Feb 5 19:52
3 mos ago
48 viewers *
English term
I even wind up straddling the computer
English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dear colleagues, I’m not sure I’ve understood the meaning of “straddling the computer” in the sentence “I even wind up straddling the computer” taken from the passage below (right at the end of the passage), in which the author, a therapist, describes her experience in teletherapy.
Does it mean, that 1) she straddles her legs in front of the computer or 2) that she keeps her computer on his straddling legs? Or neither of them?
Thank you so much for your help!
******************
A final dimension to teletherapy I would like to comment upon is captured by a telling cartoon that accompanied Gotnik’s New Yorker article: A male therapist sits before a female patient on his computer screen. The top half of his body is properly dressed and even formally attired in a button-down shirt and tie. The therapist’s lower half is garbed only in underwear and slippers. This image tickled my funny bone due to resonances with my own behavior. These days, I too sport a deep divide between how I dress on top versus what I put on bottom. During sessions, the hidden lower half of my body often goes rogue, as my legs become fidgety. I change the positions of my hips and legs much more frequently than before; at times, *** I even wind up straddling the computer. ***
Does it mean, that 1) she straddles her legs in front of the computer or 2) that she keeps her computer on his straddling legs? Or neither of them?
Thank you so much for your help!
******************
A final dimension to teletherapy I would like to comment upon is captured by a telling cartoon that accompanied Gotnik’s New Yorker article: A male therapist sits before a female patient on his computer screen. The top half of his body is properly dressed and even formally attired in a button-down shirt and tie. The therapist’s lower half is garbed only in underwear and slippers. This image tickled my funny bone due to resonances with my own behavior. These days, I too sport a deep divide between how I dress on top versus what I put on bottom. During sessions, the hidden lower half of my body often goes rogue, as my legs become fidgety. I change the positions of my hips and legs much more frequently than before; at times, *** I even wind up straddling the computer. ***
Responses
+1
1 hr
Selected
I even end up sitting on the computer
I seriously hope the speaker isn't referring to a laptop. the way I visualise this scene is as follows: there's a monitor on top of a desk, a chair before the desk and monitor, and there's a big old computer on the floor, under the desk, near the chair. One of those upright chassis-type computers from about 20 years ago. The speaker, while continuing to look respectable above desk-level, is squirming around so much that he/she ends up sitting or crouching on the chassis of the computer.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Robert, for your contribution! This is also a possibility... |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: yes, probably BUT NOT "chassis" but on PC/computer tower
16 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much, Robert! Many thanks also to all other colleagues for their help!"
-1
24 mins
place my legs wide apart and put my computer in the space between my legs
straddle: place (one's legs) wide apart.
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=c5c757c13b9f06cb&rlz=1...
https://media.gettyimages.com/id/109350530/photo/businessman...
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=c5c757c13b9f06cb&rlz=1...
https://media.gettyimages.com/id/109350530/photo/businessman...
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Kiet, for your help! the image is also very useful! |
Dear Kiet, although I'll select the other answer, by no means I think you're answer was intended as porn. Actually I think your answer may be correct under some circumstances, but perhaps Robert's proposal might be rephrased in a more general, less ambiguous way. Despite this, I do wish to thank you for your contribution! have a nice Sunday! |
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: this is not about porn. She's a therapist!
16 hrs
|
agree |
philgoddard
: This is possible. Who said anything about porn?
21 hrs
|
Thank you!
|
|
disagree |
AllegroTrans
: Your phraseology sounds like porn, even if not intended
1 day 2 hrs
|
Discussion
But you're right: I'll keep it more general...
But actually I think both answers can be right (the one by Kiet, "porn-like language" apart, if the author has a bigger monitor, and the other one if the author has a tower...
Maybe, If I have time and opportunity, I'll write to the author!
Also, her bottom half is hidden from her interlocutor, which means the PC monitor or screen is ON the desk, not below it!
As for the contention that everyone uses laptops these days? That's not true either. I use my PC with tower for almost all my work, and on it now, though not straddling the tower (which is too small to sit on and is on the desk). Yes, I have 2 laptops, an 11" and 15.6" but only use them when out of the office or travelling.
As I suggested earlier, something like: "my legs get very fidgety and I change the position of my hips a lot, so much so that I might end up sitting on/straddling the PC tower"
BUT I would probably say something in more normal English like
"My bottom half gets really fidgety and I keep changing the position of my legs and hips, squirming around so much I'm in danger of ending up on the floor!"
Yes, we can "straddle" a horse or a chair or something similar and it means having a leg on each side but "straddling" a computer is really odd.
And "put my computer in the space between my legs" has porn overtones so beware!
Her legs/feet are NOT on the desk either as Christopher suggests: "the hidden lower half of my body" so the person she is talking to (on the computer monitor) cannot see what she's doing with her legs.
You need to be careful with your translation. And remember that what is happening below the desk must remain unseen by her patient/client.
Her legs get very fidgety and she changes position a lot, so much so that she might end up sitting on the computer tower (below the desk)...