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MG MGA - SWMBO

I am increasingly dismayed by the use of the term SWMBO. It makes me cringe every time I see it.

You may think I'm modern or pedantic but I spent the last part of my career at Universities where more than 50% of the staff were highly intelligent and strong minded women including Vice Chancellors. Using similar terminology would have been unthinkable in any context or forum. My children's generation would never use the term either.

I know its a humorous Rumpole term but that was written nearly 50 years ago. We like our cars to move with the times and be improved, please can we move our language a little bit too. Nevertheless, you are all great guys - not sure I have noticed any women contributing (?reading) and not intending to be overly critical. I just don't think it's funny any more.
John
John Francis

I think the "problem "(if there actually is one", may be that many of us are from the Rumpole generation who are still amused by the expression.

I just asked my wife if she finds it offensive and she just laughed.

I think is like most things that we say, it very much depends upon the context in you use it.
You will find that it is a very much tongue in cheek expression when used on here and,in my experience, the reality is that most of us do actually share equal managerial powers with our partners/wives :^)
Colyn
Colyn Firth

And- We have had some female posters on here over time and as far as my memory goes they have always been treated equally and with all due respect---I can't see a problem and neither can my wife, she actually asks ,what's his problem
William Revit

Mrs Revit got it right!
Bolney Coupe

Never heard of it????
Gary Lock

Gary, SWMBO is the acronym for "She who must be obeyed".

To be honest John, when you think about it, the expression is actually more demeaning to men, in that it implies that women have the most power.

I wouldn't worry about it too much though John, you will probably find that the the use of this expression will die out at the same sort of the time that us older generation also die out! :^)

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Thanks Colyn...it must be that those who live under the SWMBO fear are the ones who knew what it meant???
Gary Lock

SWMBO a term of endearment for one's wife/girlfriend (or resignation to the nature of your relationship).

The term originates from the H. Rider Haggard novel, "She" (first published 1886). The character Ayesha, known as She-who-must-be-obeyed, the Queen of Death, the White Goddess,of the lost city of Kôr who rules her kingdom with terror, She is the very image of the Femme Fatale. To disobey her or to scorn her is to earn & receive instantaneous death.
Chris at Octarine Services

That's a new one on me. Good thing we don't live in the 1800's

Cheers

Gary
79 MGB
gary hansen

Initialism or acronym? I guess acronym in this case. I occasionally use 'her indoors'.

Steve
Steve Gyles

I always though with an acronym the initials had to spell another word, i.e.radar {RAdio Detection And Ranging}

Nigel
Nigel Munford

Nigel

An acronym is normally pronounced as a word. e.g. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).

An initialism is normally pronounced using the letters. e.g. MOT (Ministry of Transport)

Steve
Steve Gyles

Well Steve, even though I may not always be "politically correct"on this Bulletin Board, at least I know that, on this one occasion, I am actually grammatically correct! :^)

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Steve,

That places RAF properly in the latter category, except for some ex-Airmen (and a few brown jobs) who treat it as an acronym. At our age we are nearer anachronisms, I suppose.

Incidentally, my other half is known as Commander-in-Chief (Home). She may be CinC(H) but definitely not cinch.

Shane
Shanerj

Steve,
That's what I was saying, so SWMBO is not an acronym, as you said above. unless it is pronounced as a word (swimbo?)
Nigel Munford

I sort of agree with you Nigel. SWMBO doesn't quite sound right either way. Quite a mouthful as an initialism. I used to know it as (spoken sounding) 'herwimbo' - Her Who Must Be Obeyed (HWMBO).
Steve Gyles

What has this to do MGs ?
Roger Walker

Not much, but it does seem a little quiet round here.
Dave O'Neill 2

Just a bunch of guys/gals driving cars, drinking beer and shooting bullsh*t - isn't that what it's all about. SWMBO is away having fun for the week so I can say "SWMBO!" Jud
J. K. Chapin

Just checked in and had to double check that I am on the MGA forum. Has this now become an English Literature/PC discussion board?

Whatever happened to
The big problems with using Dot 5 silicon?
Is a 5 speed gearbox an unacceptable modification ?
My car is overheating so should I buy water wetter?
And all those other old chestnuts?

By the way, my SWMBO can’t see what the fuss is about. She is also known as BBBA (the beautiful brake bleeding assistant).

Graham V

I have a friend in the UK who refers to his partner as the "War Office" - so SWMBO is mild in comparison.

They have been together for 50 years, so their relationship seems fairly solid.
Dominic Clancy

No one has mentioned the SHE this is talking about in the 1965 film of the novel is played by one of my favourite actresses. That is Ursula Andress, who of course was the original Bond girl when she walks out of the see in Dr No.

Paul
Paul Dean

If he found the term objectionable, then he's going to love the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VJCT_svGnQ
D Rawlins

I was surprised to see Bernard Cribbins there.
Dave O'Neill 2

If I upset my wife, the consequences are not quite so severe, she just refuses to make me a cup of tea!

Also, fortunately for me, I don't think my wife would put up with the inconvenience of having an active volcano lava-tube in the centre of her living room :^)

Cheeres
Colyn
Colyn Firth

I hold on to my wife's "green card" so if he gets too uppity, I threaten to cut it up and deport her back to England. However, I know where my bread is buttered and wise enough to know just how good I have it.

So SWMBO to your heart's content. Life is good for us

Cheers

Gary

79MGB
gary hansen

This thread was discussed between 23/10/2019 and 28/10/2019

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