Erlkönig: computer-gender.shtml

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 of neutral gender.

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 composed 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 could 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.