with the nature of the machine. Steam engines in particular fall into this category. Steamers were referred to as "she" because they took quite a bit of skill to keep happy, so to speak. As you will see again and again if you read old railroading literature, each steamer was different. It had its own personality, and quirks. An experienced hogger could work wonders with a steamer that would give an inexperienced hogger alot of difficulty. You had to work the steamer just right to keep it running smoothly. This is alot similar to keeping a woman happy. It takes finesse. This is where the use of referring to steamers as female came from.

Diesels, on the other hand, can go either way. They tended to fall under the same use of gender that we use on cars. It usually comes down to how elegant it looks.
 
Just a small point... When they launch ships it always seems to be a woman chucking a perfectly good bottle of champagne at it....

Doug
 
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