# Does this board know my gender? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 25, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808 "2015-08-25T05:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/1 "2015-08-25T05:07:52Z")
So many of the click-bait ads feature bikini clad females. Just wondering. Do females get the same? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/2 "2015-08-25T05:45:18Z")
Well, it’s a long time since I saw adverts on the web, but those sound almost tempting enough to allow. Almost. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/3 "2015-08-25T06:10:54Z")
I don’t think it’s the board itself. There are probably tracking cookies on your system from previous web sites you’ve visited that allow the ad-ware to figure out things about you (like your gender) and serve out targeted ads. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/4 "2015-08-25T07:03:13Z")
Right now Ghostery is listing 9 trackers on SDMB (was 7 before I started to reply). Adblade, Chartbeat, eXalate, Google Analytics, Quantcast, Rubicon, Scorecard Research, Taboola, Viglink. Between them they are going to have a ridiculously good idea about who you are. Serving ads based upon your sex is about the lowest common denominator of their capabilities. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/5 "2015-08-25T08:12:36Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this is a question about the SDMB, let’s move this to ATMB. Moving thread from General Questions to About This Message Board. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/6 "2015-08-25T09:30:12Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I don’t think it’s the board itself. There are probably tracking cookies on your system from previous web sites you’ve visited that allow the ad-ware to figure out things about you (like your gender) and serve out targeted ads. What makes that sort of thing extra fun at my household is that my spouse and I share the same computer and we have different interests. I do think we sometimes confuse the cookie-trackers. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/7 "2015-08-25T10:21:53Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > Right now Ghostery is listing 9 trackers on SDMB (was 7 before I started to reply). > > Adblade, Chartbeat, eXalate, Google Analytics, Quantcast, Rubicon, Scorecard Research, Taboola, Viglink. > > Between them they are going to have a ridiculously good idea about who you are. Serving ads based upon your sex is about the lowest common denominator of their capabilities. Could you give us the URL’s of those trackers so I can make sure I have them in my blacklist? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/8 "2015-08-25T11:36:14Z")
Your gender is known as well as that thing that happened with the girl who was reaching for the Ro-Tel at SafeWay. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/9 "2015-08-25T15:38:04Z")
Use ccleaner and Glary Utilities to clean your system of crap. Then using Chrome or Firefox for all of your web needs, install two tools: [ul] [li][AdBlock Plus](https://adblockplus.org/en/)[/li][li][EFF Privacy Badger](https://www.eff.org/privacybadger)[/li][/ul] No more ads, no more tracking. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/10 "2015-08-25T15:43:08Z")
The battle is not always to the strong nor the race to the swift, but that’s the way to bet it. When in doubt, bring boobies. ---
**Author:** ![Construct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Construct](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Construct)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/11 "2015-08-26T05:01:18Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Could you give us the URL’s of those trackers so I can make sure I have them in my blacklist? [b.scorecardresearch.com](http://b.scorecardresearch.com) [cdn.vigilink.com](http://cdn.vigilink.com) [edge.quantserve.com](http://edge.quantserve.com) [insight-s3.exelator.com](http://insight-s3.exelator.com) [static.chartbeat.com](http://static.chartbeat.com) [tap-cdn.rubiconproject.com](http://tap-cdn.rubiconproject.com) > **[Analytics Tools & Solutions for Your Business - Google Analytics](https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/)** > > Google Analytics gives you the tools you need to better understand your customers. You can then use those business insights to take action, such as improving your website, creating tailored audience lists, and more. [cdn.taboola.com](http://cdn.taboola.com) > **[Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago news, politics, sports and more](https://chicago.suntimes.com)** > > Chicago news, politics, sports, entertainment and more from America’s hardest-working paper. some of these may be analytics and not trackers, but all of them are unnecessary to the proper functioning of SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/12 "2015-08-26T05:42:38Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Does this board know my gender? It has pics of your gender. That’s what happens when you surf the net without your bathing suit on. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/13 "2015-08-26T11:54:37Z")
I also am pretty sure that assuming you are male is the default for these types of ads. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/14 "2015-08-26T12:25:55Z")
> [@Construct](#): > > \< List of several tracker / adware URL’s \> > > some of these may be analytics and not trackers, but all of them are unnecessary to the proper functioning of SDMB. Thanks, **Construct**. I’ve blocked a whole slew of non-preferred URL’s by adding them as dummy entires in my hosts file. Now I’ll check which of these need to be added too. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/15 "2015-08-26T12:31:16Z")
Has anybody (specifically, anybody of female characteristic) answered the OP’s direct question? Do female board users get the same ads as male board users, and in particular, ads featuring pics of females in scanty attire? If so, what is your attitude about these ads? Do you find them offensive? (Me: No, I don’t get ANY ads on this site, but on the infrequent occasion that I do (when I occasionally have JavaScript enabled) I find them annoying, but I so ignore them that I don’t even know what they have pictures of. When I do notice pics of females in scanty attire, an apparent attempt to entice male users, myself presumably included, into clicking there, I find that offensive.) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/16 "2015-08-26T12:37:55Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Thanks, **Construct**. I’ve blocked a whole slew of non-preferred URL’s by adding them as dummy entires in my hosts file. Now I’ll check which of these need to be added too. And BTW, I notice that several of those URL’s include “cdn” in them somewhere. Those can get particularly annoying, as those cdn sites (which I think are all really just one site by many names) are often slow to respond, and the web pages are coded so that your browser waits for those responses, often indefinitely long. Blocking them seems to have no undesirable effects (as far as I can tell). ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/17 "2015-08-26T13:55:53Z")
I’ve mentioned earlier the problems AdBlock Plus has with bloating Browser memory; unfortunately the replacement, AdBan stopped working a few weeks ago, and the extension makers seem to have gone. Using an old version of Firefox, some extensions aren’t optimal, but at present UBlock Origin works well ( and I also have AdGuard, but not for this version so don’t know if it’s working and, of course Ghostery and the rest of the usual suspects ). Also, possibly vainly, I blocked the unbearable **online content aggregation** [_You May Be Interested In This_] sites directly in LeechBlock because I hate them so. More than ordinary advertising. And I think ordinary advertisers should be taken outside and shot. > **[Get more likes, shares and follows with smart website tools - AddThis](https://www.addthis.com/)** > > AddThis share buttons, targeting tools and content recommendations help you get more likes, shares and followers and keep them coming back. > **[Gravity Forms | The Best WordPress Form Plugin | Form Builder](https://www.gravityforms.com)** > > Create custom forms on WordPress with Gravity Forms, the easiest-to-use, secure, and reliable WordPress form builder plugin for your website. > **[Outbrain - Recommendation Platform Powered by Native Ads](https://www.outbrain.com/)** > > Outbrain is the technology company powering the discovery feeds on your favorite media. > **[Home Page](https://www.taboola.com/)** > > Taboola is the world's leading discovery & native advertising platform that helps people explore what's interesting and new in the moment of next. [zergnet.com](http://zergnet.com) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/18 "2015-08-26T15:33:49Z")
Mine shows pictures of Einstein, Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Gerard 't Hooft and Frank Wilczek. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/19 "2015-08-26T16:07:23Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Mine shows pictures of Einstein, Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Gerard 't Hooft and Frank Wilczek. Holding fleshlights? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808/20 "2015-08-26T16:55:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Holding fleshlights? Lightsabers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-board-know-my-gender/728808.md?page=2)