# Should the SDMB have an indicator to tell if a member is male or female? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534 "2007-05-10T13:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/1 "2007-05-10T13:37:22Z")
I don’t even know if this is feasible or legal, but I see a lot of posts that do the he/she thing, and a lot of times your reaction or response to a post may be altered based on the gender of the poster. And if yes, what should that indicator be? A pink ribbon for female, blue for male? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/2 "2007-05-10T13:44:54Z")
No. If you want to know, ask the person in question. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/3 "2007-05-10T13:45:44Z")
Yes. Oh please, yes. A simple M or F will suffice. As long as the English language insists on separate pronouns for men and women, we need this. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/4 "2007-05-10T13:52:38Z")
Nah, not really. Most of the time it’s irrelevant; in threads where gender is important (like where sexual things are discussed) it becomes pretty obvious; otherwise, it’s not all that relevant to the discussion. If one is referring to a poster in the third person, “he/she” isn’t all that clumsy. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/5 "2007-05-10T13:58:42Z")
I’d raise the question of why one’s response changes based on perception of gender, especially given that in this context I could be representing my gender as whatever I wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/6 "2007-05-10T14:02:22Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] I’d raise the question of why one’s response changes based on perception of gender, especially given that in this context I could be representing my gender as whatever I wanted. [/QUOTE] People definitely respond to me differently when they don’t know my gender. Sometimes I’m tempted to join a board and never post in threads about PMS or in any other way indicate I’m female. I am much less controversial as a guy 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/7 "2007-05-10T14:07:07Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] People definitely respond to me differently when they don’t know my gender. Sometimes I’m tempted to join a board and never post in threads about PMS or in any other way indicate I’m female. I am much less controversial as a guy 😃 [/QUOTE] PMS threads are one example- or if you knew someone was a guy and doing a Tom Cruise and saying that post-partem depression doesn’t exist. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/8 "2007-05-10T14:07:09Z")
But what label shall we use for trans-genders? Cross-dressers? Mixed-up posters? ---
**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:** [May 10, 2007, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/9 "2007-05-10T14:08:29Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] Mixed-up posters? [/QUOTE] Like in Spicoli’s room in _Fast Times_? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/10 "2007-05-10T14:10:36Z")
I wouldn’t mind having it as an optional field, kind of like “Location.” I wouldn’t mind having “Age” there either. People who want to be forthcoming could put their gender and age. People who didn’t want to could either leave them blank, or put smart-ass comments, much like people do now with location. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/11 "2007-05-10T14:12:50Z")
I think having it as an optional field is a good idea. I think a simple M or F would be just fine. Pink and blue ribbons? Please, we’re not newborns. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/12 "2007-05-10T14:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] I’d raise the question of why one’s response changes based on perception of gender, especially given that in this context I could be representing my gender as whatever I wanted. [/QUOTE] Perhaps we could ask the OP why [del]he[/del] [del]she[/del] he/she considers it worthwhile? -Situations exactly like that ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/13 "2007-05-10T14:14:56Z")
I don’t see a reason to mention gender. Personally I like when I get corrected like this:… **…uhh, Phlosphr, I’m a chick…or Dude!! I’m a Dude!!** It’s funny, and keeps everyone one their toes. Plus, when you have been around for a while, you know people’s genders anyway. I like the mystery. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/14 "2007-05-10T14:16:13Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] I wouldn’t mind having it as an optional field, kind of like “Location.” I wouldn’t mind having “Age” there either. [/QUOTE] Except that my age keeps changing (damnit!) My gender never will. (Don’t even start!) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/15 "2007-05-10T14:16:36Z")
-and especially in those ‘describe the gory death of the previous poster’ threads - it’s useful anywhere you might have to talk _about_ another member. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/16 "2007-05-10T14:20:22Z")
Also, it may help choosing the right term when insulting someone. ---
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/17 "2007-05-10T14:34:58Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] But what label shall we use for trans-genders? Cross-dressers? Mixed-up posters? [/QUOTE] People with trans history usually identify as male or female, so they’d use the normal settings. Genderqueer people could presumably change their marker at will. I don’t like the idea. The bareness of the board is pleasant. I enjoy having to get to know posters based on nothing but their posts, it’s like a little puzzle. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/18 "2007-05-10T15:06:04Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Perhaps we could ask the OP why [del]he[/del] [del]she[/del] he/she considers it worthwhile? -Situations exactly like that [/QUOTE] Well, sure, but: \* Perhaps we could ask the OP why s/he considers it worthwhile?\* isn’t THAT bad, is it? I’ve never hidden my gender, but I’m often mistaken for the other one. I wouldn’t put it in a field, although I’ll always answer honestly when asked in a thread, and gently correct people if it’s relevant and they’ve erred. (I don’t correct people if it’s not relevant, 'cause Mommy taught me it’s rude to correct people.) I believe that there’s a whole lot more people who would prejudge my posts in a negative and dismissive way (shrill harpie, bitchy feminist, PMSing cunt, etc.) than there are those who can’t tell my gender from context and would be positively enlightened by it. Is this belief true? I can’t tell you for sure. I don’t know if anyone’s done a double blind placebo controlled study on it, I can just tell you that in my real life experience, I get dismissed more often when people know I’m a woman up front. There’s an infuriating sort of glaze that descends over many men’s eyes when a woman starts to speak. It rankles, it does, and I don’t see the need to facilitate it. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/19 "2007-05-10T16:01:53Z")
Attention, all SDMB members. Please fill out the following at your earliest inconvenience. Please check one (or more, if applicable): \_ Male \_ Female \_ Male, but I hardly see why you care \_ Female, what’s it to you? \_ Male, but I play a female on the internet \_ Female dog (\*) playing a male on the internet \_ Male pretending to be a female who is badly impersonating a male \_ M-to-F trans \_ F-to-M trans …\_ Crossdress only …\_ Postop …\_ Preop …\_ What’s it to you? \_ Man trapped in a man’s body, just not the right one \_ XXY hermaphrodite \_ Asexual alien from the planet Xyzzy (\*\*) \_ Other, please specify: * * * * * * * * * * * * (\*) On the internet, no one knows you’re a dog, but they might come to realize this… (\*\*) On the internet, no one knows that you do the same joke twice… ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/20 "2007-05-10T16:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Also, it may help choosing the right term when insulting someone. [/QUOTE] Gender-specific insults are not necessary. Why can’t you just call everyone an asshole like I do? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534.md?page=2)