Calling things "it"

  • 29 Replies
  • 3322 Views
*

Trekky0623

  • Official Member
  • 10061
Calling things "it"
« on: September 17, 2011, 06:37:25 PM »
Things it is okay to call it

Most non-personified objects.
Babies
Animals which are not pets


Things it is not okay to call it

Grown humans
Corpses of grown humans
Animals that are pets and the gender is known. (If the gender is not known, it is usually the first thing that someone tries to figure out.)

Personified objects where the gender is known (Talking trees and fairy tale creatures and stuff that are personified to an equal amount as their human counterparts.)


Basically: Why is it okay to call a baby it, but not a corpse or something? What exactly constitutes when something may be called "it"?

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2011, 06:45:45 PM »
Why would it not be acceptable to call a human corpse "it"?

*

Trekky0623

  • Official Member
  • 10061
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2011, 06:54:09 PM »
Why would it not be acceptable to call a human corpse "it"?

Would you call a corpse at a funeral "it"?

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2011, 06:58:47 PM »
Maybe. Inanimate objects have no gender.

?

Around And About

  • 2615
  • Circular Logic Falls Flat
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2011, 07:10:43 PM »
Who refers to a baby as 'it'? I did not know that was the social norm, unless you are asking: "Is it a girl or a boy?"
I'm not black nor a thug, I'm more like god who will bring 7 plagues of flat earth upon your ass.

*

Trekky0623

  • Official Member
  • 10061
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2011, 07:37:16 PM »
"I felt it kick."

?

Around And About

  • 2615
  • Circular Logic Falls Flat
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2011, 07:58:04 PM »
Ohhh, an unborn baby, gotcha. Those aren't real people.
I'm not black nor a thug, I'm more like god who will bring 7 plagues of flat earth upon your ass.

*

rooster

  • 5669
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2011, 08:22:47 PM »
Ohhh, an unborn baby, gotcha. Those aren't real people.

Commonly referred to as the fetus to differentiate. And if parents know the sex, of course they won't be calling the fetus an "it" anymore.

*

Trekky0623

  • Official Member
  • 10061
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2011, 08:29:34 PM »
Ohhh, an unborn baby, gotcha. Those aren't real people.

Commonly referred to as the fetus to differentiate. And if parents know the sex, of course they won't be calling the fetus an "it" anymore.

What about "It's a boy," instead of "He's a boy,"?

*

rooster

  • 5669
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2011, 08:36:33 PM »

What about "It's a boy," instead of "He's a boy,"?

That's only to signify the change from a unisex fetus into a set gender. As in an answer to "what is it?" You're not asking "what is he?" The second would just be redundant.

?

Thork

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2011, 02:30:00 AM »
On the opposite side, ships and aircraft are called 'she' or 'her'. "Her maiden voyage". "She taxied to the runway"

The French assign everything a gender.

But I'm not sure it really matters in the greater scheme of things. Especially with animals, corpses and babies. Call them what you like, they won't get offended.

« Last Edit: September 18, 2011, 02:34:35 AM by Thork »

*

Lord Xenu

  • 1029
  • ALL HAIL XENU!
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2011, 02:59:38 AM »
Why would it not be acceptable to call a human corpse "it"?

Would you call a corpse at a funeral "it"?
At a funeral, no, because that wouldn't be tactful, but if you happened to come across a random rotting corpse you would probably refer to it as "it".

*

Supertails

  • 4387
  • what do i put here
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2011, 05:05:31 AM »
^ That happens to me often enough for me to verify what you say.
Recently listened to:


?

Hazbollah

  • Flat Earth Editor
  • 2444
  • Earth Shape Apathetic.
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #13 on: September 18, 2011, 06:12:43 AM »
On the opposite side, ships and aircraft are called 'she' or 'her'. "Her maiden voyage". "She taxied to the runway"

The French assign everything a gender.

But I'm not sure it really matters in the greater scheme of things. Especially with animals, corpses and babies. Call them what you like, they won't get offended.
Apart from the Bismarck, funnily enough. That was a he.
Always check your tackle- Caerphilly school of Health. If I see an innuendo in my post, I'll be sure to whip it out.

?

Blanko

  • 7206
  • Terrorist
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2011, 12:29:16 PM »
In Finland, we call everything "it" in colloquial language. We don't discriminate. (or at least we discriminate everything equally)

But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

I would personally call pets "it", but I guess it's a sentimental thing for most people. Rooster already pointed out the deal with babies. Have you ever heard anyone call a baby "it" after its sex has been determined?

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2011, 12:36:02 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

?

Blanko

  • 7206
  • Terrorist
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #16 on: September 18, 2011, 01:03:02 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #17 on: September 18, 2011, 01:04:52 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

I do. Deceased persons are corpses.

*

Wendy

  • 18492
  • I laugh cus you fake
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #18 on: September 18, 2011, 01:27:36 PM »
Well, it looks like we've got ourselves a circular argument. Anyway, Swedes have two words for "it" which I hear were supposedly once male and female, but they've since lost that meaning.
Here's an explanation for ya. Lurk moar. Every single point you brought up has been posted, reposted, debated and debunked. There is a search function on this forum, and it is very easy to use.

?

Blanko

  • 7206
  • Terrorist
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #19 on: September 18, 2011, 01:28:03 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

I do. Deceased persons are corpses.

Personality != physical body

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #20 on: September 18, 2011, 01:41:25 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

I do. Deceased persons are corpses.

Personality != physical body

A "person" who is dead no longer has a personality.

?

Blanko

  • 7206
  • Terrorist
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #21 on: September 18, 2011, 01:59:41 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

I do. Deceased persons are corpses.

Personality != physical body

A "person" who is dead no longer has a personality.

Which doesn't stop us from referring to it.

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #22 on: September 18, 2011, 02:05:14 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

I do. Deceased persons are corpses.

Personality != physical body

A "person" who is dead no longer has a personality.

Which doesn't stop us from referring to it.

Right. I realise now that there was never any disagreement!

?

Blanko

  • 7206
  • Terrorist
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #23 on: September 18, 2011, 02:13:26 PM »
But to your question: Corpses are "it", but deceased persons aren't, because you're still referring to them as a person instead of a corpse.

No, I'm not.

Sorry, do you not use "it" for corpses, then?

I do. Deceased persons are corpses.

Personality != physical body

A "person" who is dead no longer has a personality.

Which doesn't stop us from referring to it.

Right. I realise now that there was never any disagreement!

Yeah, I didn't think there was any either.

*

rooster

  • 5669
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #24 on: September 18, 2011, 03:56:28 PM »
Especially with animals, corpses and babies. Call them what you like, they won't get offended.

But the owners, relatives/friends, and parents will.

?

Thork

Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #25 on: September 18, 2011, 03:57:55 PM »
Especially with animals, corpses and babies. Call them what you like, they won't get offended.

But the owners, relatives/friends, and parents will.
Say it quietly.

*

rooster

  • 5669
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #26 on: September 18, 2011, 04:03:46 PM »

But the owners, relatives/friends, and parents will.
Say it quietly.

I knew I liked you.

*

Wendy

  • 18492
  • I laugh cus you fake
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #27 on: September 19, 2011, 11:54:38 AM »
Especially with animals, corpses and babies. Call them what you like, they won't get offended.

But the owners, relatives/friends, and parents will.

Depends. Some people are too busy caring about real issues to give a fuck.
Here's an explanation for ya. Lurk moar. Every single point you brought up has been posted, reposted, debated and debunked. There is a search function on this forum, and it is very easy to use.

*

rooster

  • 5669
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #28 on: September 19, 2011, 12:26:23 PM »

Depends. Some people are too busy caring about real issues to give a fuck.

I doubt someone having their adorable new born baby called an "it" will be worrying about war, poverty, or global warming right at that instant.  ::)

?

Mrs. Peach

  • Official Member
  • 6258
Re: Calling things "it"
« Reply #29 on: September 19, 2011, 12:43:09 PM »
I can be excused as I always refer to stranger babies as it because I am concerned with the dangers of unwashed cantaloupe.