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astrange ◴[17 Nov 25 19:33 UTC] No.45957266[source]▶

> Project Gemini

I have a theory that the idea you'd call your project "Project X" comes from TV shows.

We work with project codenames and we don't call anything Project X. We just call it X. It feels like adding the word "Project" is something a screenwriter would do to make the dialogue clearer.

replies(1): >>45957995 #

1. nine_k ◴[17 Nov 25 20:36 UTC] No.45957995[source]▶

>>45957266 #

I would say that it comes from the military, where projects are given codenames that try hard to be opaque random monikers, and spill no beans about the nature of the project. The Manhattan Project predates mass TV, and most of it did not happen on Manhattan.

replies(2): >>45958733 #>>45964955 #

2. astrange ◴[17 Nov 25 21:47 UTC] No.45958733[source]▶

>>45957995 (TP) #

I don't mean codenames. I mean literally saying the word "project". It's like meeting a friend and saying "hello my friend I've known for the last 20 years".

replies(1): >>45958914 #

3. nine_k ◴[17 Nov 25 22:06 UTC] No.45958914[source]▶

>>45958733 #

Compare: "We are working on Project Paperclip" and "We are working on a paperclip". I suppose the former implies that what you're working on is not a literal paperclip (but a secret operation to snatch scientists).

So "Project Gemini" is not about, say, he constellation.

replies(2): >>45959255 #>>45970756 #

4. floren ◴[17 Nov 25 22:42 UTC] No.45959255{3}[source]▶

>>45958914 #

With modern two-random-word codenames we tended to just say things like "I'm working on Crystal Banana all next week"

(Crystal Banana was a local joke codename where I worked)

5. Y_Y ◴[18 Nov 25 12:46 UTC] No.45964955[source]▶

>>45957995 (TP) #

> Tube Alloys

6. astrange ◴[18 Nov 25 19:23 UTC] No.45970756{3}[source]▶

>>45958914 #

We would say "We're working on Paperclip."

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