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Post by radio on May 23, 2015 19:43:33 GMT -5
A Spanish language teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
"House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa." "Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lapiz." A student asked, "What gender is 'Computer'?"
Instead of giving the answer, the teacher divided the class into two groups, Male and Female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "Computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men's group decided that "Computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"), 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 the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck to buy accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine ("el computador"), because:
1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;
2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;
3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
The women won.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,808
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Post by gemfeller on May 24, 2015 1:04:56 GMT -5
That's funny. But I've always thought computers per se are male, thus "Hardware."
Computer code and programs are female: "Software."
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Post by mohs on May 24, 2015 13:50:55 GMT -5
Ha Ha That’s clever Rick! and w/ the event of quantum computers it will no more be turn on- turn off but blurring into androgyny just what the world needs more uncertainty mostly™
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,808
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Post by gemfeller on May 24, 2015 15:29:58 GMT -5
Ed, if my interpretation of current events is accurate, androgyny and sexual confusion are becoming the "new normal" for humans as well.
I'm reminded of my favorite social poet Samuel Hoffenstein ("Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing") who presciently wrote back in the 1920's:
"Breathes there a man with hide so tough Who thinks two sexes aren't enough?"
Apropos of nothing I found this little gem while looking up the previous:
"When you're away, I'm restless, lonely Wretched, bored, dejected; only Here's the rub, my darling dear I feel the same when you are here."
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Post by mohs on May 24, 2015 17:28:30 GMT -5
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