To take an analogy from the world of the computer’s second cousins, the video games: it is almost impossible to learn to play a video game if you try to understand first and play second. Girls are often perceived as preferring the ‘easier’ video games. When I have looked more closely at what they really prefer, it is games where they can understand ‘the rules’ before play begins. Both Lisa and Robin crave transparent understanding of the computer. For example, although both apologize for their behavior as ‘silly,’ both like to program the computer to do everything they need to build their larger programs, even when these smaller, ‘building‐block’ procedures are in program libraries at their disposal. It makes their job harder, but both say that it gives them a more satisfying understanding. They don’t like taking risks at the machine. What they most want to avoid is error messages.