# Gender-bending on the SDMB? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704 "2007-06-04T15:52:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/21 "2007-06-04T17:34:32Z")
[QUOTE=Jayn\_Newell] Well, I would hope that my name gave mine away easily, but it still happens that my gender is mistaken sometimes…more often than it’s guessed correctly actually. [/QUOTE] Do they think you’re the Hero of Canton? ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/22 "2007-06-04T17:35:56Z")
I admit I had both in mind, **John DiFool**. Does that make me a he-she? I guess not because the main reason for my choice of user name is so I could chuckle when anyone replied to my posts. They could be said to be answering nature’s call. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/23 "2007-06-04T17:37:04Z")
Based on your writing style I would guess that you’re male. Your screen-name doesn’t really offer a clue. . . . . . now that I’ve read the thread, I guess I can see how the name would suggest a male. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/24 "2007-06-04T17:38:47Z")
I am often mistaken for the opposite sex on the phone. I’ve given enough info out on these boards for people to know. And I’ve been to a Dopefest where it was obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/25 "2007-06-04T17:40:42Z")
[QUOTE=Eureka] And yet I, a feminine type, with a name that ends in “a” have twice in the last week or so read a post and thought “Did That Poster just refer to me as _he_?” [/QUOTE] I wonder if this is because of the source of your name? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/26 "2007-06-04T17:43:22Z")
I’ve used this moniker on various messageboards, and I’m frequently assumed to be a “he.” I’ve never been sure exactly why. I think it might be as simple as the fact that there are (were?) more men on the internet than women, so in the absence of anything in my nickname or post that’s distinctly female it’s a safe bet to assume “male.” It doesn’t matter to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/27 "2007-06-04T17:47:19Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] Do they think you’re the Hero of Canton? [/QUOTE] The man they call Jayne? 😃 Oh, and though my username is rather ambiguous, I am of the distaff. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/28 "2007-06-04T17:54:10Z")
Also voting for a guy. It’s tricky–I kept assuming **Malacandra** was female for a \*long \*while. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/29 "2007-06-04T18:03:19Z")
Hmm… I avoid mentioning my gender and sexual orientation as much a possible, not because I’m hiding it, but because I want to avoid any assumptions from those who reply. If you were to search for threads I started you wouldn’t have any trouble figuring out which and what. (Assuming that anyone had any interest in the 1st place.) I’ve been mistaken for the other gender on an occasion or two. I find it amusing and not bothersome. I took **Nature’s Call** as male. I must agree that it would be a most unlikely female choice, and I’ve know some pretty unlikely females. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/30 "2007-06-04T18:06:59Z")
I thought “guy” first… ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/31 "2007-06-04T18:20:10Z")
People usually guess it right in my case. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/32 "2007-06-04T18:23:37Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] I wonder if this is because of the source of your name? [/QUOTE] I suppose it’s possible–although I don’t think that you and I have the same perception as to the source of my name. (It’s a re-pronunciation, and I guess a re-spelling of my real name). I should also point out that these two posts are somewhat of an abberation. While I can’t remember any posts offhand which refer to me by feminine pronouns, I can go for long periods of time without seeing me refered to by masculine ones. And I generally assume that masculine pronouns are used for convenience–almost intended to be gender neutral–rather than as a sign that someone assumes me to be male. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/33 "2007-06-04T18:31:18Z")
This isn’t usually a problem for me on this board, but when I went to pick up a pizza the other day they had it listed under “Kim” – prompting me to ask my wife “Do I sound like a woman on the phone?” Once her laughter subsided she reassured me that I don’t, and the person taking my order was probably just an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/34 "2007-06-04T18:36:27Z")
Another vote for dude. Though Jazz chords typically don’t have gender, nobody has ever responded to me as I were the other gender. My posts must be pretty obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/35 "2007-06-04T18:41:30Z")
[QUOTE=tim314] Once her laughter subsided she reassured me that I don’t, and the person taking my order was probably just an idiot. [/QUOTE] There _are_ guys named Kim, and not just oriental dudes, e.g. [Kim Mitchell](http://www.amazon.com/Akimbo-Alogo-Kim-Mitchell/dp/B000001YKP) ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/36 "2007-06-04T18:44:06Z")
I see gender confusion with my nick from time to time. Never really bothers me, though. Just adds to the comedy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/37 "2007-06-04T18:50:16Z")
I know what you mean, NC. I don’t get many mistakes HERE, but I sure get a lot on other boards. I started a thread here a while back (which was unexpectedly dug up in another thread…heh), after I was hit on on two separate boards. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/38 "2007-06-04T18:58:42Z")
[QUOTE=Nature’s Call] Without any further information, what gender do you think I am? [/QUOTE] I too looked at your profile. The nose is distinctly phallic. [QUOTE=Nature’s Call] How often are you mistaken for the other team? [/QUOTE] My team kicked me off for having a low average and too few at bats. Luckily, the other team picked me up as a free agent. (Innuendo re: switch hitting and or batting available upon request.) No one has mistaken my gender that I’ve noticed. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/39 "2007-06-04T19:01:35Z")
[QUOTE=Nature’s Call] There _are_ guys named Kim, and not just oriental dudes, e.g. [Kim Mitchell](http://www.amazon.com/Akimbo-Alogo-Kim-Mitchell/dp/B000001YKP) [/QUOTE] Point taken. I don’t think I’d ever heard of a male Kim (excepting the Korean surname). Then again one of my favorite high school teachers was a woman whose given name was “Kevin”. And then there’s all the names that have switched from mostly male to mostly female, like “Leslie”. I guess you can’t assume a gender for any name. But for what it’s worth, 314 is the manliest number. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704/40 "2007-06-04T19:36:11Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] The man they call Jayne? 😃 [/QUOTE] Never heard of him, but that might explain it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-bending-on-the-sdmb/406704.md?page=3)