# Big Bang Theory, March 29, 2012 -- "The Transporter Malfunction" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269 "2012-03-30T13:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/41 "2012-04-04T15:13:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Howard should stand, Bernadette should remain seated. > > I noticed that too. > [@JSexton](#): > > And Raj should have pulled out a chair for Lakshmi. For some reason that bugged us too. If these guys knew how to properly act around women, it would have been a very boring pilot followed quickly by cancellation. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/42 "2012-04-04T15:18:18Z")
There’s a difference between “being uncomfortable around women” and “being an untrained boor.” On a completely unrelated note: Is “Lakshmi” like “Leslie” in that is a name that applies equally to either sex? I ask because the second-richest man in the world is named Lakshmi as well. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/43 "2012-04-04T16:30:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > On a completely unrelated note: Is “Lakshmi” like “Leslie” in that is a name that applies equally to either sex? I ask because the second-richest man in the world is named Lakshmi as well. No, Lakshmi is a feminine name (most notably for the goddess who’s the consort of Vishnu). But some masculine Indian names are names of gods that are _compounded_ with names of goddesses, so the goddess name looks like a “first name” for a man. E.g., Narayana (or Narayan, Narayanan) is a name of Vishnu. So the compound name Lakshminarayan is a man’s name, but often spelled as two separate names, Lakshmi Narayan. As in the case of Lakshmi Narayan Mittal, the guy you’re talking about. Likewise, “Radhacarana” is an epithet of Krishna that begins with the name of his consort Radha. So a guy named Radha Charan looks as though he’s got a feminine “first name”, but it doesn’t quite work that way. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/44 "2012-04-04T16:35:58Z")
I _knew_ this board was the place to ask. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/45 "2012-04-04T16:59:19Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > No, Lakshmi is a feminine name (most notably for the goddess who’s the consort of Vishnu). But some masculine Indian names are names of gods that are _compounded_ with names of goddesses, so the goddess name looks like a “first name” for a man. > > E.g., Narayana (or Narayan, Narayanan) is a name of Vishnu. So the compound name Lakshminarayan is a man’s name, but often spelled as two separate names, Lakshmi Narayan. > > As in the case of Lakshmi Narayan Mittal, the guy you’re talking about. > > Likewise, “Radhacarana” is an epithet of Krishna that begins with the name of his consort Radha. So a guy named Radha Charan looks as though he’s got a feminine “first name”, but it doesn’t quite work that way. Of course we’re all reading that in our inner Sheldon voice. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/46 "2012-04-04T17:30:17Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > If these guys knew how to properly act around women, it would have been a very boring pilot followed quickly by cancellation. many female characters featured are nontraditional and independent. i think that many previous social conventions are not carried on for lots of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/47 "2012-04-04T17:43:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Of course we’re all reading that in our inner Sheldon voice. [Raj]Dude, don’t tell me what’s a feminine name and masculine name in my own country![/Raj] ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/48 "2012-04-04T18:35:30Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > [Raj]Dude, don’t tell me what’s a feminine name and masculine name in my own country![/Raj] Don’t argue with the Sheldon, you know that he knows more about your culture than you can ever hope to! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/49 "2012-04-04T19:05:22Z")
“I’ll destroy you, so help me cow!” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/50 "2012-04-04T19:09:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Of course we’re all reading that in our inner Sheldon voice. Thank you, that makes me very proud! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269.md?page=2)