What Gender is Your Computer?

Arvon · 10-30-2001, 02:38 PM

A language instructor was explaining to her class that French nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine.

Things like 'chalk' or 'pencil,' she described, would have a gender association although in English these words were neutral.

Puzzled, one student raised his hand and asked, "What gender is a computer?"

The teacher wasn't certain which it was, and so divided the class into two groups and asked them to decide if a computer should be masculine or feminine.

One group was comprised of the women in the class, and the other, of men. Both groups were asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.

The group of women concluded that computers should be referred to in the masculine gender because:

1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.

2. They have a lot of data but are still clueless.

3. They are supposed to help you solve your problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that, if you had waited a little longer, you might have had a better model.

The men, on the other hand, decided that computers should definitely be referred to in the feminine gender because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

3. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval.

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

------------------
Avast There mates..make yer way here and drop yer anchor. We'll swap some lies and have a Black Jack o' ale.
[img]http://photos.msn.com/ImageServer/Image.aspx?Image=0h9xCkj4Yyo6VbTdcNrmhglJSkAWB6C9t TOROQgn3fkyYtQWT3Eo5!RPgsmdH04n21ZwArZk8VKBbX7q5c5 lh23jcuzjC4vocaQon2R**tBX0hngEwtOVHHj6OKZ0rh88XD71 vZnc3mLWF6Mw5RgJlGRrW4g0*paUjrmYDwYo15UXRaQbSHBupT kwDp*1sihKI5KQfFzBJxw!gXksOi7t3lD!ZTBlxa9qvi9gay*w w9qx0D!4Zab7O9X9f8yCidhW!JhfKwTjmW9vKtQUaPtdZBAU6v MyvQ6O3gsKR11htpXuzFv!SOAoeeWWyhXiM5nk*x3EBn6RBuzi 80lKL1VXIMZ2dOvOZLQ[/img]

Elif Godson · 10-30-2001, 02:41 PM

ROFL

I see many similarities

------------------
The Ruby Rouge of the ALSB

Official Slayer of Pest's in Cloudy's Kitchen
Blessed is the Warlock
Advisor to the Lady Lioness for Kitchen raid's and such...

Mitro Jellywadder · 10-30-2001, 02:42 PM

Sad, but true. Both sides of the argument.

------------------

If things got any better, I'd be twins.
Keeper of Lost Cause

adam warlock · 10-30-2001, 02:43 PM

I dunno

I have to lift the cables to check...

------------------

Realm of Warlock's Art
The Host of Sigs - who's your daddy now?
I bow to Ziroc the grand master! I shall never mock Choc again!

MILAMBER · 10-30-2001, 02:45 PM

I love it!!

Great post.

------------------
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."
-General George Patton (1885-1945)

Member of CLAN HADB

10-30-2001, 02:46 PM

My laptop is female, no doubt about it. It invariably does things wrong or not at all, does not obey my orders and is incredibly obstinate

------------------
Ciao!

Sazerac · 10-30-2001, 02:57 PM

I side with computers being female if for only that: "General Fault Protection Error in sector 0x057BF249" means "If you don't know what's wrong, I'm NOT going to tell you!"

However, my computer at home is male, I'm sure of it. It does things no FEMALE would ever do...that and I tend to call it @$$hole when it acts up!

------------------

Patience, my BUTT...I'm going to KILL something!!!

Mitro Jellywadder · 10-30-2001, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by adam warlock:
I dunno I have to lift the cables to check...

I wouldn't grab those if I were you. My 'puter just got pi$$ed.

issed:

------------------

Keeper of Lost Cause
Sazerac Artwork:Limited Edition #145 (Signed)
If things got any better, I'd be twins.

[This message has been edited by Mitro Jellywadder (edited 10-30-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Mitro Jellywadder (edited 10-30-2001).]

adam warlock · 10-30-2001, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mitro Jellywadder:
I wouldn't grab those if I were you. My 'puter just got pi$$ed.
issed:

too late I got zapped for it...
BTW it's definetly a female (sorry)

------------------

Realm of Warlock's Art
The Host of Sigs - who's your daddy now?
I bow to Ziroc the grand master! I shall never mock Choc again!

Wah · 10-30-2001, 03:11 PM

Bravo!

That is so true!

It was such a convenient package, that I never DID buy it many accessories too.

Oops, perhaps "package" is not the word I'm looking for here - nor "convenient" either.

------------------

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
I've had a gender change...	Bozos of Bones	General Discussion	10	04-03-2006 06:26 AM
Computer Gender.. male or female?	Harkoliar	General Discussion	15	08-04-2005 05:36 PM
Gender bending	Absynthe	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	26	07-19-2002 05:23 PM
Gender = ?	eagle123	Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn & Throne of Bhaal	1	06-10-2002 06:47 AM
The Gender Gap at the ATM	Arvon	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	7	01-25-2002 10:12 PM

10-30-2001, 02:38 PM	#1
Arvon Unicorn Join Date: October 4, 2001 Location: Kingdom of the West,..P.o. Cynagus Posts: 4,212	A language instructor was explaining to her class that French nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine. Things like 'chalk' or 'pencil,' she described, would have a gender association although in English these words were neutral. Puzzled, one student raised his hand and asked, "What gender is a computer?" The teacher wasn't certain which it was, and so divided the class into two groups and asked them to decide if a computer should be masculine or feminine. One group was comprised of the women in the class, and the other, of men. Both groups were asked to give four reasons for their recommendation. The group of women concluded that computers should be referred to in the masculine gender because: 1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on. 2. They have a lot of data but are still clueless. 3. They are supposed to help you solve your problems, but half the time they ARE the problem. 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that, if you had waited a little longer, you might have had a better model. The men, on the other hand, decided that computers should definitely be referred to in the feminine gender because: 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic. 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else. 3. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval. 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it. ------------------ Avast There mates..make yer way here and drop yer anchor. We'll swap some lies and have a Black Jack o' ale. [img]http://photos.msn.com/ImageServer/Image.aspx?Image=0h9xCkj4Yyo6VbTdcNrmhglJSkAWB6C9t TOROQgn3fkyYtQWT3Eo5!RPgsmdH04n21ZwArZk8VKBbX7q5c5 lh23jcuzjC4vocaQon2R*tBX0hngEwtOVHHj6OKZ0rh88XD71 vZnc3mLWF6Mw5RgJlGRrW4g0paUjrmYDwYo15UXRaQbSHBupT kwDp1sihKI5KQfFzBJxw!gXksOi7t3lD!ZTBlxa9qvi9gayw w9qx0D!4Zab7O9X9f8yCidhW!JhfKwTjmW9vKtQUaPtdZBAU6v MyvQ6O3gsKR11htpXuzFv!SOAoeeWWyhXiM5nk*x3EBn6RBuzi 80lKL1VXIMZ2dOvOZLQ[/img]

10-30-2001, 02:41 PM	#2
Elif Godson Dracolich Join Date: August 28, 2001 Location: Hurricane Valley Age: 51 Posts: 3,089	ROFL I see many similarities ------------------ The Ruby Rouge of the ALSB Official Slayer of Pest's in Cloudy's Kitchen Blessed is the Warlock Advisor to the Lady Lioness for Kitchen raid's and such...

10-30-2001, 02:42 PM	#3
Mitro Jellywadder Quintesson Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Florida Age: 52 Posts: 1,016	Sad, but true. Both sides of the argument. ------------------ If things got any better, I'd be twins. Keeper of Lost Cause

10-30-2001, 02:43 PM	#4
adam warlock Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: I live inside of my mind..... Age: 53 Posts: 3,234	I dunno I have to lift the cables to check... ------------------ Realm of Warlock's Art The Host of Sigs - who's your daddy now? I bow to Ziroc the grand master! I shall never mock Choc again!

10-30-2001, 02:45 PM	#5
MILAMBER Lord Soth Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,948	I love it!! Great post. ------------------ "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." -General George Patton (1885-1945) Member of CLAN HADB

10-30-2001, 02:46 PM	#6
Sorcerer Alex Guest Posts: n/a	My laptop is female, no doubt about it. It invariably does things wrong or not at all, does not obey my orders and is incredibly obstinate ------------------ Ciao!

10-30-2001, 02:57 PM	#7
Sazerac Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Monroe, LA Age: 60 Posts: 7,387	I side with computers being female if for only that: "General Fault Protection Error in sector 0x057BF249" means "If you don't know what's wrong, I'm NOT going to tell you!" However, my computer at home is male, I'm sure of it. It does things no FEMALE would ever do...that and I tend to call it @$$hole when it acts up! ------------------ *Patience, my BUTT...I'm going to KILL something!!!*

10-30-2001, 03:11 PM	#10
Wah Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 17, 2001 Location: England Posts: 1,160	Bravo! That is so true! It was such a convenient package, that I never DID buy it many accessories too. Oops, perhaps "package" is not the word I'm looking for here - nor "convenient" either. ------------------

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)