# Why Do So Many Female Dopers 'Advertise' As Such? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326 "2002-04-18T15:31:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/61 "2002-04-19T07:02:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*I’m mistaken for a man so often that I’m seriously considering changing my handle to \*\* Ihaveavagina. \*\* \*\* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHHHH!!! I’ve been here how long and I never knew you were a woman! I’m a :wally ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/62 "2002-04-19T07:17:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Daowajan \* > \*\*Everyone who finds out my actual gender says “I thought you were [insert opposite sex here.]” > > Guess! \*\* Ditto… [sub]P.S. A hint: I’m the same sex as **Dao** (IIRC)![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/63 "2002-04-19T07:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eternal \* > \*\*I think there should be no references to gender at all. It would be reat fun to have everyone looking at a great post someone made and thinking “Should I be attracted to this person?” \*\* For those of us who are bisexual, this is not an issue. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/64 "2002-04-19T08:21:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\* > > Is this a woosh or sarcasm? Enlighten me… \*\* Definitely not a woosh. 🙂 Just an attempt at a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/65 "2002-04-19T12:24:26Z")
Heh…I’ve had this handle (which I think is realtively feminine, though I’ve **still** had people think I’m male) since the mid-eighties, and at that time I thought more than once of changing it to something either gender-neutral or male so people would stop freakin’ **hitting on me**. No, I’m no great prize, but back then the female:male ratio was around 1:50…more like 1:200 if you remove all of the female sock puppets the male BBSers had. 😃 I think it’s great that gender parity is so much closer than it used to be, but I sometimes miss being the most attractive chick at a given computer geek gathering. I lost that title forever when AOL started to become popular…I magically went from “f’in’ gorgeous!” to “Oh, her.” Which was actually sort of nice, because the pressure’s off. I have to agree that there really aren’t more female-specific names than male-specific names…and that it’s actually sort of a shame that someone with a handle like “ **SexyWriter** ” is automatically assumed to be female. “Sexy” does not necessarily = “female” (or vice-versa). ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/66 "2002-04-19T12:38:04Z")
_shrugs_ It’s one of my nicknames IRL. I wasn’t going to use my real first name which is also clearly feminine. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/67 "2002-04-19T14:40:30Z")
Thanks a lot, **RTFirefly** & **LindyHopper** , for ruining my androgynous mystique. Well, online at least. In the meantime, what I hell am I going to do with this spare penis? Arden Ranger said: > [@](#): > > For those of us who are bisexual, this is not an issue. I concur. EVERYONE should feel free to want to have sex with me. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/68 "2002-04-19T14:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by even sven \* > \*\*A lot of people automatically assume that any somewhat neutral name is male. Man-dopers don’t have to advertise their gender because it is a given. In order for a doper to be understood as female (and there are advantages to having your gender understood- for example in GD it is good to know what perspective you are coming from) you’ve got to “advertise”. \*\* I agree with this. My usernme does not advertise that I’m female, but I think I wish it did, as I often find myself pointing it out unnecessarily. Example-it could be a TMI for Women thread, and I would post, writing something like “Well, as a female tampon user, I find that my girl parts are happiest with X brand, when it is my womanly time of month.”:rolleyes: I have no idea why this is, though. Why am I askeered to be mistaken for a man? Maybe because I never in a million years would be in real life? ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/69 "2002-04-19T15:01:40Z")
> [@](#): > > So what would it be? > EnderMan24? > EnderManWithA24InchPenis? Ender? You poor sod. You’re saddled with a 2/4 inch penis? ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/70 "2002-04-19T15:28:02Z")
Guys can be named Audrey, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/71 "2002-04-20T01:26:18Z")
Rushgeek Girl was my nick name in high school. I guess I’m proud of it, because I always use it as my SN. (although it did get annoying when I attracted Limbaugh fans. “Not THAT Rush, you knucklehead!” ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/72 "2002-04-20T01:51:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scotticher \* > \*\*I guess they missed the “Busty Redhead” thread. A rollicking good time was had by all in that thread, but alas I am inept at linking stuff. Trust me…it is worth a search. Maybe some kind soul could leap in here and link it? > > Of course, I suppose I COULD be a busty redheaded male. But somehow it just doesn’t FEEL right. > > 🙂 \*\* **Scotticher** , I am also very inept at linking! Most of my hyperlinks seem to turn out grey, for some reason. ☹ And when they do turn out blue, I’m not sure what special thing I did to make them turn out that way! Now, I could search for your thread, but I wouldn’t be able to link it. Well, I would, but there would be no guarantees what color it would turn out to be! And as for the image of a busty redheaded male, well… that’s certainly a funny thing! 😃 As for the OP, I have said before on these boards that I am a female… and would **-ette** count as a feminine suffix? I guess it would, so there’s no one who could mistake me for a man! (no, not even in real life) ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/73 "2002-04-20T02:00:46Z")
[hijack] Flamsterette\_X - if the hyperlink comes up grey, it means your computer remembers visiting that link in the past. If it comes up blue, it means your computer doesn’t remember visiting it. Hope that helps! [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/74 "2002-04-20T02:37:50Z")
Hmm… maybe I’ll test it up in ATMB some more… thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/75 "2002-04-20T06:56:52Z")
I believe I understand the part about neutral usernames being considered male. In fact, I adopted my username in the mid-90s, and a year later, I met a man who went by the username “lel.” After that, I’ve been trying to interject the fact that I am a woman in a few posts I’ve made, hoping people will read them and remember that fact. Oh, and **Flamsterette\_X** , you do know that **Hamster\_X** would be a more gender-neutral name and thus more subject to gender confusion 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/76 "2002-04-20T08:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lel \* > \*\*Oh, and **Flamsterette\_X** , you do know that **Hamster\_X** would be a more gender-neutral name and thus more subject to gender confusion 😃 \*\* You bet I do, **lel**! In fact, if I ever change my username on here to **Hamster\_X** , I’ll be sure to give the credit to you for inspiring me to do so! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/77 "2002-04-20T09:26:16Z")
I still occasionally get referred to as “Mr Wolf” or “him”. Don’t tend to correct that impression, 'cause when the poster realises, they can get embarrassed and think I’m offended. So, I suppose sometimes I’m in “stealth-gender” mode. What th’ hey, I say … ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/78 "2002-04-20T09:57:45Z")
[The Holy Grail](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23988&highlight=busty+redhead+thread), per **Scotticher** ’s request. [sub]I’d do anything for her.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/79 "2002-04-20T10:05:22Z")
And in case anyone was wondering, I definitely do not have a vagina. Definitely. I just checked. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326/80 "2002-04-20T12:50:24Z")
I am what I am and that’s all that I am, to paraphrase the great American philosopher Popeye the Saliorman My father named me Cynthia 39 years ago and my sisters called me Cyn or Cindy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-female-dopers-advertise-as-such/104326.md?page=5)