Use of Language

[Sweet Potato]

Genuine question here as I honestly can not understand this, and no disrespect to anyone, but why use terms like 'drudge', 'minion', 'servant/***keeper' etc etc
We have our pets, regardless of species because we want them, love them and take care of them because we want to so why use terms that make it sound like something your forced into / that it's a chore?

As I said before the original term of 'slave' has never sat well with me, I won't go into a rant about it because this thread is about stopping use of that term, which I am so pleased about, but personally, I feel that terms like servant and drudge are no better.

I don't know how to explain why these terms leave me feeling so uncomfortable without getting on my high horse/ranting, but in short I guess it feels disrespectful.

However hopefully I'm missing something here.

(It might be worth mentioning that I am autistic)

I think it relates more to how your pigs see you rather than how you see your own role. Like the difference between how a dog will see you as a member of the pack and an equal if not someone adored and looked up to whereas a cat and in many ways a guinea pig sees you as a method of getting what they want be it food, nose scratches or anything else. Therefore many owners feel they see us as taking that slave like role which we of course fulfill willingly and with love which really takes the "slave" aspect out of it.

It's a really interesting thing to think about I'll be honest I think I've used it a few times on the forum because everyone else seems to but I dont really say it in real life. I tend to be quite flexible with the language I use about the pigs hence they have an ungodly amount of nicknames and we do too.

Our preferred way to refer to ourselves is the long haired human and the short haired human.

 

[piggieminder]

I think it relates more to how your pigs see you rather than how you see your own role. Like the difference between how a dog will see you as a member of the pack and an equal if not someone adored and looked up to whereas a cat and in many ways a guinea pig sees you as a method of getting what they want be it food, nose scratches or anything else. Therefore many owners feel they see us as taking that slave like role which we of course fulfill willingly and with love which really takes the "slave" aspect out of it.

It's a really interesting thing to think about I'll be honest I think I've used it a few times on the forum because everyone else seems to but I dont really say it in real life. I tend to be quite flexible with the language I use about the pigs hence they have an ungodly amount of nicknames and we do too.

Our preferred way to refer to ourselves is the long haired human and the short haired human.

You see it from the same angle I do, how the piggies see us. Thank you for putting it so well, I have been trying to think of a way of explaining this point of view.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Does anyone know where Hooman came from? Does it sound cute to people? I think of hoovers tbh. I would just use Human starting with hew- or Person, PiggyPerson.

 

[Sweet Potato]

Does anyone know where Hooman came from? Does it sound cute to people? I think of hoovers tbh. I would just use Human starting with hew- or Person, PiggyPerson.

Haha i'm northern both spellings are pronounced hooman

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Haha i'm northern both spellings are pronounced hooman

One set of my grandparents originally came from Liverpool tho I knew them in Scotland, and I don’t recall that pronunciation. The other relatives are /were all in Scotland, which is possibly north of wherever you are, and I don't recall 'hooman' either!

Interestingly, I grew up mostly in a Canadian province where most British -ew pronounced words were pronounced -oo. Like dew and do pronounced the same. Tho in a church you sat in a pew and not in a poo!

 

[Sweet Potato]

To be fair where I am is sort of a little south of Liverpool but there are accent influences from a few different places. In Liverpool they tend to over pronounce the "ew" sound so that would deffinately be hewman. As an autistic my pronunciation would vary depending on who I'm talking and how relaxed a situation is but I definitely wouldn't question anyone saying hooman or leaving of the h entirely and just going with "ooman"

One set of my grandparents originally came from Liverpool tho I knew them in Scotland, and I don’t recall that pronunciation. The other relatives are /were all in Scotland, which is possibly north of wherever you are, and I don't recall 'hooman' either!

Interestingly, I grew up mostly in a Canadian province where most British -ew pronounced words were pronounced -oo. Like dew and do pronounced the same. Tho in a church you sat in a pew and not in a poo!

 

[Roselina]

I’m loving all the different terms - we’re very creative

 

[Merab]

Genuine question here as I honestly can not understand this, and no disrespect to anyone, but why use terms like 'drudge', 'minion', 'servant/***keeper' etc etc
We have our pets, regardless of species because we want them, love them and take care of them because we want to so why use terms that make it sound like something your forced into / that it's a chore?

As I said before the original term of 'slave' has never sat well with me, I won't go into a rant about it because this thread is about stopping use of that term, which I am so pleased about, but personally, I feel that terms like servant and drudge are no better.

I don't know how to explain why these terms leave me feeling so uncomfortable without getting on my high horse/ranting, but in short I guess it feels disrespectful.

However hopefully I'm missing something here.

(It might be worth mentioning that I am autistic)

Valid points but I think so much of our use of language is cultural, personal choice, what feels right to us.
We are trying to use a term that reflects how we feel about our relationship with piggies and other pets in an affectionate way.
The responses to this thread have been very helpful and thoughtful as well as thought provoking.
It will still be up to each individual to use the word that they feel most comfortable with.

I don’t think being autistic is a reason you feel uncomfortable - I think it’s more that you are a very caring human being

 

[SpiritoftheForest]

I think it relates more to how your pigs see you rather than how you see your own role. Like the difference between how a dog will see you as a member of the pack and an equal if not someone adored and looked up to whereas a cat and in many ways a guinea pig sees you as a method of getting what they want be it food, nose scratches or anything else. Therefore many owners feel they see us as taking that slave like role which we of course fulfill willingly and with love which really takes the "slave" aspect out of it.

It's a really interesting thing to think about I'll be honest I think I've used it a few times on the forum because everyone else seems to but I dont really say it in real life. I tend to be quite flexible with the language I use about the pigs hence they have an ungodly amount of nicknames and we do too.

Our preferred way to refer to ourselves is the long haired human and the short haired human.

Thank you, that makes sense.

Does anyone know where Hooman came from? Does it sound cute to people? I think of hoovers tbh. I would just use Human starting with hew- or Person, PiggyPerson.

I first heard it in Star Trek, but in relation to what you call yourself to your pets I came across it on a pet forum, thought it was amusing, I only use the term on forums.

Most people, even the vets, refer to me as Mum/Mummy to my dog.

Valid points but I think so much of our use of language is cultural, personal choice, what feels right to us.
We are trying to use a term that reflects how we feel about our relationship with piggies and other pets in an affectionate way.
The responses to this thread have been very helpful and thoughtful as well as thought provoking.
It will still be up to each individual to use the word that they feel most comfortable with.

I don’t think being autistic is a reason you feel uncomfortable - I think it’s more that you are a very caring human being

Thank you

 

[SpiritoftheForest]

Thank you everyone, it shows how kind everyone is on here that I was able to ask a genuine question and not be made to regret it!

 

[RosieLily]

Thank you everyone, it shows how kind everyone is on here that I was able to ask a genuine question and not be made to regret it!

That's a big reason I personally adore this community. You're always heard