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!
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.
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.
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.
I’m against mandatory disclosure of anything that could possibly engender 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
But I think you missed looking up ensue’s Gender Field before posting 