Bender = gay (part 2)

<< Subject: Re: Bender = gay

On 2003-05-12 Kuja ([email]) raved foaming at the mouth, like the clueless breeder-thug-wannabe-loser s/he is:

<< You are so typical of gays that have to force their sexuality into everyone's faces and make it an issue where it is anything but relevant.

The idea that Bender's name suggests he is gay is dubious at best. I suggest you crawl back under the bridge from which you came, and continue with your childish tripe at gay-bible, instead of trolling here.

Tonight's Futurama show (7-20-03, Fox TV) leaves no doubt in anyone's mind that the name "Bender" is a pun on the term "gender bender". What with Bender actually CHANGING his gender in order to win the heart of Calculon...with that as the PREMISE for the entire show (and not just a side plot)...well, I don't see how ANYONE in his or her right might could argue that!

In my first thread where I pointed out that "bender" was British slang for "homosexual"...some uptight hetero fans of Futurama absolutely HOWLED at the idea! Of course, playing on the assumption that Futurama is an Amerikan series, and thus the script writers lacked the literary flair required to have an INTERNATIONAL perspective on satire. (Which ACTUALLY revealed the sub-literate vein of those who "doth protested too much"...if you know what I mean; but those I'm criticising won't get THAT, either. Hetero-dodos!)

Now, we don't even need to cross the pond to conjecture the likelihood that Bender is a pun on "gender bender"...a term which is QUITE popular in contemporary Amerikan slang. Thanks to tonight's airing of Futurama, a new skit called "Bend Her"; described on TV Guide thusly:

"After dominating the Olympics by posing as a fembot, Bender undergoes a sex change to keep his medals."

Thank you, Futurama. Now, all you snotty, bigoted, queer-phobic heteros: Go crawl under the scummy pond rock y'all crawled out of!

It leaves no doubt that the name is open for making puns on that term, sure.

I just don't think that because something is possible that it's necessarily true. In this case, having watched all the early episodes and seeing the commentary, I think you're reading too much into it.

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...

Have you ever actually seen Futurama?

"Duff Man" wrote in message news:[email]...

message

Good question. If Bender demonstrated a preference for male robots (or animals, or robot animals) then it would be true. Bender would be a bender. But all of his sexual experiences and desires are directed at female robots, female robots pretending to be female computers, or Lucy Liu's head. I just don't see gay there.

robot animals) then it would be true.

Um, he's called Bender because he bends things, like steel beams.

"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me" - General George S. Patton.

Chris � wrote:

Don't forget The Breakfast Club too...

On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 10:26:20 -0400 (EDT), [email] (Chris �) wrote:

A bender is also a drinking binge, which of course is very characteristic of bender...

"Duff Man" wrote in message news:...

Every single one of them...plus all the re-runs.

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...

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Um, then wouldn't you realize Bender is called Bender because he bends things and not because he has gay tendencies (which have never been exhibited - the one time Bender was attracted to a man, he was a Fembot) - that means he was straight).

Duff Man wrote:

And it was more that he saw an opportunity for profit than attraction, and the feeling that ended it was more petty than love...

Best Wishes Thomas

Wait, I don't see how that proves anything. Don't get me wrong, I don't really have an opinion on this either way (quite frankly, I think you're probably right considering how smart and subtle the writing for this show has been), but your reasoning is a bit specious.

First off, Bender didn't change gender to win Calculon's heart, he did it so he could pass the gender test to keep the 5 gold medals he won (even says that in the TV Guide description you quoted in your post). The Calculon incident was a result of replacing Testosteroil with Femmzoil. You can't continue to make the argument that Bender changed genders to win a manbot's love.

Moving right along... there was an episode ("War is the H-Word" IIRC) where Leela dressed up like a man so she could join the army. Does that now "prove" that the name "Leela" is also a pun for a transsexual person? In that same episode, Zapp Brannigan had a "strange attraction" to a man who turned out to be a woman dressed like a man. Does that mean that "Zapp" is a pun for a sexually confused or bi-sexual person?

There was another episode where Fry had a fling with a radiator and yet another where Fry was gettin' it on with one of Zoidberg's people. Is the name "Fry" a pun for a person with strange sexual tastes?

A few times, Bender displayed obvious concern about being mistaken as gay (once when he first met Fry and another time when he misheard hobo's referring to him as a "robo"). Wouldn't those two references have to be considered in the argument *against* "Bender" being a reference to gay people?

Again, I wouldn't put it past the writers to have had this in mind when they came up with Bender's name, but let's not get carried away with taking every plot and nuance of the show as proof either for or against such an idea especially when you only seem to do it when it's convenient to back up your ideas.

Also, you twice misspelled "American"...

Jason Saslow wrote in message news:...

No, I did not. Spelling it with a "k" has a rich legacy. Think Allen Ginsberg. Think "Howl". IOW: think!

You DO know that Ginsberg was among a handful of literary vanguards who started the beat movement, which lead to free speech activism of the 60's. And you DO know that he was also, homosexual, right?

As a gay activist of many years, who knows my history and heritage...I carry the torch for those who came before me, and paved the way for the Next Revolution. Ginsberg originated the spelling "Amerika" out of disgrace for our country's decimation of many good people, esp. the creative, the different, the free spirited, the rejected children.

To honor Ginsberg's legacy--being a poet myself--I also spell it "Amerika". Until (if ever) the USA finally grants equal rights to sexual minorities, I will continue spelling it that way.

Just consider it one of my tactics to raise people's consciousness, and to keep the issue alive.

As for the issue over "Bender"...the latest show has completely vindicated me.

No matter how many messages of dissent I still receive...albeit very diluted at this point.

If you bothered to read my original thread "Bender = gay", you'll better understand my persistance in this matter. And being so well-vindicated, I am happy to ignore any further complaints by the several mean-spirited posters who just can't HANDLE the truth...simply because it grants humanity to homosexuals.

--- "Many are called but few are chosen; Step right up for your lederhosen." - Big Gay Brother [ gay-bible.org ]

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...> >

I find it ironic that you are talking about literary genius and stick that comma splice all over "homosexual".

Um, how? You made up plot points in your defense. Bender used Femmzoil to keep his Olympic medals, not for Calculon...and it was explained that he would take on female tendencies when he used the oil. A robot's gender is only determined by its oil. So since he was a chick and dating Calculon, he was straight.

That's ironic because we read your post and disagreed with it because you changed key plot points to make your argument and basically proved that you've never seen an episode of Futurama. You would know Bender's character if you had.

Second, how does it give humanity to homosexuals? Bender is a robot.

"Duff Man" wrote in message news:[email]...

Correction...it's not ironic, it's strange...

Duff Man wrote:

And as a human his character would be, let's say, not ideal ;)

Best Wishes Thomas

"Thomas Andersson" wrote in message news:bfl9cd$f67hm$[email]...

Come on...don't we all have a little Bender in us....I know Mr. Thracian does...

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...

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Ginsberg did not originate that spelling; that's how it's spelled in German. Kafka wrote a novel (in German) published under that name long before Ginsberg used it.

So anyone who doesn't think Bender is gay doesn't believe homosexuals are humans? Odd.

On 21 Jul 2003 15:47:47 -0700, [email] (Chief Thracian) spewed forth:

Way to FIGHT THE POWER, man.

So do gay poets have to use a different water fountain or something ?

Yeah, that spealling PUSHED OPEN THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION FOR ME, MAN

Er. A heterosexual robot named "Bender" grants humanity to homosexuals ?

"Rev. Bleech_" wrote in message news:[email]...

Also, how about gay poets who are also pedophiles? Do they get fountains shaped like whizzing cherubs?

Only if they don't tell lies and prove that they care about others.

Never even heard of him, sorry. Why would you assume I know these things as if we were talking about MLK or Malcolm X?

The more you post, the more I get the impression that you neither live in the USA nor do you pay any attention at all to what goes on in the USA. Unfortunately, despite your obvious intelligence, it seems you have a pattern of doing such things; manufacturing false information to prop up your beliefs...

As portrayed by a cartoon robot (who is constantly running around with female hookers/flooseys/heads-in-jars)...?

Also, is everyone that disagrees with you automatically "mean-spirited" in your book? Because I thought that I was not only very respectful, but I also raised a great many valid counter-points which you have completely disregarded in their entirety and gone on to claim "vindication" without addressing even one of them.

in article [email], Jason Saslow at [email] wrote on 7/21/03 8:55 PM:

Sorry to jump in here, but Ginsberg is a pretty well known figure from the 60's. I know a blockbuster movie wasn't released with his name in the title, but I would assume most people have heard his name if not read at least one of his works in high school.

"petben" wrote in message news:BB42A6B1.10DF8%[email]...

High School? Since when does high school ever get to the 60's in history or in lit class.? Your teacher may have been progresive and had stuff written after 1955 in the cirriculum, but that's not what would be concidered the federal norm.

He seems to have that "guy from the 60's only some people have heard of and they think everyone knew about them" thing like that jack-ass Timothy "Fuck Science this is funny" Leary.

in article JAfTa.31279$[email], Michael Zaite at [email] wrote on 7/22/03 11:42 AM:

It's quite possible my high school in the 80's was more advanced than most :) , but any system that excludes works written past 1955 is kinda living in the dark ages, don't ya think. We have made some cognitive progress since then. Ginsberg is not an unknown figure. To condemn someone for referring to historical figures you don't know is more an example of personal ignorance than his inability to communicate an idea.

Perhaps you should go back and read what I wrote before you go on about how I condemned him. Basically what I said about him was precisely what you just said about me. To condemn someone for NOT knowing historical figures that you DO know...

Also your insinuation that I should do more than watch "blockbuster movies" is quite sanctimonious as well; but obviously you know me well enough to make those judgements about me so you couldn't possible be incorrect.

in article [email], Jason Saslow at [email] wrote on 7/22/03 12:55 PM:

Whoa now, slow down. No offense intended. I was speaking of the general public, not you specifically, when I was talking about "blockbuster" movie education. MLK and Malcolm X were important figures from the 60's that got recent attention in popular films (and street naming ceremonies/federal holidays). I can't think of a recent 'popular' film with Ginsberg (though, Keifer Sutherland was recently in an art house flick that had Ginsberg as a secondary character)

After a quick informal poll around my office, I found 12 out of 15 people not only knew who Ginsberg was, but all but one was able to name his most famous work "Howl". My only point was Ginsberg is famous enough to warrant inclusion in casual conversation. To say "Why would you assume I know these things as if we were talking about MLK or Malcolm X?" simply because you were unaware of his existence seemed unfair to me.

Once again, no personal offense intended.

"petben" wrote in message news:BB42DE7C.10E57%[email]...

at

in

Absolutely. Which is why I think money should be spent to improve Public school instead of giving vouchers to people to go to private school. If the public schools could compare to the private schools than you wouldn't need to go to the private schools to get away from the public schools incompetence.

referring

No he's not Unknown. But he's also not a household name. And I find that with 60 icons more then any other, the people that know about them always assume everyone knows about them. I condemned no one due to my own ignorance (Especially of the 60s-70s because they anger up my blood) It's just a Phenomenon I have seen repeated many times.

New York city disproves this crackpot belief. It's public school system spends $11,000 per student per year. It's a total failure. The NYCCHS (New York City Catholic High School) system has a 91% graduation rate and sends nearly 80% of it's students to college. It's tuition is only $4400 a year.

Guess where my son is going?

"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me" - General George S. Patton.

"Chris �" wrote in message news:[email]...

You don't actualy think a private school works only by your tuition do you?

NYCHSA is only slightly subsidized by the New York Archdiocese. Tuition is their primary revenue source.

"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me" - General George S. Patton.

"Chris �" wrote in message news:[email]...

Tuition is only 2/3 of the cost. The total cost per student is more like $7,000. And according to : http://www.nycenet.edu/offices/d_chanc_oper/budget/dbor/budgetrequest/br2002 /vital.html

The cost per student in Public HS is $8,515 But that number may include free Lunch and Breakfast programs too.

To me both of these numbers seem small.

In alt.tv.futurama on Wed, 23 Jul 2003 at 11:32:24, Chris � wrote :

It gets even more confusing now, when you remember that in Britain 'Public' schools are actually Private fee-paying ones, and that what the US calls public schools are known as State schools here. :)

"Paul Hyett" wrote in message news:KfjYBFD$63H$[email]...

<...>

And Fries are called Chips. And Chips are called Crisps. But a Pint is a Pound the world around. Not a bad price for beer in my opinion. These days anyway.

Michael Zaite wrote in message ...

"And botulism is called 'steak and kidney pie' "

But in Britain, "A pint of pure water weighs a pound and a quarter".

"Michael Zaite" wrote in news:JAfTa.31279$[email]:

Hmmm, in my case, it was covered in "current events"...

Jim

"Jim" wrote in message news:UuiTa.119354$ye4.86603@sccrnsc01...

Sounds like sombody lives in a good state for Education.

in article 1cjTa.33390$[email], Michael Zaite at [email] wrote on 7/22/03 3:49 PM:

Well, if he graduated in 2002, then not really ;)

"petben" wrote in message news:BB431056.10EA1%[email]...

at

Why? Did they make Current events a required part of the cirriculum, like that damned Presidential Physical Phitness Test?

On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 18:42:49 GMT, "Michael Zaite" spewed forth:

Er. We had no trouble at all getting all the way up to 1985 in ours.

"Rev. Bleech_" wrote in message news:[email]...

the

at

or

And this demonstrates how fucking stupid it is to allow states and local government to have control over education. No consistency.

How do you categorize a homosexual who also thinks you're off base here?

"Lone Locust of the Apocalypse" wrote in message news:kX2Ta.27203$[email]...

You must be a crypto-heterosexual!

"Lone Locust of the Apocalypse" wrote in message news:kX2Ta.27203$[email]...

As someone who has actually seen Futurama...

[email] (Lone Locust of the Apocalypse) wrote in message news:...

"Ignorant", or

"Heterocentric Homosexual", or

"Hetero ass-licking homosexual", or

just plain "Loser".

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...

news:...

I think Loser is not ever watching a TV show and basing an opinion of a character's sexual preference on his name and one TV Guide capsule. Your recap of the show in the original post shows that you did not even watch the episode that "proves" your theory.

I don't know why anyone continues to argue with this guy. He has yet to prove anything other than the fact that he reads TV Guide (and at that, he doesn't even read it thoroughly). Anyone who raises a valid counter-point has been completely ignored by him and he only responds to people when he can change the subject or spit out some form of hate towards people who haven't done anything to him.

As far as I'm concerned, he's a troll at best and we're wasting our time trying to reason with him. With that, my involvement in this thread is now over.

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...

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Why don't you toss some more Hate speak in there? For instance call him an Uncle Tom (or maybe in this case Auntie Tom) Homosexual. That way everyone can see that you simply act out of hate instead of legitimate intent. It's quite clear from your posts that you have some pretty serious hetrophobic issues here. I would recommend counseling, but then you might actually be able to hold an argument for more then 2 seconds to support your oversensitive, reactionary anti-Hedro beliefs like in that trainwreck of a site you link to in your sig. Then assholes who actually read the New York Times and treat it like some kind of fucking gospel would fall for you line of shit like it was chocolate syrup dripping from the ass of god it self. And your little self involved fringe group might have a shot at actually fucking up peoples life's who have done not one thing to offend anyone you claim to be "Helping"

So Please, keep up the Hate speak.

Well, at least you're keeping an open mind about it.

Jason Saslow wrote in message news:...

Thanks for the clarification. I was about ready to ask whether I saw the same episode as Chief Thracian (if, in fact, that is his/her real name).

No. That just means that Fry is an Appliantologist. (See L. Ron Hoover's post for further information.) -- Christopher Heckman

On 21 Jul 2003 22:07:34 -0700, [email] (Proginoskes) spewed forth:

A latent one ?

In other news, the episode "Bendin' in the Wind" proved that Bender is actually a plant.

Leons Petrazickis import java.lang.disclaimer;

Chief Thracian wrote:

To win the heart of Calculon? I thought it was to keep his gold medals? He then proceded to take advantage of Calculon and planned to rip him of. He then feelt petty for him and ended it ina dignified way (yes petty, not love.. ig he ahd loved him he could just ahev remained fembot and keept things as they where, but he's NOT female and wanted to get back).

Eh, quite easily actually...

Best Wishes Thomas

"Thomas Andersson" wrote in message news:bfl8h9$f04s9$[email]...

I think we could say that he didn't actually watch the episode, couldn't we, Mr. Anderson.

Duff Man wrote:

I think we could say that he has never watched any episodes of Futurama. How else can we explain why he wouldn't know about Bender's relationships with the Countess de la Roca, Angleyne, Lucy Liu's head, and Planet Express Ship? Bender was also a touchin' one or two of the moon farmer's beautiful robot daughters in "The Series Has Landed," not to mention the numerous times he has been seen with or mentioned floozies.

Right. Then again, who ever said the Planet Express ship is female? So Bender might be bisexual? Or curious? Or confused?

Info. (not gay, bisexual, curious,... but a bit confused why there are so many trolls in newsgroups these days - summer holidays?)

info wrote:

The other characters referred to Planet Express Ship using female pronouns, and her virtual avatar had a feminine face. If that doesn't make her female, I don't know what would.

"Exatron" wrote in message news:[email]...

I know what would: a vagina.

Mmmh. Good point. But what would you use it for? Landing gear? Docking bay?

"A Bag Of Memes" schreef in bericht news:hzjUa.100616$[email]...

"info" wrote in message news:...

It would make "Get on the ship" a double entendre. -- Christopher Heckman

"Exatron" wrote in message news:[email]...

A female SCSI port maybe? (Or the Y3K equivalent of a SCSI port)

Quadro wrote:

That works.

The whole robot gender thing just seemed like a non-issue to me since it's been done several times before (Elita-1, Moonracer, Firestar, Chromia, Arcee, Blackarachnia, Airrazor, Botanica, Strika, etc.) and it just seems normal to me now.

"info" wrote in message news:bfr9bf$cd5$[email]...

Ships are always female...Spaceships probably work that way, too...

Kuja ([email]) raved foaming at the mouth, like the clueless breeder-thug-wannabe-loser s/he is:

Ok... whatever. This is coming from a guy in a halter top and thong.

I find it extremely difficult to take a homophobic argument by a guy using the name Kuja seriously. Ever seen a picture of him?

And he has a monkey tail! That's why he wears a skirt.

Chief Thracian wrote:

I'm not original on this one, but ...
     "Bender" backwards spells "red neb", and a neb is a beak. This means
that Bender drinks alcohol, the traditional indication being a red nose.
     For another variation on "red neb", check out

-- Christopher Heckman

The fact that you're gay: No big deal. The fact that you think Bender is gay: No big deal Making an ass of yourself in a newsgroup: No big deal.

You don't even rise to the level of annoying, you're just a huge bore. <Yawn>

"Chief Thracian" wrote in message news:[email]...