Gender in Profiles?

[Sirp]

It seems strange to me that even though plenty of other biographical information is optionally played in one's profile...one's birthday (age), location, occupation, interests, etc etc, something so basic as one's gender isn't.

Gender mis-identification is fairly common (well ok it's not all that common but that's because 90+% of posters are male, and most people just assume everyone is a male until shown otherwise, but that's a different story...)

I understand that changing this retroactively would be rather difficult....but, isn't it somewhat of an oversight?

-Sirp.

 

[china444]

I think this is a good idea.

Also, a flag of your country just like at 'Poly.

 

[Yoda Power]

Originally posted by china444
Also, a flag of your country just like at 'Poly.

i second that, it looks better.

 

[Zcylen]

flag, flag, flag!
they look so cool!

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Flags were suggested and supported by most of the posters, however I think TF either didn't see it or ignored it or hasnt had time to do it.

Gender thing is also a good idea.

 

[Padma]

Flags in the profile would be okay. Flags showing by the avatar make for too much clutter.

Besides, I am sure TF won't do anything with this until VB3 is finally out - so he doesn't have to do it "again".

 

[Eklektikos]

I agree with Padma that having flags shown beside the posts is less than aesthetically pleasing. Having the option to specify you gender is a good idea though, provided you still have the option not to do so if you so wish.

 

[pdescobar]

Flags were discussed in at least two recent threads; can we please not threadjack this into another?

Regarding Sirp's suggestion, I agree that an optional gender setting in the bio seems something that ought to be there, but unless it's in the stuff listed next to the post, it probably won't prevent most (intial) misidentification because I doubt too many people go reading the profile of everyone they respond to before replying. At least I sure don't

 

[cromagnon]

Sirp, I think it's not there, because it's pretty much meaningless. 50% of females won't identify themselves as such on a message board, and 50% of the ones who say they are female are in fact balding middle-aged men. Or so the adage goes... You wouldn't know whose information to believe.

Then again, 90% of what appears to the left of each post is pretty much meaningless as well.

 

[WillJ]

Originally posted by cromagnon
Sirp, I think it's not there, because it's pretty much meaningless. 50% of females won't identify themselves as such on a message board, and 50% of the ones who say they are female are in fact balding middle-aged men. Or so the adage goes... You wouldn't know whose information to believe.

Then again, 90% of what appears to the left of each post is pretty much meaningless as well.

That's true (maybe a bit exaggerated, though), but the people who claim they are females or males would still want to be identified as such (he or she).

I think it would be a pretty good idea, but only useful if it's shown to the left of each of post, as pdescobar said. However, the current system, where you just assume someone's a male until corrected, works well enough.

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Bah! I want a way to prevent anymore hot chicks from mistaking me for a guy again

 

[Sirp]

@pdescobar: If what's on the left (their name and avatar) doesn't give any hint that they might be female, then I probably wouldn't check and assume they're male. If it gives a little hint that they might be, I would probably check before addressing them.

@cromagnon: If I call a 40 year old guy whose pretending to be a 20 year old girl, 'he', I am still going to be the one who ends up

Anyhow, I would speculate that 40 year old guys pretending that would probably really try to emphasize it, and it could be told from their username and avatar.

Also, if someone chooses not to specify, then they really can't blame anyone if they get gender-misidentified

-Sirp.

 

[CurtSibling]

When you become a CIV-fanatic, your nationality and gender no longer matter!

 

[Becka]

Originally posted by cromagnon
Sirp, I think it's not there, because it's pretty much meaningless. 50% of females won't identify themselves as such on a message board, and 50% of the ones who say they are female are in fact balding middle-aged men. Or so the adage goes... You wouldn't know whose information to believe.

Then again, 90% of what appears to the left of each post is pretty much meaningless as well.

Aye. People seem to have the impression that there are women out there just all rarin' to go who want to identify themselves to you people.

And as for the middle age man thing, I am not balding and not middle aged! I'm a 30-year-old prison inmate named Frances. And I want you to be my girlfriend..........................

 

[Octavian X]

I'd like to see a gender part of the profile. I'm sure that 99.9% of newbies think that Padma is a woman (I know I did a long time ago).

 

[barron of ideas]

As a former lieutenant, let me tell you, you do not want to irritate a master sargeant, even a retired one.

 

[Padma]

@ barron:

I am a balding, middle-aged man. But I make no bones about it. To quote Popeye the Sailor: "I yam what I yam, an' 'ats all what I yam."

 

[hbdragon88]

Besides, I am sure TF won't do anything with this until VB3 is finally out - so he doesn't have to do it "again".

That's going to a long time. I went to vbulletin.com and got a live tech person and asked him when they were going to release vB3.0 and he said that they're going to start the public beta soon...

 

[Perfection]

Finally I can show my true gender!

 

[Becka]

Originally posted by Perfection
Finally I can show my true gender!

No no, we don't want to see it!



Anyhow, I guess as long as there's a "prefer not to disclose" option, I'd support it. Woman's rights!