# 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:** 3
**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, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/41 "2007-05-10T21:29:48Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] …but pink and blue ribbons would make me puke. Ugh. [/QUOTE] I agree…maybe tiny drawings of genitalia? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/42 "2007-05-10T21:45:35Z")
One of the boards I go to has tiny gender symbols next to the posters’ names, and they’re optional. I wouldn’t mind it if it was like this here. Especially when it comes to posters who mostly lurk. You can almost always tell a frequent poster’s gender by their posting history, but with people with few posts under their belts, it can be confusing. Particuarly if they’re asking for advice where the comments would skew differently for different genders (There was a recent thread where most people thought the OP was the oposite gender and changed their advice after learning their mistakes). ---
**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, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/43 "2007-05-10T21:53:18Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I agree…maybe tiny drawings of genitalia? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Um, I got nothin’ against putting up a drawing of my genitalia, but I can damn sure promise you “tiny” won’t figure into it. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/44 "2007-05-10T22:53:59Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Um, I got nothin’ against putting up a drawing of my genitalia, but I can damn sure promise you “tiny” won’t figure into it. [/QUOTE] You’re a woman, right? ---
**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, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/45 "2007-05-10T23:56:19Z")
Only when I post at [LezBoard.com](http://LezBoard.com), **Darryl**. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/46 "2007-05-11T00:12:07Z")
I have to write non-gender specific, and I-don’t-even-know-what-tense-specific policy, memorandums, and correspondence for a living (I’m an Air Force Executive Officer for a General _and_ a Colonel at the same time). I am constantly writing in third-person, even when writing in the affirmative: “The applicant indicates a desire to proceed with the current TPS plan.” or “The 4077th/CC agreed with the policy as set forth by the Colonel.” I have no problem continuing this on the boards, and as a matter of fact, I think the Dope has helped me _perfect_ that gender-neutral writing. As a result, I don’t think specifying gender would do any good on the Dope. As a matter of fact, I like the fact that I don’t know who I’m talking to–I have that disconnect that allows me to take every posted opinion/thought at face value. Tripler You want non-gender? **Tripler** thanks you for reading this thread. ---
**Author:** ![enigm4tic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@enigm4tic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigm4tic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/47 "2007-05-11T00:34:18Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] “The applicant indicates a desire to proceed with the current TPS plan.” [/QUOTE] Did they put a cover sheet on it though? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/48 "2007-05-11T00:49:08Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] But then again I don’t think I’ve often had a problem (maybe once or twice) peopel assume names that end in ‘a’ are female (waves to **Malacandra**!) So maybe i’m not the best one to say anything. [/QUOTE] Like **Anaamika** , I tend to believe that most people look at names ending in vowels as being ‘female.’ I’ve had, I think, **one** case of mistaken gender identidy since I started posting on the Dope. I corrected the person in question, quietly, more because I didn’t want her to think I allowed her misapprehension to continue than because it bothered me. (I’m male, btw.) I think, if it matters to the poster to be identfied as specific gender, they should make the effort to put it into their profile or location tag. If it doesn’t matter enough to the poster to do that, I think anyone else should assume they’ll be forgiven for any mistakes. And if someone wants to know, they can always ask. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/49 "2007-05-11T15:54:19Z")
[QUOTE=Tahssa] _She_ does have a good point. Like _her_ I for the most part have no trouble telling the gender of a poster based on their name. 😃 [/QUOTE] Yes. Yes _she_ does. -Signed, Trevor (who fell into that trap before) ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/50 "2007-05-11T16:01:57Z")
I can’t imagine how this would ever be considered a good idea. In gender-specific threads, people tend to disclose gender as it’s needed. Why else would you need to know? We don’t have race or age indicators, and again, I don’t see it as necessary at all. If you have to know, ask the person. I think most posters know my gender and race, but I like to be able to opine on a number of issues as **Hippy Hollow** , not “that guy” or “that Black guy” or “that thirtysomething.” Location is helpful because we’re often talking across the world, in different contexts altogether, and it helps to know where someone’s coming from (and yes, I know that same argument can be used to support gender indicators)… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/51 "2007-05-11T16:05:10Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] And if someone wants to know, they can always ask. [/QUOTE] Hmm. I always thought you were male - something about you just _screams_ it. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/52 "2007-05-11T19:29:20Z")
Since we are free to pick our own usernames and decide what level of gender hints we choose to put in them, I think calling for a specification of such is probably as pointless as the location tag. Folks are just as likely to not take a gender one seriously either. Although I am all for Autolycus getting a ladle icon… ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/53 "2007-05-11T19:34:43Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] Although I am all for Autolycus getting a ladle icon… [/QUOTE] Poor Auto, he’s becoming the new Hal. (though I’m not sure either really mind) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/54 "2007-05-11T20:47:51Z")
No. People tell you if it relevant and you ask. Many like the gender neutality of the board for general questions. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/55 "2007-05-12T23:14:15Z")
I actually started out trying to reveal as little about myself as possible. Such a tag would annoy me. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/56 "2007-05-12T23:50:12Z")
If it’s important, and not implicit in the rest of my post, I’ll mention it. If not, I’d really rather keep my gender obscured. I never LIE about it, but I’d rather be taken as the wrong gender than be prejudged by my gender when I happen to enter topics, or make posts, that some people might inexplicably interpret differently depending on which sex I am. Of course, some people will know, but I generally assume most of them would at least know me well enough to not make the incorrect interpretation, although I know there will be those who still make the mistake. ---
**Author:** ![wendigo1974](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@wendigo1974](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendigo1974)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/57 "2007-05-13T00:14:39Z")
Bad idea and unwarrented. Pre-discerning if someone is Male or Female in an answer on an Anonymous message board is hardly important. Unless you require to use it as leverage for or against an argument. In which case you have already lost the moral high ground. A nudie pic under each post would be nice. However if the poster was old, overweight or generally unattractive this could also detract from the sentiment of there original post ☹ ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/58 "2007-05-13T00:20:18Z")
I’d just as soon not see any **ASL** indicators here. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/59 "2007-05-13T00:46:55Z")
[QUOTE=cerberus] I’d just as soon not see any **ASL** indicators here. [/QUOTE] I’m sorry. ---
**Author:** ![wendigo1974](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@wendigo1974](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendigo1974)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sdmb-have-an-indicator-to-tell-if-a-member-is-male-or-female/403534/60 "2007-05-13T00:52:35Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture] I’m sorry. [/QUOTE] **A** ge **S** ex **L** ocation Just in case like minded folk might want to meet and get into hijinks together. [Previous 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) [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=4)