Please include gender in every post

I spend most of my time scrolling through the news sites and the Men's Club, and I’ve noticed there are a ton of posters where you can't tell if they're even male or female just by looking at their handle. It’s kind of a pain, honestly. I’ll be halfway through some massive wall of text, totally invested, and then I realize at the very end that I was actually reading some woman ramble on. Maybe they should just put their gender right under their username or something.

I agree, that would be useful. I always have to click on a profile when I'm unsure. This would definitely make identifying genders easier. 👍

It doesn't need to be complicated. Just add symbols like: ♀ ♂

Amanda Murphy26 said:I spend most of my time scrolling through the news sites and the Men's Club, and I’ve noticed there are a ton of posters where you can't tell if they're even male or female just by looking at their handle. It’s kind of a pain, honestly. I’ll be halfway through some massive wall of text, totally invested, and then I realize at the very end that I was actually reading some woman ramble on. Maybe they should just put their gender right under their username or something.

Honestly, I think this proposal doesn't go nearly far enough—it’s just not radical enough.

I honestly think women should be banned from posting altogether. If they really have something to say, maybe they can go run their mouths over at the Chicken Coop instead of cluttering up our forum space.

Then it follows that—if I’m being perfectly honest—everything just falls apart from there. It’s almost predictable at this point, isn't it? I suppose one could argue there might be a way to mitigate the fallout, but let's be realistic—it's unlikely. It really feels like we're just watching a slow-motion train wreck unfold, where every single decision made by the higher-ups only serves to complicate an already messy situation. Maybe I'm being too cynical, but then again, maybe I'm just the only one actually paying attention to the patterns here. It's all quite exhausting, really. I’m struggling. I was just sitting here, wading through this massive, rambling wall of text...

Is it just me, or are these massive walls of text getting a bit ridiculous? I mean, there isn't even a single photo to break things up—honestly, I’d rather be out weeding the garden in the middle of July than sitting here wading through these endless ramblings. Personally, I much prefer those short, sweet posts that actually get to the point. You know, the simple ones. Just a quick "Signed," an "Aww," or a little "Sending love to everyone." Those are the only ones worth reading.

Excuse me? Are you kidding me right now? You’re actually serious? Because if you are—and I suspect you might be—then you're the one who started this whole mess in the first place. 😕

Jacob Foster11 said:I agree, that would be useful. I always have to click on a profile when I'm unsure. This would definitely make identifying genders easier. 👍

It doesn't need to be complicated. Just add symbols like: ♀ ♂

Since I’m fairly certain you aren't out here sending unsolicited anatomical photos via PM—and honestly, I suspect people who do that tend to run into some pretty significant misunderstandings by assuming the wrong gender anyway—I can't really imagine any discussion topic or scenario where knowing your interlocutor's gender would actually matter.

Nicholas King said:Since I’m fairly certain you aren't out here sending unsolicited anatomical photos via PM—and honestly, I suspect people who do that tend to run into some pretty significant misunderstandings by assuming the wrong gender anyway—I can't really imagine any discussion topic or scenario where knowing your interlocutor's gender would actually matter.

How is that possible? Doesn't our language use different word endings based on gender?

For instance:
"Did you make this?" (masculine)
"Did you make this?" (feminine)
If you want to write something like that, you need to know the gender.

Jacob Foster11 said:How is that possible? Doesn't our language use different word endings based on gender?

For instance:
"Did you make this?" (masculine)
"Did you make this?" (feminine)
If you want to write something like that, you need to know the gender.

But how would you even end up in a spot where you need to write that? Someone might say, "I was there," and their gender becomes obvious because of how they describe themselves—it’s all tied into those linguistic cues we use to distinguish gender. Honestly, I haven't had a conversation with anyone on here for more than two posts without knowing if I'm talking to a guy or a girl, and frankly, I don't even care that much.

I'm talking to a person's brain, not their anatomy.

And even if a misunderstanding happens, that person usually just corrects themselves in the very next reply.
Besides, what’s stopping a forum user from just typing as the opposite gender anyway?

I’m with you on that, and honestly? Let's take it a step further. Just listing gender isn't enough. You need the full dossier: real estate holdings, education level, whether they can actually write by hand—and yeah, women can write just fine, often better than most guys out there—breast or chest size, a clear headshot from every angle, a full-body shot, and let's be real, a shot of the private areas too. Throw in their political affiliation, their current bank balance, and a photo of the fridge (both open and closed). How many siblings? A shot of their ride—car, bike, boat, whatever. Number of books read, a look at the house interior, plus photos and descriptions of pets (or multiple pets, including the parents).

rustydrifter10 said:But how would you even end up in a spot where you need to write that? Someone might say, "I was there," and their gender becomes obvious because of how they describe themselves—it’s all tied into those linguistic cues we use to distinguish gender. Honestly, I haven't had a conversation with anyone on here for more than two posts without knowing if I'm talking to a guy or a girl, and frankly, I don't even care that much.

I'm talking to a person's brain, not their anatomy.

And even if a misunderstanding happens, that person usually just corrects themselves in the very next reply.
Besides, what’s stopping a forum user from just typing as the opposite gender anyway?

🤦

Let’s look at it this way. First, there is no foolproof way to figure out someone's gender, nor is it necessary. Anyone who chooses to reveal their gender is doing so voluntarily. And people will address them accordingly, whether they are lying or not.

Second, gender settings already exist within the forum software itself.

Third, we are just talking about having the gender listed next to the name, just like the location is. Give me one good reason why you wouldn't list your gender right next to your name. Obviously, I am referring to those who voluntarily added their gender to their profile.

Fourth, just because it doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it never happens to anyone else. It happens.

Fifth, of course, this isn't some critical feature without which the forum would collapse. But it is something that would ease communication in certain situations by removing misunderstandings. To be fair, these misunderstandings aren't catastrophic. But if they can be eliminated, why not? Again, give me one solid reason why this wouldn't be a good idea. Or better yet... give me one good reason why it would be bad.

Btw, a silly example of a conversation:
- "HELP!!!!! My computer slowed down, what should I do???"
- "Did you run a scan? You might have some malware on there."
- "No, what do I need to do??? I AM A WOMAN!!!"
I honestly can't believe I have to list examples of conversations where knowing the speaker's gender is actually helpful. 🙄

Nicholas King said:Since I’m fairly certain you aren't out here sending unsolicited anatomical photos via PM—and honestly, I suspect people who do that tend to run into some pretty significant misunderstandings by assuming the wrong gender anyway—I can't really imagine any discussion topic or scenario where knowing your interlocutor's gender would actually matter.

Lonely Hearts - Classifieds - Seeking a man for discreet companionship. 😁

Jacob Foster11 said:🤦

Let’s look at it this way. First, there is no foolproof way to figure out someone's gender, nor is it necessary. Anyone who chooses to reveal their gender is doing so voluntarily. And people will address them accordingly, whether they are lying or not.

Second, gender settings already exist within the forum software itself.

Third, we are just talking about having the gender listed next to the name, just like the location is. Give me one good reason why you wouldn't list your gender right next to your name. Obviously, I am referring to those who voluntarily added their gender to their profile.

Fourth, just because it doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it never happens to anyone else. It happens.

Fifth, of course, this isn't some critical feature without which the forum would collapse. But it is something that would ease communication in certain situations by removing misunderstandings. To be fair, these misunderstandings aren't catastrophic. But if they can be eliminated, why not? Again, give me one solid reason why this wouldn't be a good idea. Or better yet... give me one good reason why it would be bad.

Btw, a silly example of a conversation:
- "HELP!!!!! My computer slowed down, what should I do???"
- "Did you run a scan? You might have some malware on there."
- "No, what do I need to do??? I AM A WOMAN!!!"
I honestly can't believe I have to list examples of conversations where knowing the speaker's gender is actually helpful. 🙄

Exactly, they do! There’s really no need to have it cluttering up yet another spot. 🙂

Give me one solid reason why someone wouldn't just list their gender right next to their name. I mean, obviously, we're talking about the folks who voluntarily added their gender to their profile in the first place.

People who want to share that info have already done so. If anyone actually cares to know, they have a way to check.

Fourthly, just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it never happens to anyone else. It definitely happens.

It happens to me too, though it's always super brief and doesn't cause any actual trauma or awkwardness; it doesn't derail the whole thread, and honestly, it can even turn out to be pretty funny. 😁

Btw, here's a silly example of how a conversation goes:
- "HELP!!!!! My computer slowed down, what should I do???"
- "Did you run a scan? You might have some malware on there."
- "I didn't, what do I need to do??? I'M A WOMAN!!!"
I swear, I can't believe I even have to list examples of conversations where knowing the other person's gender would be helpful. 🙄

You don't need to list them, because this specific example perfectly captures all the potential friction that comes from misgendering someone. It seriously changes the tone of the communication, and if she hadn't clarified her gender in a later post, she could have ended up with so many wrong answers. Not to mention all the extra effort it took just to clear up the misunderstanding.

Jacob Foster11 said:I agree, that would be useful. I always have to click on a profile when I'm unsure. This would definitely make identifying genders easier. 👍

It doesn't need to be complicated. Just add symbols like: ♀ ♂

Those symbols aren't hurting anyone, so feel free to use them if you want. But there's really no necessity for it. 🙂

rustydrifter10 said:Exactly, they do! There’s really no need to have it cluttering up yet another spot. 🙂

Give me one solid reason why someone wouldn't just list their gender right next to their name. I mean, obviously, we're talking about the folks who voluntarily added their gender to their profile in the first place.

People who want to share that info have already done so. If anyone actually cares to know, they have a way to check.

Fourthly, just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it never happens to anyone else. It definitely happens.

It happens to me too, though it's always super brief and doesn't cause any actual trauma or awkwardness; it doesn't derail the whole thread, and honestly, it can even turn out to be pretty funny. 😁

Btw, here's a silly example of how a conversation goes:
- "HELP!!!!! My computer slowed down, what should I do???"
- "Did you run a scan? You might have some malware on there."
- "I didn't, what do I need to do??? I'M A WOMAN!!!"
I swear, I can't believe I even have to list examples of conversations where knowing the other person's gender would be helpful. 🙄

You don't need to list them, because this specific example perfectly captures all the potential friction that comes from misgendering someone. It seriously changes the tone of the communication, and if she hadn't clarified her gender in a later post, she could have ended up with so many wrong answers. Not to mention all the extra effort it took just to clear up the misunderstanding.

Those symbols aren't hurting anyone, so feel free to use them if you want. But there's really no necessity for it. 🙂

How can there be "no need" if misunderstandings keep happening? If people are getting confused, then there is absolutely a need for them. If misunderstandings didn't exist, then maybe they wouldn't be needed.

Here is a perfect example of a misunderstanding from a few days ago:

Jacob Foster11 said:How can there be "no need" if misunderstandings keep happening? If people are getting confused, then there is absolutely a need for them. If misunderstandings didn't exist, then maybe they wouldn't be needed.

Here is a perfect example of a misunderstanding from a few days ago:

And honestly, wasn't a simple gender tag enough for him? I mean, if he isn't even looking at the avatar or checking the info next to the post, why on earth would he be looking for gender? It’s not like it caused any real drama; personally, I actually thought their little back-and-forth over the misunderstanding was pretty cute. 😁
I totally get your point, but that specific example doesn't really hit the mark. 😁

If anyone wants to know, it's easy enough to find out. And as for whether that little icon is annoying—well, it doesn't bother me one bit. 🙂

It isn’t the first time my gender was misidentified, I never bothered correcting anyone, and frankly, it’s irrelevant 😁
I don't see how it alters the flow of conversation, so stop making a fuss 😁

If it bothers someone that much, they can just go create an anonymous account and be done with it 😉

I’m with rustydrifter10 on this one. You could shower some people with a hundred different badges, little icons, avatars, geometric shapes, or even blast their gender in size 75 font, and it still wouldn't register. If the handle isn't something unmistakable like... I don't know, Ava Karabatić or Ante Gotovac, people just aren't going to get the hint. ☕

It’s true—misunderstandings happen. Even I get misgendered quite often, and I suppose I occasionally misgender others as well. 😁
There are plenty of users here whose gender isn't immediately obvious just by looking at their handle (or their avatar).
Personally, I don't find it an issue to click through to someone's profile to check their gender, but perhaps—just for the sake of better visibility at a glance—it might be useful to include small indicators. It's a standard practice on many other forums.

Edit: I actually spent a good chunk of time thinking slywolf45 was female 😍

ordinary said:what even is this? a revolution on the forum, nothing works anymore 😕
if only we had actual protests in the streets over how the US Economy is being run..

😕

Why would suggesting a change be considered a revolution, and why does that mean nothing is working? Where are you getting those conclusions?

Jacob Foster11 said:I agree, that would be useful. I always have to click on a profile when I'm unsure. This would definitely make identifying genders easier. 👍

It doesn't need to be complicated. Just add symbols like: ♀ ♂

The idea isn't bad.
But I'm assuming that option would end up being added to the postbit area right next to the avatar and user info (location, post count, etc.).

I actually dug up an example on a vBulletin page showing where that sits, just for anyone who isn't familiar with how that works.


This thread would be a lot easier if there was a poll with maybe three options so the forum members could actually weigh in and make their voices heard.🙂

All we need now is some volunteer to go door-to-door checking everyone's underwear—though honestly, you could probably just guess based on physiognomy if you were feeling ambitious enough. 😁

How do you even expect to convince people on this forum to weigh in on something so trivial if they haven't already?

And don't get me started on these symbols... I'd bet anything half the population has no clue which sign represents which gender. I know I certainly didn't. 😳
(I always have to stop and think, "Okay, so the guys are getting an erection, so these must be the male symbols." 😁
I almost had a crisis standing in front of the restroom at a dive bar once because of it. 😕 😲 😬)

Tyler Thomas12 said:All we need now is some volunteer to go door-to-door checking everyone's underwear—though honestly, you could probably just guess based on physiognomy if you were feeling ambitious enough. 😁

How do you even expect to convince people on this forum to weigh in on something so trivial if they haven't already?

And don't get me started on these symbols... I'd bet anything half the population has no clue which sign represents which gender. I know I certainly didn't. 😳
(I always have to stop and think, "Okay, so the guys are getting an erection, so these must be the male symbols." 😁
I almost had a crisis standing in front of the restroom at a dive bar once because of it. 😕 😲 😬)

Clearly, you aren't reading the previous posts in this thread, are you? Am I supposed to repeat everything ever said to every single person individually?

So, let me repeat myself. The forum already allows users to select their gender in their settings. It’s not some groundbreaking new feature or anything complex you need to overthink. Just go here and you'll see the option to set your gender:
http://www.americanforum.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Once a user sets their gender, it shows up on their profile for everyone else to see. Nobody cares if someone is lying about it; that's irrelevant here. If someone identifies as male, people will address them as such. Same goes for females.

The point is, this gender doesn't just sit on the profile—it also appears right next to the username on every post (just like location does). Check out this image (by John Doe):


Are we done repeating the obvious now?

Tyler Thomas12 said:All we need now is some volunteer to go door-to-door checking everyone's underwear—though honestly, you could probably just guess based on physiognomy if you were feeling ambitious enough. 😁

How do you even expect to convince people on this forum to weigh in on something so trivial if they haven't already?

And don't get me started on these symbols... I'd bet anything half the population has no clue which sign represents which gender. I know I certainly didn't. 😳
(I always have to stop and think, "Okay, so the guys are getting an erection, so these must be the male symbols." 😁
I almost had a crisis standing in front of the restroom at a dive bar once because of it. 😕 😲 😬)

I honestly don't get how you can mix those up. Do men have an arrow in their pants while women have a target? Look closely at the symbols: ♀ ♂. They couldn't be more logical if they tried.