it's come to my attention that it's recently become faux pas to call pinball machines "tables". they apparently must be called "machines" or "games", but as far as i can tell, they are tables and it doesn't strike me as insulting or incorrect to use that term. can someone please explain to me why?
thanks much!
-jon
How many tables in your house have 4 legs? 
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/table-or-pinball
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-machine-pinball-table-or-both
Do you consider a pinball machine a piece of furniture? I do not. I guess definition 6 is a consideration, but seems like a stretch (very broad interpretation) since pinball games are angled in relation to the floor.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/table
Definition of table
1
a : a piece of furniture consisting of a smooth flat slab fixed on legs
b (1) : a group of people assembled at or as if at a table (2) : a legislative or negotiating session the bargaining table
c (1) : a supply or source of food (2) : an act or instance of assembling to eat : meal sit down to table
2
a : a systematic arrangement of data usually in rows and columns for ready reference
b : a condensed enumeration : list a table of contents
3
: tablet 1a
4
a tables plural : backgammon
b : one of the two leaves of a backgammon board or either half of a leaf
5
: stringcourse
6
: something that resembles a table especially in having a plane surface: such as
a : the upper flat surface of a cut precious stone — see brilliant illustration
b (1) : tableland (2) : a horizontal stratum
on the table
: up for consideration or negotiation the subject is not on the table
under the table
1
: into a stupor can drink you under the table
2
: in a covert manner took money under the table
It doesn't bother me.
But I suppose it's the "they're not dolls, they're action figures" sort of thing to some people.
The purpose of a table is typically to sit at or to place something on... Now, you can sit at a pinball machine but the only characteristic that is similar between the two is that they both have four legs. I mean a "chair" typically has four legs but you would never call a chair a table would you?
From the historical perspective, it makes more sense to call a pinball machine from the early 1900's a table because they were almost entirely made of wood and the tops were flat, even if they had glass covering the playing surface.
So, the historical pre-woodrail pinball era term has carried over to modern day, even though most of the "table" characteristics have been lost.
Quoted from snyper2099:The purpose of a table is typically to sit at or to place something on... Now, you can sit at a pinball machine but the only characteristic that is similar between the two is that they both have four legs.
People have been placing things on pinball machines for 60+ years. Drinks, smokes, dip cups, gin rags or whatever the hell old people used.
Where's o-din with some pics of the machines that had shelves on them?
Quoted from TheLaw:People have been placing things on pinball machines for 60+ years. Drinks, smokes, dip cups, gin rags or whatever the hell old people used.
People place things on the back of a toilet and you sit on that so, using your logic that's a table too? Going to use the "crapper table"?
Quoted from TheLaw:Obviously not, a toilet doesn't have 4 legs dummy
Neither do all tables dummy.
Quoted from bigehrl:i never find myself sitting at a pool table.
I guess you missed that word typically.
Quoted from TheLaw:Jesus you are such a fun dude.
At least I have a sense of humor. You just want to start an argument.
Quoted from LTG:The Who called them table.
Maybe a country thing as what they are called where.
Doesn't matter. What ever it is called. We love them.
Yes, reminds me of the meaning of "a lift" in England is the elevator vs. in the States it means "a ride".
Quoted from snyper2099:John's got the idea. Old ass pinball=table. Modern pinball=machine.
I sometimes sit on these when I'm playing the Subway.
John
Quoted from snyper2099:Yes, reminds me of the meaning of "a lift" in England is the elevator vs. in the States it means "a ride".
Bum is another such word.
LTG : )
Some of it may relate to where our familiarity with pinball comes from. While I did play physical pinball sometimes when I was growing up, I knew it most from the virtual side, and to me pinball is just as much a genre of video games as it is a set of machines. The two biggest digital pinball platforms (Zen Studios with their Pinball FX games and Farsight Studios with The Pinball Arcade) both refer to the different games as "tables". So, for my part, when I say "table" (and I say it a lot) it's likely due to that.
Links to examples where they are using the "table" language:
https://www.pinballarcade.com/TablePacks/
http://www.pinballfx.com/?page_id=7115
Quoted from snyper2099:
Yes, reminds me of the meaning of "a lift" in England is the elevator vs. in the States it means "a ride".
LTG : )
Quoted from LTG:Bum is another such word.
LTG : )
Then again, if you bum a fag in England, someone will give you a smoke 
Quoted from gtxjoe:How many tables in your house have 4 legs?
4 legs.... hrrrmmmm... perhaps they are couches then. 
Haha never heard deck. Table is fine too. I always figured that's what the old timers called them.
What I hate is when all these steezy ski bum hillbillies call skis "sticks". Get outta here with that garbage.
Or soccer players calling cleats, boots. Wtf? This one may get a pass since it's a non-American sport so that could be what they are called outside of America.
Happy Birthday Merica
I think calling a pinball machine a "table" is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. About the only thing it even remotely resembles a table is that it has 4 legs. Other than that there is nothing about it that makes it a "table".
Quoted from EricHadley:I think calling a pinball machine a "table" is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. About the only thing it even remotely resembles a table is that it has 4 legs. Other than that there is nothing about it that makes it a "table".
I put drinks on mine, I have even set a meal or two on mine. I've also sat at my games and played them. I don't call them tables, but I can see why others do.
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