Comments on: A Gross Over-generalization Related to Gender

By: Stew

Stew — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:48:46 +0000

I find this funny just because this happened with a girl friend of mine the other day. I recommend purchasing one of the newer TV’s that have that automatic source switch detecting ability. When I turn on my xbox it detects a new signal from another source and automatically switches to that source.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:27:46 +0000

I think the blame lies with the company that designs the machine. It’s such a common mistake for electronics and software companies to misinterpret an unintuitive interface as something wrong with the consumer. Sure, you’ll always have advanced features that only relative experts will be able to take advantage of, but if the basic functionality is beyond the grasp of half the population, there is something wrong with the product.

By: Dr. T

Dr. T — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:52:08 +0000

This appears to be a generational gender issue. I have gone over source switching multiple times with my wife for our simple family room setup (TV, DirecTV, and DVD). My two teenage girls, watching the much more complex setup in the media room, have no trouble using the galactic (not quite universal) remotes and the individual remotes. They also know how to rapidly switch between normal, widescreen, zoom, wide zoom, etc. on the HDTV. They also can use an older DVR (not a TiVO) for timed DirecTV recordings by following my typed directions. This would be beyond my wife, who had problems with scheduled VCR recordings.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:25:52 +0000

In my experience, there is an age component to this, too. Every female I know who is my age and younger has no trouble comprehending TV source component relations. My mom and my grandma don’t even try.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:10:37 +0000

In my house, it’s the opposite. My wife figures out how all the gizmos work and then she explains it to me. I think I’m lacking the requisite male hormones that allow my brain to handle technology. I have fathered two children, so at least my hormones aren’t lacking where it really counts!

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:44:58 +0000

Coyote - you describe my wife so well you have me a little worried. I don't remember being there when you dropped by the house.

Bertha - I don't see where Coyote lumped anybody in with dummies (any more than Larry Summers did.) Above referenced wife is brilliant in so many ways I enjoy the chance to help her change channels when necessary. It does seem to me that TV remote skills are sparser among the ladies (I'm almost 60 - is that term still allowed?), but certainly not unheard of.

As for why, I have some ideas but maybe dearieme is onto something.

By: Yoshidad

Yoshidad — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:40:00 +0000

Wow! It's so reassuring to read that I'm not alone. A certain female member of my family is famous for asking me questions, then pointedly ignoring the answer, particularly about computer matters. Shouting, or grimly grinding my teeth as I answer for the umpteenth time is also ineffective.

My own analysis: Anxiety (male or female) is at the root of this.

Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" suggests that the fight-or-flight reaction narrows our focus so much that we start acting like autistic kids. This actually has serious consequences in cases like police brutality. Q: Why do the police keep beating the guy when he's already surrendered? A: Because their anxiety makes them misinterpret even the slightest movement or posture as an attack.

Anyway, this deer-in-the-headlights catatonic reaction to tech suggestions is likely related to your competence in that area, Mr. Coyote, and the interlocutor's insecurity.

You'll just have to stop being so competent!...8^)

D'you think there's a support group for this...?

By: dearieme

dearieme — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:01:03 +0000

In defence of the fair sex, the problem is sometimes that the male who designed the gizmo was being rather thick when he was making his decisions. It’s perhaps because such tasks are often entrusted to somewhat autistic males. Though, on the other hand, even autistic males can usually tell left from right.

By: macquechoux

macquechoux — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:41:32 +0000

Bertha, cher, because there are so many ill behaved children on airplanes and elsewhere in public those that are well behaved stand out. In fact because they are so obvious nowadays I always make an effort to commend the parents of said children. I don't run into many German tourists in my part of Louisiana, but in my travels in the Caribbean the vast majority of Japanese and German tourists that I have run into are, in fact, rude. As far as that remote is concerned I personally only know of two women that can can/could unleash the full powers thereof: My current wife's 19 year old daughter and my late wife.

Coyote, I got your six.

By: ErikTheRed

ErikTheRed — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:31:33 +0000

I heard a theory once that women want to nurture those bad TV shows to see if any good can be wrought from them. My wife’s like that – she’ll keep watching a TV series that starts off well even if it dives into sucking cartloads of ass… just in case it gets better.

On the other hand, though, my wife has no problems changing whatever settings on the home theater system … and she even enjoys the PS3 (the makers of Rock Band deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for all of the video game console-related relationship issues they’ve smoothed over with that product). So Epic Win for me!