Could someone explain this, please?

[Dragonbait]

Okay, I've tracked the OS-tan phenomenon for a while, and I understand some of their traits and why they're there.  For example:

95-tan's kimono is based on a wallpaper that was included with the Japanese version of Windows95.  Okay, that makes sense.

XP-tan's a little on the *ahem* "large" side because she (like XP) is more pretty than actually useful.  I agree with that one.

2K-tan is, in spite of her multi-fetish appearance, heavily devoted to work -- she's 2K Professional.  I got that.

But there's a couple of OS-tan traits I just don't understand at all, and I'm hoping somebody here can explain them.

The 98-twins:  Sechan is fixated on castrating people with a bottle opener.  o_o  Wait, what?  Is this some kind of commentary on Microsoft's ability to grab us by the scrotum?  And why a bottle opener?  I mean, I could make all kinds of Fraudian references about the "opening", but still ...

XP-Homers:  Homeko is ... well, sexually deranged, and poor Homeo is just confused.  Was there something about the Home editions of XP I never learned?  Were they susceptible to gay porn sites or something?

[NejinOniwa]

XP-tan's Largeness is actually due to some weird joke that arose due to her being a lot more of a RAM-hog than the previous systems - which became quite a meme in the community for a few years afterwards...



Get back to you on the two others.

[CaptBrenden]

I cant be cirtain, but I belive the XP home thing is based on Japanese society. Hikkimori/NEETS etc, people that have no job and stay at home are often otaku. Its sort of a social phenomenon over there... under the extream stress of japanese rat race etc (kids have killed themselves because they got an A-) people withdraw from society lock themselves away at home and often spend their time on the internet, playing MMOs, watching anime, drawing doujinshi and the like. Just watch "Welcome to the NHK"....

Anyhow, since XP Home is... as her name saggests the home version I think they modeled her after these social skill lacking live at home otaku perverts.

Also, clerification on what nejin said... XPpro's appitite is based on her ram consumption, and her outfit with how much skin it shows, impracticality etc shows her "more pretty then useful" side. As for XPpro being "thick" I think that just comes along with the eating.. I smell bacon I smell pork look out piggy I got a fork..

[NejinOniwa]

piggy went away (´･ω･｀)

[CaptBrenden]

Not that piggy, I ment XPpro.  :p

[Chocofreak13]

you also gotta remember, these were born from the slightly deranges image board futaba, so there's a bunch of japanese inside jokes that we don't quite understand (where did our translator run off to again...?) such as aka-cho-tin and the like.

that might explain the SE-thing. there is a TON of inside jokes that have nothing to do with the OS itself but much to do with the fandom.

[NejinOniwa]

Did we ever even have a translator in the first place? >_>

[Chocofreak13]

i think we had a translator before i joined....the one with the dancing banana avi. :3

[NejinOniwa]

He wasn't a translator, I'm pretty sure of that...

[Dragonbait]

Gads, you people don't waste time, do you?  I'm grateful, just surprised.

I feel foolish after reading the hikikomori bit, since I was discussing it with a co-worker not too long ago.  And I knew about some of the puns in the names and props (Saba-saaba, negi-NEGiES, and so forth), but I hadn't heard that the bottle opener business was among them.  *Shrug.*  

Though I stand corrected on XP's breasts and appetite; thanks.

[Chocofreak13]

it's futaba, they're weird. that's pretty much all the explanation you need.

[Dragonbait]

it's futaba, they're weird. that's pretty much all the explanation you need.

Even the craziest mind needs something that at least resembles a motive.  They didn't come up with some of these characters by drawing papers from a hat.

[Chocofreak13]

once again, we lack a translator. there's lots of inside joke of japanese culture that people from other lands can never hope t understand (without help). it's one of those moments when ya just gotta let it go. ^^

[Dragonbait]

I figured that would be the case.  I've asked a friend who studied Japanese, and she couldn't give me much, either.  I thought about asking my sensei (who trained in Japan), but he barely understands computers; trying to explain the OS-tans would be more than his mind could handle.  And my wife has a Japanese pen-pal, but the lady barely reads English; getting her to understand my questions has proven to be impossible.  That's why I came to you people.

[NejinOniwa]

Even the craziest mind needs something that at least resembles a motive. They didn't come up with some of these characters by drawing papers from a hat.

Do they now...? I'll have to go on a quest looking for that one...