# How about a gender indicator? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 1, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870 "2005-02-01T23:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/21 "2005-02-02T12:01:26Z")
One standard bit of advice given to women is to choose a gender-neutral name when posting on-line so that you don’t attract the wrong kind of attention. Now, I suspect this is a bit paranoid, but sexists and stalkers do exist. I’m quite happy to have my opinions considered on their own merits without being colored by someone’s expectations of what I should or should not think because of my gender. I have met men who’ve had the attitude “What does _she_ know? After all, she’s only a woman.” If I’m mistaken for a man (looks at **Tenar** ), it doesn’t bother me, although I do reserve the right to tease the person who did so! 😉 CJ ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/22 "2005-02-02T12:18:26Z")
What **EmeraldGrue** said. Knowing a posters gender, race or age will influence the way I’m reading their posts, and the way they’ll be reading mine, and that’s a shame. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/23 "2005-02-02T12:19:33Z")
Perhaps we should take a vote on what gender each poster is. Whatever the majority decide, that is officially their gender 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/24 "2005-02-02T18:34:11Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > I like the idea, but might it not invite protest from our trans and/or intersexed members? Speaking as a trans, I _want_ my gender acknowledged as female, dammit! No ambiguity for me. The genderqueer contingent, OTOH, would prefer to not be pinned down to one side of the binary. They claim the whole range in between as their domain. I support the genderqueers tearing down that Berlin Wall of gender. I don’t want anyone getting shot down for trying to cross to the other side. I don’t think there’s any need for this gender indicator idea. If anyone is determined to broadcast hir gender (like me), ze can always make it known. Those who think it’s none of your business, let 'em be. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/25 "2005-02-02T19:10:17Z")
For most posts, gender isn’t relevant. For some, it is, in which case a poster can easily specify his/her/whatever’s gender in that post. At worst, you get a few misplaced pronouns, which are good for a laugh. Of course, race, religion, sexual orientation, occupation, and marital status are also occasionally relevant, and should be specified when so, but I don’t think we need to advertise those, either. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/26 "2005-02-02T19:18:32Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > i think it best that posts should be considered in their own weight, regardless of sex/sexual orientation/nationality/ethnicity/their thoughts on invisible pink unicorns. Fine – as long as you don’t want me to _specify_ my weight. (And yeah, you can probably make assumptions about my gender based on my unswillingness to do so. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/27 "2005-02-02T19:21:53Z")
unswillingness?!?!?!?!? ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/28 "2005-02-02T22:25:49Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > > [@by Noone Special](#): > > > > I’m all for it, if only in order to see the hilarity that should **ensue** when some of our more creative members make up their own gender definitions… > > You mean like, vagina? Finally! Someone notices the little in-joke I hid in there 🙂 But I think you missed looking up **ensue** ’s Gender Field before posting 😛 Dani ---
**Author:** ![EvanS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@EvanS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvanS)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/29 "2005-02-02T22:35:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > unswillingness?!?!?!?!? Yeah, for those of us who are A.A. members, you know… “Hi, my name is Evan.” ---
**Author:** ![EvanS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@EvanS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvanS)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/30 "2005-02-02T22:41:40Z")
Oops, I forgot: I’m against mandatory disclosure of anything that could possibly en_gender_ prejudice or discrimination or judgement. Like, it’s best we are just seen as people, without race, color, gender, religion, level of education, height/weight/BP, nationality, political affiliation, etc., out there for the world to see unless we choose it to be. I’m against a gender indicator because too many people still (in the 21st f\*ing century no less!) still judge people on that basis. EvAgain (padding his non-existant post count) :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/31 "2005-02-02T23:02:55Z")
I certainly wouldn’t propose any mandatory disclosure of gender, or anything else for that matter. I would suggest (as has been mentioned) a limited text field. Put something there or don’t - your call. Personally, I just hate addressing or referencing people incorrectly; my problem, I know. I certainly don’t think knowing someone’s sex would detract any from the content of their post. To be honest, I hardly look at the poster’s _name_ when reading through threads. I would just reference it for the pronouns when responding to someone. Eh, no biggie ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/32 "2005-02-02T23:08:05Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > I certainly wouldn’t propose any mandatory disclosure of gender, or anything else for that matter. I would suggest (as has been mentioned) a limited text field. Put something there or don’t - your call. Man, I can see so many ways that would be abused… people intentionally putting the wrong gender for trolling purposes, etc. It could cause mass chaos and confusion. Let’s do it! ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/33 "2005-02-03T11:37:38Z")
> [@EvanS](#): > > . > > Like, it’s best we are just seen as people… Oi you…who are you to discriminate against Dopers who are members of the animal/plant/flower kingdom? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/34 "2005-02-03T13:26:30Z")
Gender? What is this thing you call gender? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/35 "2005-02-03T13:34:07Z")
I’d like a gender indication option, especially since my recent ‘name change’ on this board, which is kind of gender-neutral. Something like the ‘location’ option would work very well. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/36 "2005-02-03T13:57:43Z")
It could add more queries to the database, and slow the SDMB down. I run a message board where about 40% of the participants are women. The majority of female posters use gender-specific names, and they’ve had no problems with unwanted attention. I wouldn’t make a special gender indicator. It just has that whole IRC/chat room A/S/L vibe to it. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/37 "2005-02-03T14:04:09Z")
I once started a thread on how I had mistankenly assigned the wrong gender to a number of Dopers: [The SDMB Gender Reassignment Thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=270408) I have to admit that I prefer not having any gender indication. Finding out that \*\*Ale \*\*and \*\*Clairobscur \*\*were men did nothing to change my opinion about them. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/38 "2005-02-03T14:08:45Z")
Count me in as one who: - Doesn’t get all huffy if somebody uses ‘he’ where ‘she’ should go or vice-versa, - Actually finds some instances of the above amusing, - Likes the limited information available about a poster because what matters is the content, not the shape of the messenger, - Thinks that a binary gender selector would be hasslious and confusing to at least a few members, - Likes the idea that details about posters become known as part of immersion in the SDMB community instead of upfront in a way that allows potential prejudice of posts, intentional or subconscious, - Sees no benefit to the gender label aside from solving the undisturbing pronoun issue. It’s like the “barfy” smiley we don’t have. It’s more fun to see somebody say “Where’s that barfy smiley when you need one?” than to just toss one in. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/39 "2005-02-03T14:39:02Z")
Well said, wolfstu. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870/40 "2005-02-03T15:11:59Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Gender? What is this thing you call gender? Michael Jackson? That you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-gender-indicator/287870.md?page=3)