# How to be a more manly poster? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244 "2003-02-11T00:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 11, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/1 "2003-02-11T00:33:42Z")
In the recent thread on [how guys whip it out](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=161318), multiple posters mentioned that up until I explicitly mentioned my penis, they had assumed I was a woman. I have no problem with this – I rarely mention my wife or my penis, so there’s really no reason for most posters to know I’m a guy. But it got me wondering as to how other people determine the gender of their fellow posters. Do you go by the tone of the posts? Content? Username? Assume gender neutral until you find out? :: flex :: :: pose :: Me, I go almost entirely by username. I arbitrarily decide from the first sighting which usernames sound like girls and which like guys, and then stubbornly hold onto those perceptions even after multiple confirmations of their falsehood. :: burp :: :: fart :: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/2 "2003-02-11T00:41:36Z")
Well, I have always assumed from your sig that you were male, but others might just as easily take it from that same evidence that you are female and interested in same. 🙂 I mostly go by username, given no other clues. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/3 "2003-02-11T00:43:50Z")
\_ * * * A giraffe’s tounge is 18 inches long and prehensile. And I’m a guy. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/4 "2003-02-11T00:48:00Z")
So, as an afterthought, could those who respond to this also mention their genders? I _think_ **KtK** is a guy, and **Cyn** is a girl, but I’d like to know how often I’m right. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/5 "2003-02-11T00:52:20Z")
I knew you were a guy - not sure why I knew that, but perhaps your manliness came thru. And if you need me to tell you which bits I have, maybe you’re not as manly as I assumed… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/6 "2003-02-11T01:12:19Z")
What’s that Giraffe? Lookin’ for someone to make a man outta ya? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/7 "2003-02-11T01:30:22Z")
C’mon **Giraffe** , does the _24_ Club sound like something a _woman_ would think up? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/8 "2003-02-11T01:48:29Z")
Well I guessed **Giraffe** was male, since pissing on a games board would be much more difficult for a woman to get away with 🙂 I am Male even without a beard. I tend to associate wether the username sounds male or female with the user. I doubt I could change the association even if I was proved wrong. Cheers, Bippy ---
**Author:** ![BadBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71c47a/32.png) [@BadBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBaby)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/9 "2003-02-11T03:29:17Z")
The testosterone comes off of you in waves, Giraffe sweetie. Your name, the sig line and your studly way of posting quickly led me to conclude you were male. For others it’s not always so easy, but my guesses based on user name come out correct most of the time. Now keeping boy/girl straight/gay/bi in order, that’s made for some confusing reading of posts! ---
**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:** [February 11, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/10 "2003-02-11T03:44:02Z")
As long as folks are not making passes at you thinking you are female, you are doing OK. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/11 "2003-02-11T04:54:30Z")
More _MANLY_ posts? Why? 😃 But for the record, on this particular subject, I tend to remain in the dark and assume no gender unless the thread specifically mentions it (I mean, with some usernames, there’s simply no hope, is there?) - once I’ve ID’d a particular poster, however, I usually remember (not always, but usually.) - - So, from this corner of the world, this is **TVGuy** , fabulous gay-boy, always willing to bring a little lavendar and roses into a far too testosterone poisoned population - signing off and keeping you confused. (I think that’s too long for a sig…) ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/12 "2003-02-11T05:00:23Z")
I assume everybody is male unless I am given an indication otherwise. It seems a useful heuristic on the net. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/13 "2003-02-11T05:01:44Z")
I go off the username first, then tone of the posts. What would you guess, based on my username? male ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/14 "2003-02-11T05:22:17Z")
I myself am inclined to assume gender neutrality, but that could be because my username is rather gender neutral. Oh yes, I’m female. ---
**Author:** ![Jessity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jessity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessity)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/15 "2003-02-11T05:32:04Z")
I always thought you were a boy giraffe. I dunno why, maybe the tone. Maybe because when I see your name, I see a picture of a giraffe in my head. And I don’t think of giraffes as being a feminine animal. If your name were koala, I might’ve thought you were female. I guess I’m weird. And I am, indeed, a girl. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weak\_Force](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@The\_Weak\_Force](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weak_Force)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/16 "2003-02-11T06:31:25Z")
I just assume you’re all 19-year old female college cheerleaders unless I’m given a strong indication to the contrary. Now that’s a useful heuristic. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/17 "2003-02-11T06:47:49Z")
You’ve always had a male vibe and tenor to your posts. Anyone who thinks you are a gal has a malfunctioning testosterodar or does not read your MPSIS and PIT replies. Now stop waving that thing around before you put someone’s eye out and go get in touch with your female side. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/18 "2003-02-11T06:54:27Z")
I’ve been surprised by the gender of a few Dopers (St. Germain, I think, was the most recent.) Most of the time I think of everyone here as unformed entities until they indicate otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Felonious\_Mink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Felonious\_Mink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Felonious_Mink)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/19 "2003-02-11T11:35:57Z")
Maybe we just like our own little slice of anonymity. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244/20 "2003-02-11T13:12:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jessica2 \* > \*\* If your name were koala, I might’ve thought you were female. I guess I’m weird. > > And I am, indeed, a girl. \*\* So it’s all about the animal, eh? Which do you think I am? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-be-a-more-manly-poster/154244.md?page=2)