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PaperclipPerfector  8d ago (text post)   3279 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 6, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Yeah, I thought your initial usage was fine. I mostly wasn't sure everyone reading the thread below would realize the technical distinction. I guess maybe "serviceman" doesn't give land-army vibes? I thought the nautical aspect of the ship being full of seamen was important to the point you were making.

Do people really say "sailor" in a modern context to refer to a merchant mariner?

Yes when I hear "sailor" I imagine it can mean a sailor in the military or someone who sails on any kind of vessel. I like watching "maritime" videos on youtube and people who aren't in the military use "sailor" all the time generically

Apologies for referring to Navy sailors as soldiers in my comment below, and thanks for the correction. Actually it felt weird as I was typing "soldier" but I thought that was because a close relative was in the Navy and thinking of him as a sailor makes sense in my brain but calling him a soldier in my brain felt weird. Apparently my instinct was correct.

I thought it included people outside of the navy.

When I Google it the definition I get is navy, commercial, and even recreational. So I believe it’s not limited to just military person.

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