> > Last concern first: I don't name vehicles, including my VW camper. They > are objects, not organisms. They are not sentient, they do not have > personalities, they do not have any of the attributes of critters except a > metabolism, and I am in complete control of that (except when something > fails that I am too ignorant to discover or fix). > Not being critical of McNeely - live and let live - however while the things he states are technically true and accurate we do name our buses. Never named any other vehicle though. Sure they aren't sentient - but to us they are more than a "car" and it's fun. They also become very personal items - like a musical instrument does. I've always named my instruments because it's so much more personal to say "Hand me Stella" than it is to say "Hand me my guitar" - it's a lifless item sure but it's more than that in a way. Lifeless doesn't mean without character and every bus we've had has had a character of it's own. Names can't be forced though - the '86 Vanagon we had was nameless - because a name just never developed. It didn't get a name until it became a parts van - then it was called "Parts" ;) Mostly though - it's just fun. Again - not criticizing McNeely, his Vanagon is more of a tool for his family - and that's cool too.
-- Thanks, Jeff '85 GL (Gertie) '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor) '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus |
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