英语笑话

429　Gender of Computers 电脑的性别

A Government Minister who had once been a sailor was very aware that ships were referred to in the feminine gender—she, her, etc. He often wondered in what gender computers should be addressed. To answer that question, he set up two groups of computer experts. The first was comprised of women, and the second group was made up of men. Each group was asked to recommend whether computers should be referred to in the feminine gender or the masculine gender, and was asked to give four reasons for their recommendation. The group of women reported 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 they are still clueless.

3) They are supposed to help you solve 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 group of men concluded that computers should be referred to in the feminine gender because:

1) No one but the 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.

一位政府部长，过去当过水手，非常清楚船是用女性来称呼的。他经常想，电脑应该用什么性别来称呼呢？为了回答这个问题，他组织了两组电脑专家，一组由女性组成，另一组由男性组成。要求每一组提出建议，电脑应该用男性来称呼还是用女性来称呼，而且要说出四个理由。由女性组成的小组提出电脑应该用男性来称呼，因为：

1）为了引起他们的注意，你必须刺激他们。

2）他们有很多数据，但是依然没有头绪。

3）他们应该是帮你解决问题，但半数时间他们本身就是问题。

4）一旦你委身一个，你马上就意识到只要再多等一会儿，就会有更好的。

由男性组成的小组提出电脑应该用女性来称呼，因为：

1）除了她们的创造者以外，谁也不懂她们内部的逻辑。

2）她们用来和别的电脑沟通的本机语言是互相不兼容的。

3）即使是最小的错误也放在长期记忆里面，供将来找回。

4）一旦你委身一个，你马上就意识到你一半的收入要花费在她的配件上。