> I took it for granted that everyone was familiar with the “That’s what she said,” joke, but a recent conversation with a consultant friend made me realize some industries don’t feature it on a daily basis. For those who haven’t heard it a million times, the idea is that when somebody says something that could remotely be turned into a sexual joke, e.g. “I’m trying to solve this problem but it’s really hard!” you say “That’s what SHE said,” in a lascivious tone.
And describing why she's satisfied with the bot's reaction:
> In any case, I feel that I have succeeded in constructively disrupting an aspect of my work culture that made me uncomfortable.
"Uncomfortable". Not "annoying".
You know that "ignoring what women say and explaining that they're really bothered by something else" is one of the most common responses that feminists have to deal with, right? And that it's disrespectful to suggest that there's a more "rational" explanation for why a woman's upset than that they feel uncomfortable about a sexist environment?
I mean, she says close to the beginning:
> I asked a number of times to have that bot function turned off, but got the usual combination of being ignored, being told it’s funny, and being told I should lighten up.
Emphasis mine. We just had a big ole conversation about that phrase like a week ago. Remember it?
> THAT is most likely the cause of the frustration of her co-workers
and thought you said:
> THAT is most likely the cause of her frustration of her co-workers
I'm sorry for calling you out on something you didn't actually say. Although I feel that if one annoying bot is okay with her coworkers, a second, more sophisticated bot shouldn't raise too many hackles – especially if it only ever follows the first.
Maybe those guys do hate equality, but from my perspective I would have been irritated by TWSS and then more irritated by the responder, I might then decide to complain before anyone else gets the bright idea to make another bot talking to a bot.
She has co-workers who are ignoring how their thoughtless behaviour is impacting her, even after she's told them. She'd be entirely justified taking it to HR, but instead she's social engineering a more subtle solution. Nice work!
No, maturity and people with refined senses of humor win :)
I think having that phrase repeated to the extent of making a bot is idiotic, I think her solution is far more entertaining to read, and I am irritated by unalone's suggestion that "that's what she said" unequivocally objectifies women.
That's all of my feelings for this thread.
See you around. ",)