FWIW I’m 31. I have Girls’ Night Out. I like going to lunch with the girls. But in this context, I think it’s diminishing to Ms. Olsen to refer to her that way. Maybe it’s generational. And maybe it’s individual. But again, I ask why use a possibly fraught word when there are so many others that don’t bother anyone?
[QUOTE=AMWookey;8635219]
Girl is generational. As in, for a certain generation, calling someone a girl is just fine, especially in this context.
If I was at work, and a subordinate called me a “girl” it would not be okay. But that is because I am a manager and most of the people who work for me are older.
However, I call my friends ‘girl’. I call my friends ‘boy’ sometimes too if the occassion warrants it. There is nothing remotely sexist about it. If you want to get into it, it may be ageist?
Who determines how someone uses a word. I just looked up the term ‘guy’ , used as a noun it could be used to describe a man or a boy.
It also refers to someone badly dressed.
I looked up girl to. It refers to a woman, from birth to full growth. Who determines the end of growth? It also states it informally could mean that it states “She is having the girls over”. Something I say more then “I am having the ladies over”. Clearly I am sexist and ageist.
Oh - also adore Kaley.[/QUOTE]
You are essentially agreeing with me – you said it isn’t appropriate in a professional setting. Formally, it is entirely inappropriate to be calling an accomplished, adult woman a girl.
SERIOUSLY?? This thread went way south over this “girl” “guy” talk when there is so much more important things in this world to discuss.
LOL - since when is COTH “formal”?
People are reading WAY too much into a simple internet post - geesh!
I think someone should ask Mary Kate if she’s horribly offended. My guess is a LOT worse has been said about her on the internet and she probably isn’t going to get nearly as upset about it as some of the posters here are!
[QUOTE=beowulf;8635268]
You are essentially agreeing with me – you said it isn’t appropriate in a professional setting. Formally, it is entirely inappropriate to be calling an accomplished, adult woman a girl.[/QUOTE]
You also called people uneducated which was harsh and over the top IMHO. We all have them.
I think the Olsen woman would be equally offensive. Or the Olsen lady. But I don’t get all up in arms about it. I assumed the poster didn’t know which of the twins rode, and chose to call her that. Probably because generationally, that is acceptable to her.
I find it more offensive that people attack others education based on cultural or generational norms.
[QUOTE=pepper1986;8635271]
SERIOUSLY?? This thread went way south over this “girl” “guy” talk when there is so much more important things in this world to discuss.[/QUOTE]
No, talking about language change and generational norms is important, but probably not here. The thread about Ms. Cuoco was hijacked, and I certainly contributed to that because I am a linguist and am very interested in things like that.
I will start a discussion in the Off-Topic forum, and anyone who wants to talk more about “female,” “girl,” “gal,” “lady,” “woman”," “skirt,” “broad,” “chick,” “b—h,” or any other name for a person of the feminine persuasion is welcome to participate. :winkgrin:
Give me a few minutes.
People who want to talk about Cuoco and her horses, please carry on. Sorry for the interruption.
Having not visited this thread since it was just a discussion of who she (the lady/woman/actress/person of interest/broad/girl/freaking awesome character on TV) is dating, I was wondering what was so juicy to keep it going :eek: Little did I know, it was not juicy at all :lol:
Also, I was not following her instagram account before, but now I am! Lost about an hour of my life watching her videos and pony posts! Love Her
[QUOTE=Foxglove6;8635266]
FWIW I’m 31. I have Girls’ Night Out. I like going to lunch with the girls. But in this context, I think it’s diminishing to Ms. Olsen to refer to her that way. Maybe it’s generational. And maybe it’s individual. But again, I ask why use a possibly fraught word when there are so many others that don’t bother anyone?[/QUOTE]
Might it also be that as you use it, “girl” implies a close relationship/friendship, and this familiarity makes use of the more familiar term suitable? I, like you, would not use it in referring to a person I didn’t know very well. IMO, “girl” suggests a close relationship. It doesn’t work for me outside that context (“the Olsen girl”). I do think that previous posters may be right-- it might have indicated simply that the OP didn’t know which sister is the rider and which isn’t.
[QUOTE=Sparrowette;8632708]
I was always taught that the diminutive of “Boy” is “Girl”, and the diminutive of “Guy” was “Gal”.
A “girl” was a female child, and so was not appropriate for a grown woman, but “gal” could be used, because it did not infantilize an adult.[/QUOTE]
Gal sounds like it crawled out of a thirties gangster movie.
I’m used to dance. We’re all boys and girls even if we’re thirty-five.
OK, the thread in Off-Topic is up.
How many horses does she have? I tried to research it, but I just find on her Facebook, she had a new horse, and another new horse, and another…Someone mentioned they are with her for life?
[QUOTE=Callista17;8635476]
How many horses does she have? I tried to research it, but I just find on her Facebook, she had a new horse, and another new horse, and another…Someone mentioned they are with her for life?[/QUOTE]
I believe she has four she competes now and then a few (2 or 3) that are either retired or show by other people.
I love her Insta pictures/vids of her horses. There’s clearly a love there and she’s quite a good rider.
[QUOTE=beowulf;8635255]
^
Words are important. Their correct usage is important. For clarity’s sake, if you are referring to an accomplished, adult individual you do not call them the juvenile form of their gender.
In formal situations[/QUOTE]
Words are important, but so is staying with the times 
sometimes referring to urban dictionary helps. Meanings change and frankly, this all got taken way too far. This was all meant as a fun thread, supporting a celeb who is setting a great example for other GIRLS or WOMEN or whatever is politically correct in TODAY’S culture. Who knows what will be correct in 10 years?
This thread quickly became a course in Politically and Culturally Correct Feminism Sensitivity Training.
As for “in formal situations”… since when has an online forum created for a super small subset of the human population been a ‘formal situation’??
Sorry. Didn’t read through the thread that we were moving the linguistic/politically correct battle to off topic. My apologies!
[QUOTE=Indy;8635507]
I believe she has four she competes now and then a few (2 or 3) that are either retired or show by other people.
I love her Insta pictures/vids of her horses. There’s clearly a love there and she’s quite a good rider.[/QUOTE]
She has several, but based on Instagram stalking, it looks like she leases a few out to barn mates.
[QUOTE=LucilleBluth;8636361]
She has several, but based on Instagram stalking, it looks like she leases a few out to barn mates.[/QUOTE]
I’d like to be her barn mate, I think!
[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;8636363]
I’d like to be her barn mate, I think![/QUOTE]
You and me both.
[QUOTE=LadyB;8631450]
I also love Kaley! I love how she’s ‘just like us’ ammy’s. Obviously well funded because of her career, lucky girl, but she is just enjoying her hobby. I absolutely love her, and definitely stalk her instagram account because of it! We need more like her. Same as the Olsen girl, she’s under the radar and just loving her hobby :)[/QUOTE]
Ohhhh were all getting up in arms because of my post? :lol:
You people need to go outside and do something. Because I called her the Olsen girl, sorry I don’t know which one it is that rides since they are twins and I don’t pay THAT close attention to it. Also I don’t get offended by someone saying girl. If someone called me a female, girl, lady, or women, I wouldn’t give two shits. I’m of that mind set. Clearly some of you need to get out more and stop worrying about the little things on a COTH thread. Way to derail a thread though, was just about something nice. Typical COTHers :lol:
Using the term girl is insulting but telling everyone they are uneducated is not insulting? 
Love the horse photos in the OP. So cute.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;8636555]
Using the term girl is insulting but telling everyone they are uneducated is not insulting?
Love the horse photos in the OP. So cute.[/QUOTE]
I didn’t tell “everyone” they were uneducated - sexism is one of the surest brands of lack of education. It is uneducated to defend said sexism. One poster tried to defend a sexist remark by saying it was a cultural norm or generational thing… I said if you’re uneducated, maybe.
