Surly taking about procreation with a subject line of "null modem cable" should give some credence to Tony's characterization of IT people.

However, I still think the terms evolved because they fit the physical objects better than any other metaphor. The first time I ever heard anyone speak of the “male” end of a cable I knew exactly what was being meant.

Also (though I’m sure this has nothing to do with cables really) I believe the word “male” comes from a word meaning “peircer” and female comes from a word meaning “pierced”.