western australia

splitting hairs

A merry-go-round is not a carousel

@JudyEv (381837)

Rockingham, Australia

November 29, 2021 5:48pm CST

Have you heard of ‘splitting hairs’? It means to make small and unnecessary distinctions Whether those distinctions are unnecessary or not probably depends on your point of view. So it might seem like splitting hairs to say that a carousel and a merry-go-round are not the same thing. A carousel consists entirely of horses while a merry-go-round might have boats or other animals in the mix. And to ensure you get your money’s worth from reading, a carousel/merry-go-round has a lead horse. It might be the largest and/or the most decorated horse in the circle. Sometimes it is a military or war horse. If there is a chariot, then the lead horse is immediately behind the chariot and on the outside. So there is a bit more trivia for you to forget.

One day, I’ll write about the carousel in Perth, Western Australia. I have to get my husband to take me there first so I can take a photo of it.

19 people like this

19 responses

@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

30 Nov 21

I honestly did not know this . . . I often call them all merry-go-round

.

4 people like this

@snowy22315 (208782)

• United States

30 Nov 21

So dis I muxh.

3 people like this

@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

1 Dec 21

Well from now on I'll probably think of this post whenever I see one (it's fresh in my mind as we did visit an old merry-go-round last weekend . . . I mean carousel

).

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

It's not a big deal. I'll probably forget in a week and call them all the same too.

1 person likes this

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@RasmaSandra (97908)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

30 Nov 21

I love that photo, I am a big fan of carousels, Thanks for the info,

4 people like this

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@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

I love them too. There are some things you never grow out of, isn't there?

2 people like this

@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

30 Nov 21

I like carousel or merry go rounds by any name. Years ago we often went to fair grounds and parks to ride all the rides and it was a lot of fun.

3 people like this

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@kaylachan (84711)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

30 Nov 21

They make noise and go around. Should it matter if you're splitting hairs?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

Probably not!

@LadyDuck (502208)

• Italy

30 Nov 21

I remember that someone told me that a carousel is a ride that features a motor and horses, a merry-go-round is a ride that features no motor, and no horses. So there is more than only horses or not to make the difference.

3 people like this

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@LadyDuck (502208)

• Italy

1 Dec 21

@JudyEv We also have two different words, "la giostra" (merry-go-round) e il carosello (the carousel).

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Dec 21

@LadyDuck It's interesting how the distinction gets lost in time and the words are then used interchangeably.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

Motors were mentioned in the article I read. The Perth one is called a carousel and it has a motor.

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@wolfgirl569 (135601)

• Marion, Ohio

30 Nov 21

I know I will forget most of that. But it is interesting

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

Don't worry. I'll forget it too.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

30 Nov 21

I did know this and I love the carousels. Sweet photo.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

I'm not too old to enjoy a ride on one either.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

30 Nov 21

@JudyEv Me either.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (208782)

• United States

30 Nov 21

Well, I guess this post is in the category of you learn something new everyday! Happy Merry carousel riding!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

I learnt something new but I'm taking no bets on how long I'll retain it.

@Orson_Kart (8261)

• United Kingdom

30 Nov 21

Carousel was a favourite musical of my mother’s. I remember it mainly for Shirley Jones, who I had up there with Doris Day as one of the most beautiful women in the world. She was also in The Partridge Family, which I also enjoyed. Not sure if there was a carousel in Carousel or a partridge in The Partridge Family? Maybe you know Judy?

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

Sorry - can't help with your questions. But there was a pretty woman in Pretty Woman.

I remember Shirley Jones.

@jstory07 (148720)

• Roseburg, Oregon

30 Nov 21

I want to see that carousel in Perth, Western Australia.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

It is very beautiful and has had quite a lot of restoration work done on it.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

30 Nov 21

All these obscure rules that we no longer worry about. Can't remember the last time I saw a carousel. Plenty of merry-go-rounds, though

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

None of it matters but I find these sorts of things interesting.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

1 Dec 21

@JudyEv Very true, love finding these things out

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222285)

• United States

30 Nov 21

I didn't know this. Very interesting post.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

Thanks. I'm glad you found it interesting.

1 person likes this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

1 Dec 21

Interesting! Christmas decorations going up at Honolulu Hale the Mayor's office.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Dec 21

Our city has lots of Christmas decorations up too.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Dec 21

@oahuwriter We are luckier than most with so few cases. It's Christmas as usual here.

1 person likes this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

2 Dec 21

@JudyEv Isn't it just devine, no one is caving from covid-19.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

30 Nov 21

well now, I honestly didn't know this. Thank you!!!!!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

You're welcome. There is always something to learn it seems.

@Faster16 (3248)

• Indonesia

30 Nov 21

it looks like an old archive

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

The photo is probably nearly 70 years old.

1 person likes this

@Faster16 (3248)

• Indonesia

1 Dec 21

@JudyEv oh i see

1 person likes this

@rebelann (117206)

• El Paso, Texas

30 Nov 21

Now that's trivia I wouldn't have thought of. Growing up on military bases the only merry go rounds we had were extremely simple with no horses or other kritters on it.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

The playground ones now are very simple too.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (34935)

• United Kingdom

30 Nov 21

Well I did know they were different, but I didn't know what the difference was. And we tended to use both names and muddle them up (kind of like lunch/dinner). But now I know!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

I can't imagine I'll remember the difference for long. Well, I might remember the difference but 'carousel' isn't a word you hear very often.

1 person likes this

@JESSY3236 (22247)

• United States

30 Nov 21

I didn't know this.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

It was news to me too.

1 person likes this

@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

30 Nov 21

This is absolutely true and very interesting, too! Thanks for sharing this with us, Judy

@Sojourn (13833)

• India

30 Nov 21

I knew both to be the same. Now I know the distinction.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 21

I thought they were all one and the same too.

1 person likes this