# What is my gender? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 17, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654 "2000-11-17T21:13:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/1 "2000-11-17T21:13:59Z")
We have no hard and fast rules; generally, I tend to use the unwieldy “he/she” and “his/her”, etc. I also think that you’ll get a much better response from this question in either General Questions or About This Message Board. - John Corrado, Moderator. I follow the advice. When I refer to a previous SDopper, how should I do it: s/he, s/he/his or it, its? There is no gender indication on these BB. Usually, if the gender is unknown, as in: “As senator XYZ said …”, we use masculine: “…in his remarks…”. But in these PC times, I’m confused. Help… * * * ## The are no directions in the “Rules”. No help from Cecil, the web or the English grammar. We can’t “borrow” anything from other languages. I suggest this: everyone here adds “f” or “m” to their handle. E.g., mine becomes Peacem. If there is no f/m ending, that person is referred as “they”, “them”, “theirs”. After all, the first person plural is common in political and scientific speech, as in: “The reforms we propose…” or “We suggest…”, although only one author can be identified in either case. Up to you, mods! Scylla Member or memberess? I prefer “Male-chauvinist pig,” or just “Pig,” for short. This is extremely wise proposition. I would accept it if it solved the problem. I’d even extend it: “hog” for males, “sow” for females. Or “dog” for males, “bitch” for females. Peacem ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/2 "2000-11-17T22:18:10Z")
I have this problem, too. Actually, I cause it a lot, as many people think that I’m female. I think the only solution is, instead of using “he/she”, use “Elmer”. Sua ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/3 "2000-11-17T22:25:45Z")
in some cases it may be obvious “Just another guy” for example. In others’ it may be more obscure. If you’re really curious about an individual poster, ask them. If you’re wondering how to refer to people while talking about them on the board try using their name and “they” pronouns: When **Sua** posted, I felt their viewpoint was… Or, take a stab at it. the worst that will happen is the poster will respond saying “she? hmmmmmmmm ziiiiiiiiiip **thump!** , nope, still a guy”. Unless you pointedly keep referring to some one by the wrong gender after repeated clarifications, folks seem to take it in stride. I’ve been mistaken for male, lots. (russsstttllleee **thump, thump** ) nope, still female… ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/4 "2000-11-17T22:54:57Z")
Ack! Sua is a man and wring is a female? Ugh. I don’t know. Just guess. I think peace is a man though! Me? I’m a man baby, yeah! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/5 "2000-11-17T23:01:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jmullaney \* > \*\*Ack! Sua is a man and wring is a female? > \*\* why do folks keep thinking I’'m male?? I’ll admit that the name isn’t ultra feminine, (wring-ette?) but geez… ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/6 "2000-11-18T00:07:53Z")
Yeah! Only a [drooling idiot](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=45337) could thing that wring was male! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/7 "2000-11-18T00:32:08Z")
yea, **mouthbreather** I thought of that. I went home and talked to my SO “gee, these folks who only know me as ‘wring’ think I’m a guy. what gives?” and he started laughing up a storm talking about my assertiveness and in your face style. When I removed the frying pan from his anus, he decided he must have been wrong \*\*\* 😃 \*\*\*[sub]no SO’s were harmed in this posting[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/8 "2000-11-18T01:11:23Z")
I like Wring. They are nice. Or … is is “they is nice”? Mods, help! Peacem. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/9 "2000-11-18T01:26:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peace \* > \*\*I like Wring. They are nice. Or … is is “they is nice”? > Mods, help! > Peacem. \*\* forget the mods, they’re busy. “they be nice” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/10 "2000-11-18T01:30:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > I’ve been mistaken for male, lots. And is there any higher compliment than that? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/11 "2000-11-18T01:32:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by wring \* > > I’ve been mistaken for male, lots. > > And is there any higher compliment than that? \*\* Sure, when \*\* you \*\* get mistaken for \*\* me\*\*!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/12 "2000-11-19T16:34:27Z")
Peace is a guy? BTW, there’s at least 1 “post your gender” thread in MPSIMS ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/13 "2000-11-19T16:55:19Z")
People are silly to take such obscure handles that you can’t figure out their sex (PS: ‘gender’ is for animals, ‘sex’ for humans). Therefore I propose that if you have to decide if it’s “he/she/it”, that henceforth we refer to them as ‘shit’ which is a fair combo of those. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/14 "2000-11-19T17:52:58Z")
I agree with you, o beautiful and fair handy, queen amongst women posters to the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/15 "2000-11-19T18:51:11Z")
Say, does anybody know what gender Jack Dean Tyler is? [sub]“ME” stands for “Michael Edward”, by the way.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/16 "2000-11-19T21:28:35Z")
Handy, I like “shit” as all-inclusive pronoun. But we need a nod from M&M (not the candy, silly, the Two Moderators). And may I rephrase your: “… sex is for humans,‘gender’ is for animals” to read: “Good sex is for humans, the rest is not important”. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2000, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-gender/41654/17 "2000-11-20T17:00:39Z")
peace, I don’t think we can get away with ‘shit’ however, ‘sheit’ maybe be alright. Has a nice ring to it… Animal sexers refer to the gender of an animal. People sexers refer to the sex of a person. People sexers? My doctor was one for the olympics. What a job, all day long looking at peoples genitals to see what sex they are.