|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688
addict
|
OP
addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 688 |
While out on my motorcycle today, it occurred to me that one "rides" a motorcycle, yet one "drives" a car or a truck. Anyone have any explanation for this discrepency?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
Note also that one rides a horse in order to drive cattle. Hmmm.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 140
member
|
|
member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 140 |
Note also that one rides a horse in order to drive cattle.Good one, Dad, but I guess you ride astride a motorcycle but sit in a comfy chair to drive a car. lusy 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
As I'm also too lazy to LIU or do any research, I'll guess that it does, indeed, refer to the use of animals as transportation. "To ride" implies that you are seated upon the animnal; "to drive," that you are behind it, urging it along. When you drive a horse and carr, you are doing the latter, notwithstanding the fact that you are following the horse through no effort of your own. The same is true, by analogy, with car and mo'bike. And, indeed, in the vast majority of cars, you do sit behind the engine, whilst on the vast majority of Motorbikes, you sit over it. (This doesn't thoroughly explain it, of course, if you take into consideration that the earliest motor cars were rear-engined! hmmmm  )
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Is a lady who sits side saddle on a horse "riding' it?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Is a lady who sits side saddle on a horse "riding' it?
Nope, she's saddled with grief!  I know, I know. I'm a Monotreme and just laid an egg!Bridle regards, WildWest
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Remember the cowboy who worried about his girlfriend riding astride, because you can stretch a good thing too far?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
that reminds me, a childless friend asked once "what is teen age girls facination with horses all about?" as we walked in a park, and watched group after group of young girls go by on horse back.
i replied "i dunno, what ever could be appealing about speading your legs wide, and using your leg muscles to grab hold of hard, well muscled body, that causes you to bound up and down rhythmicly? and to think the young girl has full control of this hard, well muscled body and can control the speed, and nature of the rhythm she bounces at? I dunno.. why ever would they enjoy that?" he blushed and had trouble looking at the next group of riders!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 819 |
I guess you ride astride a motorcycle but sit in a comfy chair to drive a car.
Yet one pilots an aeroplane or a boat, regardless of where the power plant is located. Even the persons who provide both power and control of human-powered aircraft are called pilots, even though they're "riding" them, as in a bicycle.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Yet one pilots an aeroplane or a boat
If one is to believe such TV shows as JAG military pilots will drive their planes.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,809
Members9,187
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
403
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
