gender association with electronics
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I believe it is men who created the "she" fashion for "important" items such as country, ship or car. I will bet that women, if let alone, will call it "he" ;)
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station.... _________________________________________________________ My programs never have bugs, they just develop random features.
I'm female, and all my computers have male names (Daedalus, Synergy, Kakos, Copernicus, Prometheus, and Asimov). They all have to have unique identifiers to be on the network anyway, so they might as well have actual names rather than being called main-desktop, main-laptop, etc. Having names for them also makes referring to them in conversation much easier, as I don't have to rattle off their purposes and specifications instead. Besides, people always named their ships, swords, etc -- all tools necessary to do their jobs. And that's basically what a computer is. In my experience, men that name their computers usually consider them to be female, and women that name their computers usually consider them to be male (though I have met a few exceptions to this). To me, names are always associated with a gender, so it's only natural that I consider my computers to have a gender as well.
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I'm female, and all my computers have male names (Daedalus, Synergy, Kakos, Copernicus, Prometheus, and Asimov). They all have to have unique identifiers to be on the network anyway, so they might as well have actual names rather than being called main-desktop, main-laptop, etc. Having names for them also makes referring to them in conversation much easier, as I don't have to rattle off their purposes and specifications instead. Besides, people always named their ships, swords, etc -- all tools necessary to do their jobs. And that's basically what a computer is. In my experience, men that name their computers usually consider them to be female, and women that name their computers usually consider them to be male (though I have met a few exceptions to this). To me, names are always associated with a gender, so it's only natural that I consider my computers to have a gender as well.
I knew it! :-D Although sometimes people give gender neutral name, such as planets, animal specie, and such as well...
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station.... _________________________________________________________ My programs never have bugs, they just develop random features.
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I have a habit of naming electronics and such. All my vehicles have Latino names. I usually call my computer "Piece of Crap" which I believe is gender neutral.
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do women say "she" in reference to their computers? i know i do. "oh she's had a rough day...got dropped in my messenger bag" "isn't she beautiful with the blue finish" "i stuck some new ram in her and she's a powerhouse now" maybe i just need to get out more...:~
----------------------------------------------------------- "When I first saw it, I just thought that you really, really enjoyed programming in java." - Leslie Sanford
I believe it makes no sense to give a gender to computers, in English. However, they have gender in several other languages: German: Rechner (masculin); French: ordinateur (masculin); Portuguese: computador (masculin); Spanish: ordenador (masculin), or computadora (feminin).
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A Toyota Prius is not an environmentally friendly booger. Making the batteries involves nickel mining in Canada, a filthy business. Then the nickel is shipped to Europe to be refined, then China to be made into batteries, then to Japan to be put into your ugly, cheaply made, under powered car. In the long run its friendlier to run a Range Rover than it is to run a Prius. Aha, but at least they're fuel efficient. A friend of mine has one. He drives it normally, not insanely fast or putters around slowly, just normally. He gets 44 mpg. If you want economic, buy a Golf Diesel. My boss's gets 48 - 52 mpg. And its not like the prius is a well made, solid car either. I'd rather get a wheel barrow, put a lawn mower engine on the back and cover it in tin foil. It'll be cheaper, perform better, safer and more economical. This is me continuing to hate on the Toyota Prius.
Careful, room 101 awaits for those heretics who choose to work with mere factual information and not obediently think the "correct" thing. Rich
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do women say "she" in reference to their computers? i know i do. "oh she's had a rough day...got dropped in my messenger bag" "isn't she beautiful with the blue finish" "i stuck some new ram in her and she's a powerhouse now" maybe i just need to get out more...:~
----------------------------------------------------------- "When I first saw it, I just thought that you really, really enjoyed programming in java." - Leslie Sanford
jgasm wrote:
maybe i just need to get out more...
Been there, it just distracts you from the real code.
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
blog: TDD - the Aha! | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighist -
A Toyota Prius is not an environmentally friendly booger. Making the batteries involves nickel mining in Canada, a filthy business. Then the nickel is shipped to Europe to be refined, then China to be made into batteries, then to Japan to be put into your ugly, cheaply made, under powered car. In the long run its friendlier to run a Range Rover than it is to run a Prius. Aha, but at least they're fuel efficient. A friend of mine has one. He drives it normally, not insanely fast or putters around slowly, just normally. He gets 44 mpg. If you want economic, buy a Golf Diesel. My boss's gets 48 - 52 mpg. And its not like the prius is a well made, solid car either. I'd rather get a wheel barrow, put a lawn mower engine on the back and cover it in tin foil. It'll be cheaper, perform better, safer and more economical. This is me continuing to hate on the Toyota Prius.
Wow, did a Prius wee in your wheaties this morning? BTW, using the local prices at the pump on my way in to work this morning, 44 mpg @ 3.70 for gas is about 8.41 cents per mile, whereas 52 mpg @ 4.50 for diesel is 8.65 cents per mile, so if you were trying to "prove" that the Golf is more "economic", that conclusion would not appear to be borne out by the facts. YM, and Gas Prices, MV.
modified on Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:15 AM
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do women say "she" in reference to their computers? i know i do. "oh she's had a rough day...got dropped in my messenger bag" "isn't she beautiful with the blue finish" "i stuck some new ram in her and she's a powerhouse now" maybe i just need to get out more...:~
----------------------------------------------------------- "When I first saw it, I just thought that you really, really enjoyed programming in java." - Leslie Sanford
Then it becomes a non-gender issue. I never gave any of my systems (s)he-ismization, but come to think of it, about once a month application would shut down for no good reason and crying noises came from the speakers. That problem seems to be fixed (now that my PC is fixed). Really - the only way to know for sure is, when the PC is new, LOOK UNDERNEATH.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"How do you find out if you're unwanted if everyone you try to ask tells you to go away?" - Balboos HaGadol -
I have a habit of naming electronics and such. All my vehicles have Latino names. I usually call my computer "Piece of Crap" which I believe is gender neutral.
I would say androgynous to my system... if it works well den macho man otherwise nice bimbo... ;P
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Jim Crafton wrote:
Less sticking of ram and more getting outside
Sticking of ewe, I presume...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Well whatever gets you through the night... Maybe the heat confuses things out where you live :)
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog
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Marc Clifton wrote:
These things, including sailing vessels, are "it"!
Unless you are alone at sea, everything starts to look like a "she". :-D
My .NET Business Application Framework My Home Page My Younger Son & His "PET"
Computers are it or simply work, home, laptop, etc. Now servers have names since they are shared. Our virtual server is named overload. Now the airplane has two names the ex hung on it. Sparkle when I talk about it and the mistress when ever I could seize the checkbook out of her hands long enough to spend any money on it!
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I have a habit of naming electronics and such. All my vehicles have Latino names. I usually call my computer "Piece of Crap" which I believe is gender neutral.
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do women say "she" in reference to their computers? i know i do. "oh she's had a rough day...got dropped in my messenger bag" "isn't she beautiful with the blue finish" "i stuck some new ram in her and she's a powerhouse now" maybe i just need to get out more...:~
----------------------------------------------------------- "When I first saw it, I just thought that you really, really enjoyed programming in java." - Leslie Sanford
I don't know about women minds, but in spanish (my mother language) all the nouns have pre-set gender definitions (like in German). So these definitions are engraved in my mind: Computer = She (He in Spain) Laptop = She iPod = She (pods are shes) iPhone = He Blackberry = She (berrys are shes) T.V. = She (Visión is she) Wii = He PS3 = He X-box = He (though some call it she, cause box in spanish is a she) DS = He PSP = He And just for kicks: Guitar = She Cars = He ________ -Regards
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I knew it! :-D Although sometimes people give gender neutral name, such as planets, animal specie, and such as well...
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station.... _________________________________________________________ My programs never have bugs, they just develop random features.
Um wait... Planets aren't gender neutral other than designations for newly discovered. Each of the planets represent a male or female from mythology.
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Um wait... Planets aren't gender neutral other than designations for newly discovered. Each of the planets represent a male or female from mythology.
Hooooo, ok, thanks for the info! :) Mmmm, I just checked with the native aussie speaker next desk (english is an aussie linguo!) and he told me that the planet ARE gender neutral. Come to thin about it I knew they were originaly named after some people (gods) in the greek / latin mythology, but I do think they are neutral. Proof, do you say: 1. it is the planet mars 2. he is the planet mars The proper sentence is #1 see QED!
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station.... _________________________________________________________ My programs never have bugs, they just develop random features.
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Hooooo, ok, thanks for the info! :) Mmmm, I just checked with the native aussie speaker next desk (english is an aussie linguo!) and he told me that the planet ARE gender neutral. Come to thin about it I knew they were originaly named after some people (gods) in the greek / latin mythology, but I do think they are neutral. Proof, do you say: 1. it is the planet mars 2. he is the planet mars The proper sentence is #1 see QED!
A train station is where the train stops. A bus station is where the bus stops. On my desk, I have a work station.... _________________________________________________________ My programs never have bugs, they just develop random features.
That is because there is no gender association with words in English. We may associate the names such as Pat with a woman, but it could just as easily be for a man. There was a Saturday Night Live sketch that focused on that. There was this woman/man who was obese and you couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman and "it" was named Pat. The Greeks saw most of the night sky better than us (thanks light pollution) and their answer was to name stars, planets and constellations after mythical figures. The Romans did their typical conquer and steal type thing and just changed the names to protect the innocent, so Zeus eventually became Jupiter to us. Still the ruler of the Gods. Still very male. (In fact you could call him the epitomy of male) Just because English is screwed up doesn't mean the rest of the universe is :)
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do women say "she" in reference to their computers? i know i do. "oh she's had a rough day...got dropped in my messenger bag" "isn't she beautiful with the blue finish" "i stuck some new ram in her and she's a powerhouse now" maybe i just need to get out more...:~
----------------------------------------------------------- "When I first saw it, I just thought that you really, really enjoyed programming in java." - Leslie Sanford
my computer is (he) a best friend, i spend all my time with hem.
