On the one hand, I agree with you: there are lots of good reasons not to call algorithms sexy, e.g. it sounds stupid and makes the speaker sound stupid, it bel

On the one hand, I agree with you: there are lots of good reasons not to call algorithms sexy, e.g. it sounds stupid and makes the speaker sound stupid, it belies a poverty of language and imagination, it's immature and unprofessional, etc. All these are non-sexism-related reasons not to throw around words like "sexy". On the other hand, rather than simply saying, "this isn't sexist, women can use words like sexy, etc", have you ever talked to women friends of yours in the tech world about this? Have you ever asked a few of them, "what about sexism? What's your experience? What about juvenile words like 'sexy'?" And...when you asked them, did you make sure to fully disengage your defensive circuits, so you could just listen and accept what they said, instead of leaping into the discussion at various points to say "but here's why you're wrong about ..."? (The last part's the hard part.)