Message-ID: <13489561.1075858977108.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 02:38:45 -0800 (PST) From: sandyteb@aol.com To: tlokey@enron.com Subject: Friday Fun Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Sandyteb@aol.com@ENRON X-To: tlokey@enron.com X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \TLOKEY (Non-Privileged)\sandy X-Origin: Lokey-T X-FileName: TLOKEY (Non-Privileged).pst Hi, Tebby: Ann forwarded this to me. I think you'll like it--and agree with part of it! Love, Sandy >FW: FW: Are computers masculine or feminine? > > > >An English teacher was explaining to his students the concept of >gender > > > >association in the English language. He noted how hurricanes at one > > time > > > >were given only female names, and how ships and planes were usually > > > >referred to as "she." One of the students raised her hand and asked, > > > "What > > > >gender is a computer?" > > > > > > > >The teacher wasn't certain. So he divided the class into two groups: > > > males > > > >in one, females in the other, and asked them to decide if a computer > > > should > > > >be masculine or feminine. Both groups were asked to give four reasons > > for > > > >their recommendations. > > > > > > > >The group of women concluded that computers should be referred to as > > > >masculine 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 could have had a better model. > > > > > > > >The men, on the other hand, decided that computers should definitely >be > > > >referred to as feminine 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.