View Full Version : Why no gender in statistics beneath avatar pictures?
k_hepburn
July 25th, 2008, 06:37 AM
The LHC board just refused to let me access any further threads until I had come clean about my gender. Not that I have a problem with disclosing my gender (from the start I've pretty much given every indication that I'm a woman, anyway) but I did feel the "fill in or I won't let you watch the boards" automatism was a little rude. But I'm slightly puzzled now why, if it is so important to the LHC to be informed of this aspect, gender isn't among the data indicated below the avatars since we do get threads where it would be helpful to know the OP's gender at first glance to understand where they are coming from.
Greetings
katharine
P.S. Loved the way the options are set out as inclusive as possible, though I couldn't help grinning at the option of "other".
MusingFrog
July 25th, 2008, 06:44 AM
It just did the same thing to me. I would also like to know the reason behind it.
Dianyla
July 25th, 2008, 06:51 AM
I just got around to finally fixing that field today. It was defined a long time ago, but never implemented properly. One could fill it out upon registration, but it was never displayed properly before and you couldn't edit it later.
Right now it's set to be required and that is apparently prompting everyone to immediately update it. In about 2 minutes I'm actually going to go change that setting so that it will only force you to update it the next time you edit your profile.
Sorry for the confusion, and I didn't realize that there was no way to warn people in advance that this would need to be filled out. I agree that the "FILL IT OUT NOW!!!!" screen is a bit abrupt! :oops:
FrannyG
July 25th, 2008, 07:13 AM
I for one, thank you for this. It will prevent a lot of potentially embarrassing errors in future, and allow us to give better advice, in some cases. :cheese:
Ursula
July 25th, 2008, 07:28 AM
I rather like the ambiguous genders here.
And, from a feminist perspective, I think it may be useful for the male members to see a bit of what it is like to live as a woman - to be in a place where the default "human" is female, rather than male, and to get advice as is given to women, with the assumptions about where a woman should or shouldn't be in society, rather than with the assumption of a male role.
As a woman, it's nice to be in a place where, when gender is unknown, the assumption is "female" - to not be the "other" in the group.
I'm not sure what having genders clearly defined would do to these dynamics.
physicschick
July 25th, 2008, 07:34 AM
Ursula, that is an interesting perspective.
If I recall correctly from whenever we last discussed the topic, there are no plans to display people's gender prominently next to the avatars. It'll be available in the profile information for those who want to click through and find it, but putting it front and center was never the plan.
Dianyla
July 25th, 2008, 07:54 AM
If I recall correctly from whenever we last discussed the topic, there are no plans to display people's gender prominently next to the avatars. It'll be available in the profile information for those who want to click through and find it, but putting it front and center was never the plan.
That is correct. The goal is to have the information available, but not in your face. :)
Ursula
July 25th, 2008, 07:57 AM
Excellent!
I've no problem with the information being available, and I can see where it would make modding duties easier, given the problem of men wanting to join just to use this as a dating site. Hidden in the profile shouldn't change the conversational dynamic.
Nightshade
July 25th, 2008, 08:08 AM
Excellent!
I've no problem with the information being available, and I can see where it would make modding duties easier, given the problem of men wanting to join just to use this as a dating site. Hidden in the profile shouldn't change the conversational dynamic.
Correct, and when knighting people it sure as hell makes it easier not to call a "Lord" a "Lady." Done that one more than a few times :rolleyes:
angelthadiva
July 25th, 2008, 08:47 AM
Correct, and when knighting people it sure as hell makes it easier not to call a "Lord" a "Lady." Done that one more than a few times :rolleyes:
Gah, me too! Referring to poor so-and-so as "Hey, girl" :o
I was feeling kinda silly this AM, so when I was demanded to reveal my gender...Or else...
I was hoping it was a fill-in-the blank type of a field...I so wanted to use Man! I feel like a woman! :D
mugglemomof3
July 25th, 2008, 09:59 AM
I rather like the ambiguous genders here.
And, from a feminist perspective, I think it may be useful for the male members to see a bit of what it is like to live as a woman - to be in a place where the default "human" is female, rather than male, and to get advice as is given to women, with the assumptions about where a woman should or shouldn't be in society, rather than with the assumption of a male role.
As a woman, it's nice to be in a place where, when gender is unknown, the assumption is "female" - to not be the "other" in the group.
I'm not sure what having genders clearly defined would do to these dynamics.
hear hear! What a great post Ursula!
pookatrina
July 25th, 2008, 11:46 AM
I love the options! When ever the option of "other" is available on any list I always pick it, so my gender is now "other". Thanks! :D
Pegasus Marsters
July 25th, 2008, 03:57 PM
I've not been prompted with that screen O_o
Isilya
July 25th, 2008, 04:10 PM
That's probably because you logged in after Dianyla changed it to the setting that makes you fill in your gender when you edit your details. I never saw it either :)
Pegasus Marsters
July 25th, 2008, 04:20 PM
That's probably because you logged in after Dianyla changed it to the setting that makes you fill in your gender when you edit your details. I never saw it either :)
O... right. Pegs is feeling slow today -_-
chloeishere
July 25th, 2008, 05:14 PM
Excellent!
I've no problem with the information being available, and I can see where it would make modding duties easier, given the problem of men wanting to join just to use this as a dating site. Hidden in the profile shouldn't change the conversational dynamic.
That doesn't mean that it will necessarily work, though. I remember within a few months ago, there was a user who claimed to be a married woman (though oddly never gave any details about themselves other than that they were a "married woman with long hair"), who was banned because he was, er, a bit obvious.
On the other hand, I don't think a dude's going to get a hot date by professing to be a woman on his profile. On the other other hand, I don't think any of the skeezy guys who come here looking for action (no offense to our delightful male members, I'm referring specifically for guys who join just to perve out) has ever gotten a date as a result of this board. So far as I know, anyway. :eyebrows:
Calista
July 25th, 2008, 05:19 PM
I would appreciate having the gender information displayed beneath the avatar, because in some cases I am a bit unsure of the actual gender.
Presto
July 25th, 2008, 06:27 PM
I like being N/A and I intend to keep it that way.
Gender is non-applicable as far as I am concerned.
My opinion only. :D
ETA: several times in real life I have been asked by children, "Are you a man or a girl?"
All of them asked the question the same way, same words. The phrasing of that question should reveal why I would prefer there to be no distinction.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.