Talk: R2-D2

This is the talk page for the article "R2-D2."

This space is used for discussion relating to changes to the article, not for discussing the topic in question. For general questions about the article's topic, please visit Wookieepedia Discussions. Please remember to stay civil and sign all of your comments with four tildes (~~~~). Click here to start a new topic.

The main image of this article has been selected via community consensus.

You can find the relevant discussion here. A renewed vote may be held no sooner than six months after the previous one. Please do not change the main image unilaterally unless an official source has released a brand-new image.

Main image[]

Is that an R2-D2 toy for the main image?--AV-6R7 07:38, July 25, 2014 (UTC)—Unsigned comment by AV-6R7 (talk • contribs)

No, it's an official image from StarWars.com. - Brandon Rhea^(talk) 14:07, July 25, 2014 (UTC)

Masculine programming?[]

R2-D2 is identified as having masculine programming, but what exactly about R2's behavior or design is supposed to be masculine? With other droids like C-3PO and L3-37, there's at least one feature such as voice that more clearly falls into generally recognized "masculine" and "feminine" categories. With R2, there's nothing; beeps and whistles aren't gendered, and R2's body looks nothing at all like the male or female of any biological creature. As an anonymous poster wrote on the Legends talk page, R2 is a "beeping trash can on wheels."

Ever since the beginning of Star Wars, R2 has been referred to in-universe and in the real world by male pronouns, and nothing will change that. However, "masculine programming" is a huge leap. What about avoiding gender altogether in discussing programming, and just noting that people typically refer to and address R2 as male? -- BlueResistance (talk) 17:38, November 2, 2019 (UTC)

The fact that he's referred to with male pronouns IU and in the real world is more than enough to call him male—or the droid counterpart, which is IU masculine programming. 1358 ^(Talk) 16:03, November 10, 2019 (UTC)
- No, it's not. Unless someone is informed about R2's programming or inspects his software, no one IU can tell the programming of his gender. Use of male pronouns without any other information isn't sufficient evidence of gender programming. It's just evidence that one of the built-in gender biases of the English language is also part of Galactic Basic. -- BlueResistance (talk) 16:20, November 10, 2019 (UTC)
- "Programming" is the mechanical equivelant to a biological genome. What one identifies themselves as, or what others refers to one as, is not an ingrained physical "what is". However, the definitions of "masculine" and "feminine" are stereotypical personalities that may be programmed into AI. Hence, due to this article referencing R2-D2's allegedly "masculine programming" to the official Databank, which does not state so, and only refers to the droid as a "he", which, as I have explained, is not a concrete case. Therefore, it is not proven in Canon that R2-D2 has M programming, and him being refered to as a male individual only means he is treated as a M. This in no way points to his core programming and is not verified information from any official source. Being a "he" does not necessarily means he possesses the programming. --- OOM 224 (talk) 03:07, November 11, 2019 (UTC)
  - As Ecks explained that's enough evidence for us. Everyone refers to R2 as a male and there has never been any hint or evidence that he's not, so case closed. Attempts to remove it may be considered disruption.--DarthRuiz30 (talk) 03:21, November 11, 2019 (UTC)
    - I agree with Ruiz and Ecks, there's no need to overcomplicate it. R2 is a mechanical non-living artificial intelligence robot with masculine programming as dictated by the way he is addressed by others.--Vitus Infinitus^Talk 05:23, November 11, 2019 (UTC)

Url blocked[]

Hi Wookipedia folks! I've added some carefully researched information about the creation of the original props and performers. I can't, however, fully reference this content as I'm being blocked from adding URLs. Sorry about that. —Unsigned comment by 90.155.80.151 (talk • contribs)

I would encourage you to create an account, as it would let you add urls to articles. --NanoLuuke^{Cloning facility} 17:51, April 4, 2020 (UTC)

I have just spent a bunch of time fully annotating my additions with references to books, Websites, and magazine articles as requested. And it was immediately reversed. I'm not spending any more time on this. —Unsigned comment by Mfnotes (talk • contribs)

Hi, I have reinstated your additions and left you a message on your talk page. 1358 ^(Talk) 17:49, April 5, 2020 (UTC)

Why is he a boy?[]

He is literally a droid, so how does he have an assigned gender. He won Mr. Star wars character of the year, so. . . 0.0

Droids do often have a gender, and sources for R2-D2 always use masculine pronouns for him. Also, please remember to sign your messages like this:~~~~. VergenceScatter (talk) 15:26, 1 January 2021 (UTC)

Model number location[]

I was watching The Phantom Menace yesterday and I had never really thought about that before: Panaka is actually reading R2's model/serial number directly on the droid. Has it ever been explained as to how and where does Panaka actually read the model number on R2? Is there a specific location on the droid that displays its number? CaptainViggo (talk) 12:46, 1 May 2024 (UTC)