# How do YOU tell if posters are male/female? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2000, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781 "2000-09-19T20:44:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![saam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@saam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/1 "2000-09-19T20:44:11Z")
Exhibit A: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rilchiam \* > **Sailor and particle: I’m female.** Exhibit B: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysdad \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > > \*\*And I don’t think you can lump **Piano** in here with the others on the list. Just curious - if he/she is proven **not** to be, how many will publicly apologize to him/her? \*\* > > \*\* Do you find yourself searching for a pronoun? Or trying to contort your thoughts to avoid one? This is a large problem on some boards, where people use real or “real” names. Everyone named Pat has to deal with jokes about the dumb Saturday Night Live character that was hard to figure out. (N.b. I am male, but if you use “her” or “she” the first time we meet I won’t give it a lot of thought.) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/2 "2000-09-19T20:50:02Z")
ALL posters are male/female 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/3 "2000-09-19T21:20:16Z")
Simple way to figure it out: 1. Assert your own manhood/womanhood 2. Flirt in an overtly sexual way 3. Wait for the responses: “Sorry, slick – but I’m a guy”, etc. 4. Flirt again in an overtly sexual way to confuse all respondents (this doesn’t actually help you with the question at hand, but it’s fun and it broadens your flirting pool) ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/4 "2000-09-19T21:36:07Z")
There’s a simple formula, actually: 1. Convert all the letters in the username to numbers (a=1, b=2, all the rest equal 3) 2. Add all those numbers up. This will give you a larger number than any of the individual numbers you added. (If it doesn’t repeat, step 1.) Call this the user’s “SuperNumber”. 3. If a user has an odd SuperNumber, then they are male. If they have an even SuperNumber, they are female. If their SuperNumber equals 26, then they are a male to female transexual with bisexual tendencies. It’s just that simple! ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/5 "2000-09-20T02:15:50Z")
Good Grief, Giraffe!! I’ve given birth to two sons, the oldest now twenty, and I find out using your technique, I’m a MAN!! But, hey! I’m in a miserable marriage, and NOW I know the reason why! The things you learn around here! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/6 "2000-09-20T02:24:48Z")
You could always just grab them by the groin (and leave me out. I’m a big _girl_). ---
**Author:** ![Skribbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Skribbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skribbler)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/7 "2000-09-20T03:11:03Z")
I flip a coin. Heads – they’re male. Tails – they’re female. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/8 "2000-09-20T03:18:14Z")
Just pick a pronoun and use it. If you make the mistake–the poster will usually tell you so. 😛 What’s more annoying is when I get mistaken for a lady iRL! And not by the name, either, since ‘Ashley’ is just an alias. Some people have actually seen me and called me ‘Miss’. 😛 Anyone else ever have that happen to them? -Ashley (And I’m all man, I’ll have you know!) ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/9 "2000-09-20T03:48:46Z")
I personally look for obvious clues in a username. \ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/10 "2000-09-20T03:51:24Z")
Check to see if they’re mentioned in DRY’s sig line. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/11 "2000-09-20T03:58:16Z")
Most of the time it doesn’t matter (GQer here - OK, I do some MPSIMS and, yeah, I _do_ flit about all of the board), and I’m sure you’ve noticed that it is not a question as regards many on the board. _But_, several _have_ left me wondering. Usually it doesn’t matter - unless you’re just here to flirt. Sometimes it _can_ become relevant to a point in discussion. In those cases - ask. Andrea ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/12 "2000-09-20T04:11:00Z")
It doesn’t matter if they are male or female IRL, or physically versus mentally male or female, or whatever. There are also a few transgendered persons on this board as well, BTW. Unless other Dopers have met the person IRL, most people have no idea what someone really is - I _could_ be a 13-year old boy in Scranton (“Just a second Mom! Save dinner for me!”), or a 78-year old Etruscan woman, or the best AI ever created. You have to either ask, or read and experience and learn what they are. Or go to the SD People Pages - if you can believe those in all cases. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/13 "2000-09-20T04:18:23Z")
Una, You’d be a 13 yr old with a hell of a lot of knowledge about coal. I’m impressed- hope you enjoy imminent puberty. \ ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/14 "2000-09-20T04:40:27Z")
About that super number business, what if the user’s name contains a numeral? Not that I’m thinking of anything specefic. And BTW, it’s pronounced Bird-min. Oh alright, no it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/15 "2000-09-20T05:43:43Z")
Why not check the posters profile? Let’s look at some profiles to see if this would work. JBirdman12 - No gender given but a manly profile. ( screenname suggests manhood ) Anthracite - No gender given but notes interest in “lesbian issues” rather than “lesbians” indicating womanhood. beatle - No gender given or implied. Little Nemo - Biography empty. andygirl - No gender given or implied. ( screenname suggests womanhood ) Ashtar - No gender given. Manhood ( boyhood? ) perhaps hinted by interest in video games. Skribbler - No gender given or implied. Biggirl - No gender given or implied. ( screen name suggests womanhood ) Anti Pro - Gender given. Well written profile with information and humor. Giraffe - No gender given or implied. Bottle of Smoke - No gender given or implied. ( In Wisconsin a love of beer and the Packers is shared by both genders. ) glee - No gender given. Interests hint at manhood ( listing Dungeons & Dragons in particular ) ## saam - Profile empty. Ah, now I understand why the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Byzantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@Byzantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Byzantine)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/16 "2000-09-20T06:19:37Z")
Ask? Or is that too easy? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/17 "2000-09-20T07:02:52Z")
I’ve often thought it would be a good optional field to have in the profile. That way, people can declare their gender if they wish, and people can check if they’re curious. Sometimes I’ll find myself wondering about a poster if I can’t find enough clues, but it isn’t important enough to ask them outright. Being able to check the profile would be a nice compromise. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/18 "2000-09-20T08:28:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Nemo \* > \*\*Check to see if they’re mentioned in DRY’s sig line. > \*\* _Ahem_…and your point is? This from the man who paid for one of “my sig ladies” expenses to the Rochester doperfest. Which makes you…well…a generous person, I suppose. ## Perhaps you will be interested in my new sig: My sincerest thanks to the kind and compassionate “SDMB Beauty” voters: **Grace, Nika, Scotticher, Tatertot and TroubleAgain**! Also a shout of appreciation to **Golf Widow, Michi and Medea’s Child**. I enjoy your correspondence! Keep those letters coming. Can’t forget **Diane** , who had an erotic dream about me in this thread: (I guess there’s no accounting for taste.) I’m not sure about **Little Nemo** …femme, or not? 😉 [sub]This was not a real sig. If it had been a real sig, I certainly wouldn’t have wasted my time on a goddamn male (or even someone remotely androgynous). No gay fantasies (not that there would be anything wrong with that) took place during the making of this sig.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/19 "2000-09-20T08:44:08Z")
2sense, politely done. Actually my interests of chess, computer games and roleplaying are all male-dominated. I wish more women would join in. (Oh, I’m male) ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2000, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781/20 "2000-09-20T09:54:03Z")
I usually just flip them over and look. Like with kittens. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-tell-if-posters-are-male-female/33781.md?page=2)