Page 1 of 3
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:49 pm
by Soakologist
I know that this is going to sound ludicris, but why does it seem like everyone is afraid to call it a Water GUN? Everyone is calling is a water blaster or a soaker or a water toy. Why can't we all just call it what they are? WATER GUNS! By not calling it a water gun, we're, in a small way, buying into the Soccer Mom's plot to desensitize us to non-violence! A little violence is good, but I admit, too much is never good for the mind. Games like Doom or Halo just don't catch my fancy because they're too violent.
But back on topic, I think that we should start calling them Water GUNS again!
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 12:41 am
by Veteran
This topic should not have been created, it is a waste of space. Mods, please lock/delete it.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:39 am
by isoaker
...uhh... it's not a major issue.. some prefer to call 'em guns.. some prefer to call 'em blasters. Some call cars "automobiles"...
I actually prefer the term blaster not so much to avoid the word 'gun', but rather that the behaviour of the modern soaker is much different than that of a true gun. Thus, I prefer to distinguish them, but others like calling 'em water guns which is fine, too.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:37 am
by Storm
I always call them water guns. Just habit, always did and probably always will.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 2:07 pm
by Space_Cowboy
Soakologist wrote:By not calling it a water gun, we're, in a small way, buying into the Soccer Mom's plot to desensitize us to non-violence!
Yeah Cloud, soccer moms are going to rule the world. 
But anyway, that sounds really paranoid. I know some soccer moms around where I live that don't like star wars because of it's violence, and what are the weapons called in that? That's right, Blasters. 
It really doesn't matter what they're called.
Edited By Space_Cowboy on 1090004901
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:07 pm
by Adrian
I use the terms interchangeably. If I use "soaker" more than gun, it's not out of fear (Me? Afraid of guns or political incorrectness?) of the term, but because I prefer (slightly) to reserve the word gun for the more lethal variety. However, I use them both about as much.
Adrian
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:25 pm
by Field Marshal Yang
I call almost all water guns, blasters, etc soakers simply because the brand Super Soaker is so dominating and has had a much longer history than its competitors. It's sort of like how everyone calls cough medicine Tylenol.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:49 pm
by Soakologist
I think that this post is proving more interesting than I expected. Continue talking, please!
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:58 pm
by Field Marshal Yang
Now that I'm thinking, there's never been a high quality generic soaker. All the generic soakers aren't even good enough to be compared to Super Soakers; they're squirt guns. In the case of cereal, generic versions are the same as brand names, but not with soakers. I think it's sort of like how there are only brand name cars.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:11 pm
by Falcon
I tend to use the terms "Blaster" and "Soaker". The reason I don't call them "Water Guns" is because to me it makes them sound cheap and sub-par performance wise, much like the term "Water Pistol" that is used way too often does. If I heard some kid say to me, "I've got a water gun!" Then I'd be imagining something that's extremely cheaply made, and the stream only goes about 2 metres and it's a 0.5x stream. It also sounds pretty stupid when people call my Monster XL a water pistol. It's because of the fact that the terms Soaker and Blaster make them sound more high performance that I prefer to use them over the others like Warer Gun And Pistol.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:14 pm
by Soakologist
If you're talking about ebay.de, Pistole is the German word for gun, so it's not exactly the same.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:32 pm
by isoaker
^ I don't think he's referring to ebay.de. Prior to the marketing of the Super Soaker, I recall playing with water guns and water pistols with those terms being used interchangeably for the smaller squirters. The motorize water guns like the Water Hawk had designs based on real guns, thus were aptly referred to as water guns. With the release of the Super Soaker and things taking on a more bulbous, thus less gun-like look, the term water gun just seems no longer as descriptive.
When I look at things like the CPS1000 or a Max-D6000, I don't think 'gun'; I think 'soaker' or 'blaster'.
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:38 pm
by Soakologist
Funny. When I look at any "soaker," I think "Water Gun." I guess it might just be the way we're raised.
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:41 am
by Falcon
I don't know if it's the same everywhere, but around here just about EVERYONE (With the exception of me, and maybe a couple of friends) refers to all soakers as "Water Pistols" no matter whether they're XP 15 sized or Monster XL sized. I find this strange. In fact in the Guiness Book of Records they called the Monster XL the "Largest Water Pistol" which shows how often the term is used. AHH! I just can't escape it!
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:28 am
by Big Bee
Please allow me to add a little insight here. The reasons from the manufacturing/retailing sides are quite simple. There is no single reason.
First, the term blaster is used in defining performance to differentiate between the Air Pressure/Bladder/Diafram performance streams and the "squirt gun" streams.
Second, it is also used to define the difference between "guns" and "guns" many states have laws banning toy look-alike firearms. In this industry, when we refer to a "gun" it is usually a look-alike firearm, it helps the buyers distinguish whether or not they need to be concerned. They are always concerned anyway, but it helps.
Third, there is a "political correctness" about not using the word "gun" soccer moms do not rule the world, but they generally control the wallets. We need to be sensitive to that issue also.
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:12 pm
by Veteran
Blaster could be considered gun, so later on it will end up as "Water Propellant Device"
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 1:09 pm
by Shadowstrike Prime
When I was younger, I used to refer to them as water guns, but I just call them blasters now. I don't like calling them all soakers personally, just doesn't feel right anymore.
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:50 pm
by Soakologist
I just think that calling them "soakers" or "blasters" makes it sound like I'm a geek. Which I am, but still...
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:19 pm
by Veteran
Hmm, I still call them guns.
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 6:14 pm
by Space_Cowboy
Soakologist wrote:If you're talking about ebay.de, Pistole is the German word for gun, so it's not exactly the same.
Pistole means pistol, Gewehr means gun/rifle, and Kannon is cannon.
I've seen them all used on german sites (Wasserkannon/watercannon, etc...).