FastWoman Posted July 14, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 14, 2011 OK, I just have to ask this, because it sounds pretty funny to me. There seems to be a generational trend for kids to speak of "turning on" or "turning off" an engine, almost as though they were flipping a switch or something. This sounds every bit as peculiar to me as "you guys" and especially "yooz guys" sounded to me as I relocated from South to North. So do you think this "turning on/off" language related to the relative ease of starting a modern engine? Some cars even have "start" buttons, sometimes even starting by remote control. Back long before MY day, someone would have to CRANK an engine by hand. No electric starters. I have no question nobody would have referred to "turning on" an engine back then. Rather, it would be "crank it" or "fire it up." It would be very much like starting a lawnmower with a pull cord. As far as I'm aware, nobody "turns on" a lawnmower, but I could be wrong. In my day, cars were sometimes fussy, and there was a sequence of events even on a well-running car to get the thing fired up. At the very least, it would take an accelerator pedal pump or two, perhaps a pulling of a choke knob, and then a crank. This wouldn't be a "turning on" process, but rather a "starting the engine" process. But nowadays, I guess you can push a button -- "turn on/off" So is this where the expression comes from -- from the ease of starting -- from its effortless, one-step, fool-proof nature? Another question: Do any of you (especially the 240 folks) feel a sense of pride that your startup sequence ISN'T via the mindless push of a button? Wouldn't you shrivel up just a bit inside if you had to tell someone you "turned on/off" your Z? Or is that just me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonpup Posted July 14, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 14, 2011 Pet Peeve? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted July 14, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 14, 2011 Sarah, as far as turning on the car, are you referring to something like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastWoman Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted July 14, 2011 Pet Peeve? :laugh: Yeah, kinda... Sarah, as far as turning on the car, are you referring to something like this? Yeah, kinda... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjohnson2444 Posted July 14, 2011 Share #5 Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) I've never heard anyone say "turn on the car." My kids are between 16 and 23, so I think they would be saying it if it were a popular term around here. And we do have a push button start Altima. Edited July 14, 2011 by kjohnson2444 Typo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlorber Posted July 14, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 14, 2011 Maybe its a new vernacular due to electric cars. "Gentlemen (oh and ladies) turn on your motors". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Posted July 14, 2011 Share #7 Posted July 14, 2011 (edited) Do any of you (especially the 240 folks) feel a sense of pride that your startup sequence ISN'T via the mindless push of a button? Hah!. I left my 240Z at the muffler shop last week. Warned them to pull it in while the engine was still fairly warm, that way they wouldn't have to use the choke. Push-button start/stop? Indeed... Edited July 14, 2011 by Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twsutt Posted July 14, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 14, 2011 "Turn on the car." For a car to be turned on it would have to have emotions. I know that I'm guilty of attributing a personality or soul to my Z, but in the end it's just unfeeling metal...not a living thing like Stephen King's Christine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastWoman Posted July 15, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted July 15, 2011 I've never heard anyone say "turn on the car." My kids are between 16 and 23, so I think they would be saying it if it were a popular term around here. And we do have a push button start Altima.Well, to be honest, I read the "turn on your car" thing much more on a Miata forum where I'm also active. However, it seems to be mostly kids using the expression -- usually the ones who seem like they would never get their fingernails dirty -- sort of like my stepson who popped a fan belt and told me he "broke a ball bearing or something." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beermanpete Posted July 15, 2011 Share #10 Posted July 15, 2011 Ha Ha. Is this related to why my wife thinks that I might damage the (her) car by letting out the clutch while the brakes are on to stall the motor instead of simply turning the key to stop the engine?By the way, I doubt the push button start is new. The push button stop might be, not to mention the RFID keys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzi Lon Posted July 15, 2011 Share #11 Posted July 15, 2011 I think it is because the 'youngsters' have so many things that 'turn on' & 'turn off' it just becomes part of their 'speak'.My pet peeve is when an internal combustion 'Engine' is referred to as a 'Motor'.Bonzi Lon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buysell Posted July 15, 2011 Share #12 Posted July 15, 2011 My pet peeve too.My pet peeve is when an internal combustion 'Engine' is referred to as a 'Motor'.Bonzi Lon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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