Suggestion: Gender Identifiers

[Ish]

I've often found the opposite to be true. I think that most people who don't know the sex of a forum member do have a preconceived idea: that the forum member is male. Statistically, that's a good bet, but not a sure bet. If they later learn that he's male, they don't change their style of conversation. If they instead learn that she's female, they may change how they converse with her. That's a generalization, and not always the case, nor necessarily good or bad, just something I've noticed.

Another good reason that people should decide for themselves what personal information to give out.

I was thinking, coming from a community that emphasises the equality of women and men, that being on this forum and speaking to everyone as a human being, uninfluenced by gender, is for me sometimes more like that than real life in the outside world.

 

[Macaddicttt]

I was thinking, coming from a community that emphasises the equality of women and men, that being on this forum and speaking to everyone as a human being, uninfluenced by gender, is for me sometimes more like that than real life in the outside world.

I agree with Doctor Q in that most people assume that every user is male until proven otherwise, so this ideal of equality is virtually unattainable, that is, unless you define gender equality as conforming to the standards for men, which is rather sexist.

 

[FoxyKaye]

I agree with Doctor Q in that most people assume that every user is male until proven otherwise, so this ideal of equality is virtually unattainable, that is, unless you define gender equality as conforming to the standards for men, which is rather sexist.

True, true.

 

[Cybergypsy]

I am ok with them not knowing i am a woman the only time i get a bit tick... if someone keeps calling me dude....

 

[skyrider007]

add sexuality identifier

 

[Consultant]

That XKCD comic reminds me of an experiment that Newsweek reported, about Asian girls taking a math test. If I remember the report correctly, they found the folloiwng: If the girls were asked for their sex at the start of the test, it reminded them of the stereotype about girls and math, and they apparently got more nervous and did less well on the test. But if they were asked their race, it reminded them of the stereotype about Asians and math, and they apparently got more confident and did better on the test.

My conclusion is that asking forum members for their personal information will cause their post quality to change!

Especially if you ask them:
Which is your favorite mac
Which is your favorite iPod
What is your favorite Apple Ad
etc.
(and they have to choose one out of a list)

That would weed out a number of the trouble makers.


And ask them to repeat:
I pledge allegiance to the Mac...
If I am a troll I will get a chain saw shoved up my behind... etc.

=p

 

[Ish]

I agree with Doctor Q in that most people assume that every user is male until proven otherwise, so this ideal of equality is virtually unattainable, that is, unless you define gender equality as conforming to the standards for men, which is rather sexist.

Just to explain - I didn't mean it in a sexist way. I meant different but equal, each with strengths that balance each other. Don't want to get off topic though, just needed to clarify!

With such a low proportion of identified women on the forum, it's quite natural to assume that a poster is male. Taking into account those people who haven't identified themselves, however, who knows!

 

[iBlue]

Simple solution. Just color code everyones profile name (blue for boys, pink for girls). Works for babies, so why not us.

because not all girls like pink.





I like that as a demi I can note my girliness by the goddess user title. Before I was a demi I put a little ♀ * in my sig because I was slightly tired of people assuming I was a guy. If there's some gender identifier thing ever put in place here (which I doubt) I think an option to disable/enable would be a good idea. Not everyone wants to share that info, obviously.

* if the unicode doesn't work:

 

[Sauron's Master]

Maybe we should remove the Location identifier as well.

You know, I might get discriminated against for being from the US.

That or get hit on because being from the SF Bay Area and NYC implies I'm rich and potentially gay.

Yeah, I love how women get special treatment. That isn't sexist at all, is it?

 

[Blue Velvet]

Yeah, I love how women get special treatment. That isn't sexist at all, is it?

What 'special treatment' is that then?

 

[Sauron's Master]

What 'special treatment' is that then?

I was referring more in regards to life in general. However, in this case, the lack of a gender identifier is clearly a protection of women in excess of what men would receive.

It abrogates my desire to identify myself as a proud male. Moreover, I fail to see the anathema towards having a little symbol identifying gender with the ability to turn it on and off. It is clear that gender is part of social identity so if one can choose to identify oneself as being from a certain nation/state, it's only logical that one should be able to identify the most crucial aspect of social identity aside from, perhaps, race.

 

[Blue Velvet]

I was referring more in regards to life in general. However, in this case, the lack of a gender identifier is clearly a protection of women in excess of what men would receive.

Because the power dynamics in all situations in life and across all societies are so equal between men and women, right? No-one has a gender identifier on this board unless they choose to have one themselves. Can't be fairer than that.

 

[RHD]

I don't know if this has been proposed on here or not, but another forum I go to for advice for my pets uses these nifty little gender identifiers next to your user name. That way, you can see if someone is female or male and respond accordingly. I know a good majority of the users on here are male, so it might be nice to set aside the females. You can see what I am talking about in my post here (the little figure next to the user name).
I really don't remember if you have to specify your gender when you register here, but I thought it was a pretty neat feature here and might come in handy.

Just a thought!

Thanks!

REALLY NOT!

I have had bad experiences of being patronized and belittled on technical forums (even by the official forum "expert") because I was dumb enough to use a female username and while MacRumors and it's people are mostly way too classy for that, it can still be an issue. Leave us our anonymity please.

 

[John.B]

OT

(I'm being bad... sowwie!) But if you don't like animated 'tars, you can do what I do-- use Camino and set it in preferences to only show animations once.

Also a Firefox option, for those who (pick one):

• a) were wired that way at birth
• b) choose that lifestyle for themselves

KIDDING people! Just kidding!

 

[Cromulent]

That way, you can see if someone is female or male and respond accordingly.

Am I the only one that thinks this line is a bit weird? Does it make that much of a difference to you?

 

[iBlue]

Am I the only one that thinks this line is a bit weird? Does it make that much of a difference to you?

no. I tend to overlook it but sometimes it's a bit funny to answer some question and hear "thanks man" when, well...