I was trying to look up authorities for the answer I was preparing — that a parrot’s beak is called a “poll” and hence “Polly” has long been a nickname for parrots, of either sex — but that didn’t turn out correct. There is at least a note that “poll” seems to have first meant “head” (which led to the sense of voting). Entries for “Polly” relate it to human name “Molly” as nicknames for “Mary” , and say nothing about connecting it to “poll” ; except that “Poll” says fem. proper name, short for Polly. Noted from 1620s as a parrot’s name. So there you are.
As Kilby said – the electric cars have to make a noise when running – it was a problem for blind people, they could not tell if it was safe to cross the street.
Comics I Don't Understand 
The situation in “The Argyle Sweater” is no joke, it has already become legislated reality.
LikeLike
I like the mechanics of the conversational misunderstanding in the Caesar panel.
LikeLike
Some good ones here.
LikeLike
Why is Polly male?
LikeLike
Why is Polly male?
I was trying to look up authorities for the answer I was preparing — that a parrot’s beak is called a “poll” and hence “Polly” has long been a nickname for parrots, of either sex — but that didn’t turn out correct. There is at least a note that “poll” seems to have first meant “head” (which led to the sense of voting). Entries for “Polly” relate it to human name “Molly” as nicknames for “Mary” , and say nothing about connecting it to “poll” ; except that “Poll” says fem. proper name, short for Polly. Noted from 1620s as a parrot’s name. So there you are.
LikeLike
Maybe his name is Pauly.
LikeLike
I dream of a world in which non-cis parrots are not name-shamed.
Oh, right, it’s MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM. Well, I don’t really want to live in that world, so, carry on….
LikeLike
As Kilby said – the electric cars have to make a noise when running – it was a problem for blind people, they could not tell if it was safe to cross the street.
LikeLike