Gender ID, anyone?

**kali** · 06-07-2003, 12:44 PM

I thought it would be good to add a field in the profile section for members to id themselves (voluntarily, of course) as being male or female. I know it could be added to the "biography" section, and sometimes the nicknames make it clear, but it would be nice to have a separate field for gender only.
Thanks

* how come there's no spell checker if I'm posting a thread?

**DaveMo~** · 06-07-2003, 02:12 PM

Hi Kali,

There is a spell checker below the reply box when you are replying.

I like the idea, but others may not. Maybe people will reply here whether they are in favor or against it.

Dave

**Criper2000** · 06-07-2003, 02:45 PM

i think it could be an optional field, depending on wether or no the user wants to supply the info.

**dismaldonkey** · 06-07-2003, 03:14 PM

I can't see that it makes any difference. What's next: race? religion? sexual orientation?....who cares.

**kali** · 06-07-2003, 03:17 PM

voluntary - optional, just like all the other entries.

**The Crow** · 06-07-2003, 05:36 PM

I like the idea. As long as it is voluntary. Why not. If you want to say what gender you belong to that's cool.

**conkermaniac** · 06-08-2003, 01:20 AM

Hi Chief,

I think that it actually might be quite useful, since women on forums are often mistaken for being men.

**kali** · 06-08-2003, 11:13 AM

Quote:

by conkermaniac
I think that it actually might be quite useful, since women on forums are often mistaken for being men.

Yah, I've done that

**david** · 06-10-2003, 06:13 PM

I agree. As a voluntary field it would be good.

**advantagecom** · 06-10-2003, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dismaldonkey
I can't see that it makes any difference. What's next: race? religion? sexual orientation?....who cares.

I don't think we really need to know their sexual orientation....that would be a bit different than knowing their gender....male or female...not do you prefer male or female.

I agree that it would be nice in some cases to know. Not that it would make any real difference in much of anything except to maybe avoid referring to someone as a male when in fact they are a female or vice versa.

And I agree it should be optional...there are some people who feel intimidated or something by having to provide too much information about themselves. Generally there is a 50/50 chance that you would be able to guess their gender as opposed to something like their name or location.

Oh, and by the way...for those that might wonder....I am female.

**dismaldonkey** · 06-10-2003, 07:03 PM

Quote:

I don't think we really need to know their sexual orientation

That is my whole point! Who needs to know! Do you know or care what gender, race, creed, religion, height, weight I am? Does it matter what size, height, eye colour, my prefrence for breakfast cereal I have? No!

The only reason I have ever found for wanting to know what gender someone is, is that some people like to flirt with them. Join a chat line.

**advantagecom** · 06-10-2003, 07:19 PM

There ya go...and we all now know that if this were an option...you would choose not to indicate which you are. No need to go off the deep end over this.

It just allows you in some cases to personalize the conversation. (Not to say that I want to pickup on you or anything along those lines...(which 1. I wouldn't do here and 2. I don't know if you are male or female...so, guess what, you are safe.)

I don't think that it is because someone is trying to discriminate against you.

**kali** · 06-10-2003, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dismaldonkey
That is my whole point! Who needs to know! Do you know or care what gender, race, creed, religion, height, weight I am? Does it matter what size, height, eye colour, my prefrence for breakfast cereal I have? No!
The only reason I have ever found for wanting to know what gender someone is, is that some people like to flirt with them. Join a chat line.

I agree with Advantage. No need to go deep here and I also don't want to pick up or to be picked up. I hate chat lines, BTW.
But am I against them? No. It's up to the individual. I don't really want to know anything deep here, sexual orientation is off my limits and way too personal. I just want to put in my profile that I'm a female, is that utterly wrong???
Again, totally optional. so who cares that much?? If you don't want to disclose, I don't want to know it.

Funny how a simple idea can stretch a thread.

**kali** · 06-10-2003, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dismaldonkey
The only reason I have ever found for wanting to know what gender someone is, is that some people like to flirt with them. Join a chat line.

Slip of the tongue (?). Some "people" only thing about sex. I'm guessing you're a guy...am I right? oops. sorry, that's asking too much

Just want to make clear that I'm not trying to "flirt" with anyone - I've got more than that one reason to know someone's gender...besides...I'm not sure I'd know how to "flirt" through this forum...kinda public...and I'm married...oops, too much info again (me and my mouth - tsk tsk)

**The Crow** · 07-13-2003, 10:47 AM

I'm a male.

**kali** · 07-13-2003, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Crow
I'm a male.

Hey Crow, good thing you told us - I can tell a male from a female with other birds by looking at the feathers, but with a Crow...

**DaveMo~** · 07-14-2003, 10:59 AM

If done, it would be an optional field. I can see the usefulness of it since most don't like to be called a "he" when they're a "she" and vice versa. I don't think it happens much the other way. And I have seen people offended in being called the opposite, but it is really hard to tell by usernames.

Another way to take care of that is to always refer to the other member by their name. I guess you could call them an "it", but there is the offending factor again.

On a webmaster board, there is a very low likelihood of there being any relevance in knowing race, creed, religion, code, etc.

Dave

**kali** · 07-14-2003, 02:33 PM

Thanks, Dave, you see my point.