This is topic Imogen Girl - or, Do posting styles have gender? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=020114

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
I started thinking about this after being mistaken for a guy a couple of times, and then managing to do the same to Brinestone.

I wonder why some people have their gender mistaken more than others. Obviously, SNs have something to do with it - some are unmistakably gendered: either the same as their RL owner (Jon Boy, Papa Moose, Porcelain Girl, Annie, Anna, the two Bobs and so on) or the opposite (such as Ralphie - but no-one makes that mistake for very long.)

Some people have more ambigous SNs, but it seems no-one gets confused over their gender: Hobbes for instance, I always viewed as male, even before I read anything that even implicitly confirmed it (and yes, that includes kissing Annie ). Similarly Eruve Nandirial always appeared female to me.
On the other hand, I thought dkw was a man for about 2 months. (Sorry Dana...)

So, are there masculine and feminine posting styles? I'd say probably yes.

Can you tell what gender people are from how they post in general, if no reference is made to aspects of their life which would give it away? In my case, I associate a SN with a gender almost unintentionally (its easier than thinking of them as an it), and I guess I get it right more than half the time.
 

---

Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
 
It's harder for me to tell gender through posting styles, but I can tell in chat, for some reason. It's also helpful when they have pictures online.

I also sometimes get mistaken for a guy, since my name isn't gender-specific at all.

Ni!

[ December 08, 2003, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: kwsni ]
 

---

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Criminy! I can't tell people's gender even when I meet them in person! How do you expect me to do it from a few lousy posts.

Actually, I have the problem of not being able to "re-code" someone's gender once I find out online. I picture so and so as a female and then find out 1000's of posts later that he's a guy. And I'll persist in believing that the person is female. I guess my ability to process in the abstract realm of cyberspace is limited.

Am I the only one who is so afflicted?
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
Yeah, the photos tend to be a give away.

Especially Frisco's.

Edit: Bob, I have the same problem, unless I see a photo that confirms they are in fact the gender they claim to be. Then my mind will accept the shift.

[ December 08, 2003, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: imogen ]
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
Imogen....you mean that's a girl's name???
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
Maybe three times I've been mistaken for a guy in a chatroom. I guess because I'm somewhat of a tomboy. I was talking to someone about TMBG once and we discussed playing guitar and various things. Later he asked what I did for a living, and so that didn't give it away. I forget what he said that made me realize that he thought I was a guy. It was fairly subtle, but then I thought back over what we had been talking about and yes 95% of the people who play electric guitar are male, as well as around 75% of engineers, etc. It wasn't surprising that he made that mistake. It felt sort of interesting. I didn't ever tell him differently. I kind of wanted to see what it would be like, though I would never deliberately pretend, I don't suppose.

Another time, and I think this is funny, I was talking to Paul Jay in parachat. I thought he knew who I was by then. I certainly knew who he was. Oh but then I always take a different name in parachat so probably earlier everyone had guessed me, and maybe Paul wasn't there then and only joined later. Anyway, we happened to be talking about hunting, and being in the woods, and from there got onto guns and all sorts of cool guy-bonding topics like that, and after a long time it came out that he thought I was a guy. <laughs> I still think that's hilarious since Paul and I later became really close friends. I don't think I come across as a guy, in general. I feel like I'm very feminine. It's just that some things that I think are cool are considered guy things.

I have no idea how people make up their minds about gender in chat. To me it's never obvious, unless the name says it. (Eruve Nandiriel is obviously an elvish name for a girl, for instance.) I mistook both Yozhik and Cary Bass back when this topic first came up. It's a complete mystery to me.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Being mistaken for the opposite gender is a price to pay for having an ambiguous name, but I was still shocked the first time someone actually referred to me as a he. As much fun as I thought it would be to keep people guessing, I think I prefer for it to be known that I am, in fact, female. I'm just not a girly girl. At all. Even though I own way too many shoes...
 

---

Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
 

quote:

---

(Eruve Nandiriel is obviously an elvish name for a girl, for instance.)

---

Maybe on your planet. Here where I live we had no clue what it means or where it came from. (the name that is)

---
Everyone without a gender specific screen name defaults to male until they say something that changes that perception.
 

---

Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
 
People think "Imogen" is a boy's name? Doesn't anyone read Cymbeline anymore?
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
Names ending in "iel", a Quenya (and I think Sindarin too) word element for "maiden" or "daughter of" (can also mean "garlanded"), are always feminine. Have you not read Lord of the Rings? If not, please correct this deficit immediately!

[ December 09, 2003, 12:10 AM: Message edited by: ana kata ]
 

---

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
 

quote:

---

Everyone without a gender specific screen name defaults to male until they say something that changes that perception.

---

Everyone with a new screenname defaults to Jon Boy until they say something that changes that perception.
 

---

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
*bows*
 

---

Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
 
meh, I started Lord of the Ring once made it through the prelude and was bored to tears, although I have been told that the rest of the book is worth the time.
 

---

Posted by Androgynous (Member # 6011) on :
 
Okay then, let's put this to the test.

5 points if you get my Gender right
10 points if you get my *real* Hatrack identity correct
additional 5 points for any other accurate things you can discern about me from this post.

Edit to add: Naturally, though, I'll want a pretty decent justification for your answers...

[ December 09, 2003, 12:19 AM: Message edited by: Androgynous ]
 

---

Posted by Taberah (Member # 4014) on :
 
I'm male, unbeknownst to many. "Taberah" is not a name (at least, not for a person), so in theory my gender should be ambiguous to those who do not know me. Still, there are some people who think it sounds feminine. I can't quite figure out why this is.

The name is a semi-obscure reference, so I suppose I should have realized that people would make this mistake.
 

---

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
I discern that you have issues with capitalization and punctuation.
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
Androgynous, you are male. Females wouldn't have made a point system, and then required justification. These things are intuitive. They have no justifications.

Identity guess: Papa Moose.

Taberah, I see you as HareBat backwards. And, yes, it sounds female because of being close to names like Tamarah.

[ December 09, 2003, 12:24 AM: Message edited by: ana kata ]
 

---

Posted by Androgynous (Member # 6011) on :
 
A fair call. Does that make me male or female, though? (5 points to JB)
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
Bump: Androgynous, did you see my guess?
 

---

Posted by Androgynous (Member # 6011) on :
 
AK - I agree with you that these things are largely intuitive, but I've also known a number of women who use bullet points regularly and effectively.

Not Pop, either
 

---

Posted by Androgynous (Member # 6011) on :
 
Oops - just re-read your post AK, and realised that I got it wrong the first time.

In fact, a great rationale, but at this point I'll keep the gender thing a secret...just to create interest.

Have 5 points, though....
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
You're imogen.

And since you say I'm always right . . .
 

---

Posted by Androgynous (Member # 6011) on :
 
Sorry. Not Imogen, either.
 

---

Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
 
dkw?
 

---

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 

quote:

---

...or the opposite (such as Ralphie - but no-one makes that mistake for very long.)

---

quote:

---

People think "Imogen" is a boy's name? Doesn't anyone read Cymbeline anymore?

---

quote:

---

I'm male, unbeknownst to many. "Taberah" is not a name (at least, not for a person), so in theory my gender should be ambiguous to those who do not know me. Still, there are some people who think it sounds feminine. I can't quite figure out why this is.

The name is a semi-obscure reference, so I suppose I should have realized that people would make this mistake.

---

Edit: There was another post righ above mine that has since been deleted, as side effect of said deletion is remove the sense (if any) that this post had. However it remains thus.

[ December 09, 2003, 01:10 AM: Message edited by: luthe ]
 

---

Posted by Androgynous (Member # 6011) on :
 
And the moral of the story is....

Never post a who am I identity in a thread started by your girlfriend...

15 points to Imogen. (and a 5 point deduction for having inside information

*Phew* It's actually really difficult to consciously write in a genderless fashion, but I'd actually find it difficult to tell you specifically why.

And now, I'm going back to my real identity. This one makes me feel far too much like Marilyn Manson...
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 


At least I know your posting style.

Even if I thought fiazko was a guy.

[ December 09, 2003, 01:06 AM: Message edited by: imogen ]
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
There, that feels better. And I have to ask, what gave me away?
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
JB for Jon Boy actually. Not sure why, but I realised 'hey, I know who this is!'
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
Nobody ever knows what, exactly, gives you away. I've played this game a million times in parachat. Just something undefineable about you says "you".
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
I must admit, I was pretty tempted to just keep on denying it. Just to mess with your mind.
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
BTW Ana Kata (now that I'm myself again) Your first rationale was spot on. I was kicking myself for giving so much away so quickly.

a solid 10 point effort
 

---

Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
 

quote:

---

I think I love you Ophelia! You are the first person who *ever* has known its from Cymbeline - and that includes other Imogens. (I usually just settle if people know its Shakesperean)

---

Well, if there are three things I know, they're my Shakespearean comedies, tragedies, and tragicomedies. (I'm pretty shaky on the histories, though.) Although I don't know them nearly as well as I used to.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
imogen, you though I was a guy, too? Hmmm. I must be doing seomthing wrong.
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
See, for some reason, I never for a moment questioned that fiazko was female.
 

---

Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
 
I think it's the fact that your name ends with an "o," fiazko.
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Um, fiazko, so did I. And I think Ophelia's right about why.

[ December 09, 2003, 01:14 AM: Message edited by: rivka ]
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
Now I'm going to have the Bob problem and keep thinking of you as a guy even though I know you're not.
I'll try hard to think of you as a girl to compensate... maybe you'll end up somewhere in the middle

 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Actually, I had a discussion about this with pooka on the other side. Forgive me, I don't know how to make the link go sttraight to the specific post, but it's towards the bottom.

link
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 

quote:

---

Maybe you'll end up somewhere in the middle

---

If you'd like, I can loan you the "Androgynous" SN for a while...
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
I think I'll start identifying fiazko in my head as "fia" -- the final "a" should do the trick.
 

---

Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
I thought my screenname was somewhat on the feminine side, even though I created it after my teacher compared me to the old men in the balcony once. It took one or two hissy fits and a fobonic photo to assert that I am, in fact, a girl . I try not to be a hyprocrite, but I mistake females on the 'rack for guys all the time (hansenj, dkw, and Saudade/sosento come to mind immediately). I almost never confuse guys for girls, so I think luthe has a point with the whole gender assumption thing.
 

---

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 

quote:

---

I think it's the fact that your name ends with an "o," fiazko.

---

Yeah, but fiazka just sounds weird.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
And if this helps clear anything up:

Origin of "fiazko"--

Every day is a fiasco, but when I got my personalized license plates "fiasco" was taken. Hence FIAZKO.

Hope that sorts out the whole Bob thing.
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
So are the gender assumptions we make purely SN related, or is there more to it than that? (I always thought Sarcasticmuppet was female with a cool SN, even before I knew for sure...)
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Scythrop, thanks for the offer, but there's a reason I use fiazko for everything. Also, you said you never had a doubt that I was female. Any reason why? Or simply "for some reason"?
 

---

Posted by Trisha the Severe Hottie (Member # 6000) on :
 
A lot of people thought I was a guy for a while. What Ever.

There are three widely debated features of "female" speech in English that I am aware of. The trouble is, it is really hard to do research since you generally can't record people without their consent, and if they know you are recording them this tends to invalidate the data. But Jon Boy may know more about this than me at this point.

1) Tag questions. This is turning a statement around so it is a query. "You didn't forget to take the garbage out, did you?" The tag is the little clause at the end "Did you".

2) Interruptions. It would be interesting to see if women post a reply before reading the whole thread more than men. Men having a conversation expect to be heard out before the other person begins talking. But women conversing with each other tend to overlay and interact more.

3) "Let's", "we" instead of an imperative. So instead of "Do you homework", a woman might say "Did we do our homework?"
Other features that are debateable: "I think" "might" "tend to" and any other method of cushioning a possible rebuttal.

Fiazko: O is the male marker for Italian at least, and I think Spanish also. Ditto "Taberah", which sounds Arabic to me, and feminine at that. In Arabic, a lot of Male words end in a consonant, with a female variant having an added a. Though "t" is also a female ending, which is funny because at least one fantasy series I read tried to use it for a male ending. The author thought it sounded "harsh" and therefore masculine.

[ December 09, 2003, 01:30 AM: Message edited by: Trisha the Severe Hottie ]
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
Can't really say. Just a general sense of things. I find it interesting, though - I picked Scythrop because I thought it was deliberately obscure enough to be ambiguous, but pretty much everyone (correctly) assumes I'm male. And while there's some like yours and Sarcy's who I knew right off, there's others that I (still) regularly stuff up. (I had the classic "you mean Ralphie's a girl?" conversation with Imogen, after lurking for a solid month.)

And I found it really hard *not* to sound masculine - whatever that means - when posting earlier.
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Dang, I do all three of those -- although I tend not to do #2 online, and am working on not doing it offline.
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
Scythrop, all those "guy" things are things I might do. Try to quantify things and also institute a competition with a point system. <laughs> But then I am a tomboy. I feel a little bit like I'm play acting whenever I do sisterhood things like baby showers and talking about clothes or house decorating or hair care. I do like clothes and houses and hair. I'm girly to that extent. But it seems just a little bit like a game and not something that truly matters like boolean algebra or something <laughs>.

[ December 09, 2003, 01:31 AM: Message edited by: ana kata ]
 

---

Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
 
fiazko, the only reason I thought you were male is b/c when I think fiasco, I think man.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Ok, here's a question for allyou linguists. Is "fiazko" an actual word in any language? Namely, one that would imply masculinity?
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
And here was me thinking that I was just giving off virtual pheromones, or something

Edit: Dang. beaten to the post...

[ December 09, 2003, 01:34 AM: Message edited by: Scythrop ]
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Mrs. M, I think I understand your logic, but how often do guys realize the havoc the wreak and then advertise that knowledge?
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Some guys do, fiazko. They think it's cute or something.
 

---

Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
 
we only brag to those who will appreciate our work, which may be why you have not heard.
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
Well, punch "fiazko" into google, and Here is the top site on the list....

Make of it what you will.

Edit to ask - you're not a nordic DJ are you?

[ December 09, 2003, 01:38 AM: Message edited by: Scythrop ]
 

---

Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
 
Good point. I would have probably assumed the same thing about someone whose screenname was Oblivious.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Hmmm. I'm more confused than ever. I'm tempted to create a decidedly male or female screen name and see how long it takes for people to figure out that I'm a girl. Or that I'm fiazko...
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
No, Scythrop, I'm not a DJ, nor am I Nordic. Funny thing about my "ethnicity" but that's for another thread. Anyway, did you go to the second Google page? Nice link to Hatrack.
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
okay, so here we go.. Luthe, you're a guy? No offense, but I've been labouring under a misaprehension, (based purely on your SN, for some reason.)

Sorry.
 

---

Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
fiazko, I tried to email you a good one but your email is blocked.
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
When I googled, I got two Hatrack links on the bottom of the first page. I think that says something about the rarity of "fiazko" as a word or SN.
 

---

Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
 
10-4

Edit: I think it is the 'e' at the end that confuses people. luthe is a male character from the [u]Hero and the Crown[/u] and [u] The Blue Sword[/u] by Robin McKinley.

[ December 09, 2003, 01:49 AM: Message edited by: luthe ]
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Ah, thanks, Scythrop. fiazko is part of my personality. My friends think I should change my plate to something a little more optimistic, but where's the fun in that?

pooka, I don't know what to tell you. I've got a junk mail filter set up, but since I still get porn, I can't imagine why your message didn't come through.
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
I wouldn't change fiazko as a SN - I've always liked it and have always enjoyed your posts, so it's become a part of your identity (in my mind at least) Hatrack just wouldn't be the same without it.

edit to add - previous post deleted in a fit of Newbie-itis

[ December 09, 2003, 01:51 AM: Message edited by: Scythrop ]
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
Ok, Scythrop, how did I answer you before you posted?
 

---

Posted by Scythrop (Member # 5731) on :
 
I've always been told that women think faster than men
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
pooka, DUH. (I'm an idiot) Now try.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
I don't know if it's that we think faster, so much as we think more, so we just arrive at a conclusion faster.
 

---

Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
It took me a while to figure out Pat was a guy. I remember it coming out that Primal Curve is a guy, even though it always makes me think of "Curves for Women". But then, I can never remember which is PC and which is Ethics Gradient, which I would assume is a guy. Despite EG being the initials of the protagonist of The Bell Jar .

Also, I recently made the error of thinking msquared was a girl. Anybody else? Anyway, Fiazko, you'll always be a Metrasexual in my book
 

---

Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
 
cultural anthropology 101, trisha?
 

---

Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
 
damned double posts!

by the way, i was seriously considering changing my hatrack screenname, but there is something so sad about the thought, i keep hesitating.

[ December 09, 2003, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: porcelain girl ]
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
pooka, it's nice to cause warm spots in other people's hearts. And I got a good laugh about msquared being a girl, but only because I've met him.
 

---

Posted by esl (Member # 3143) on :
 
So do all the people with gender ambiguous handles get to post and have everyone else guess?

Porce, how'd you double post?
 

---

Posted by Spektyr (Member # 5954) on :
 
This is actually one of my favorite topics, and one that only rarely comes up. Let me share what I've discovered.

First off, names that end with vowels or a vowel with a soft consonant are much more likely to be perceived as female. Hard consonants are found most often in male names, though the first consonant is not an indication. (Teresa, Katherine, etc.) A basic rule of thumb, if the name can easily be spoken in a "sing-song" kind of way, it's likely to be perceived as female. Keep in mind that in a non-spoken environment, only the most obvious pronunciation is likely to be used.

As far as writing style goes: Far fewer indications can be taken from forums than from live written conversation. Forums allow editing and ample time to compose thoughts into specific arrangements. Thus a lot more analysis is required as the individual is much less likely to use a conversational tone. The easiest (and most instinctive) way is to judge based on the classic prejudices of the sexes. Men are analytical, women are intuitive. Whichever style best fits the writing will generally influence gender perception. However, many people don't fit the category as neatly as some would like. When you start slicing the population up into sub-groups, such as "People who are fanatical enough about OSC's writing to hang out online with each other", you're talking about people with certain specific qualities. His books are undeniably remarkable, but they simply do not appeal to everyone. I would venture a guess that the people who enjoy his writing a great deal probably exhibit more "male style" of writing than one would find across a more broad sampling of society. (That's just a guess on my part.)

In conversational situations it's far easier to determine gender, as women tend to almost compulsively use endearing remarks. "Hon", "Sweetie", and so on are generally dead give-aways of a female speaker. However, if they are overdone, it's most likely a gender-bender male. The use of these terms isn't just for its own sake though, it's part of a bigger drive. Women tend to simply be "friendlier" in their speech. Where men will use derisive terms towards their friends - in good fun - women do not. Thus they are far more complimentary, "social"... their speech is aimed more at creating "warm feelings".

Men can be complimentary, but there is almost invariably some "butching up" done in the statement. "Dude, you kick ass!" A compliment, but shrouded with the almost invariably male word "dude", and violent imagry. Part of the reason that men like to go drinking (in my opinion) is that it gives them an excuse to speak more openly without fear of embarassment. Imagine a guy telling his best friend "I love you, man" while sober. It doesn't work as well as if he's consumed enough beer to make Anheiser Busch's stock fluctuate.

But I'll agree that determining gender on a forum is significantly more difficult. If not being misinterpreted is important the first and most important step is the choice of name. Picking an almost melodic name that ends in a vowel or particularly soft consonant will make a lot of difference.

A lot of perception is first impression. Like a few people have said, it's difficult to alter the perception of gender even when faced with the facts. The human mind is a lot like pencil and paper, and the eraser is definitely not top-quality. You can erase the "Gender" field in your filing system, but the shadow of the word never quite vanishes no matter how many times you reinforce the marking of the new sex. It's an organic system after all, not magnetic digital storage.
 

---

Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
 
Wait. So, is ak saying that she was a tom boy?
 

---

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
I have wondered if I had used the screen name "Farmer" instead of "Farmgirl", if everyone would have assumed I was a male (since the majority of farmers are). But I didn't think that deeply into the CREATION of my screen name, or else it wouldn't even be what it is...

I always used to think that females were more "wordy" than guys -- until I came to this list. Here, it is definately the guys who make mega-long posts and arguments. Nice to see guys who know how to communicate.

FG
 

---

Posted by Satan (Member # 529) on :
 
Just for the record, I am female.

Was there really ever any doubt?
 

---

Posted by Frisco (Member # 3765) on :
 
Are you single?
 

---

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
porce, nononnonono, you can't change your screen name!

I'm never changing mine. Well, I did for a little while that one time, but only because I wanted to leave Hatrack but couldn't quite. The new screen name worked quite well.
 

---

Posted by Satan (Member # 529) on :
 
Of course not. What kind of hell would it be if I were available?


 

---

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 

quote:

---

There are three widely debated features of "female" speech in English that I am aware of. The trouble is, it is really hard to do research since you generally can't record people without their consent, and if they know you are recording them this tends to invalidate the data. But Jon Boy may know more about this than me at this point.

---

Unfortunately, I don't. I'm studying English language, not linguistics, and even though most of my courses are linguistics-oriented, I haven't studied sociolinguistics or anything like that.
 

---

Posted by Mephistopheles (Member # 3250) on :
 
I on the other hand am male. Oh, and Satan this passive waiting around for souls just to arrive doesn't cut, we need to be out there activly gathering souls.
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 
BtL, what? Have I said that before? (And it's IS, not WAS.)

[ December 09, 2003, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: ana kata ]
 

---

Posted by BobbyK (Member # 5970) on :
 
So, let me get this straight... Ralphie's a *girl*??????
 

---

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
 
Ralphie, a girl? Of course not! We were just pulling your leg to see how gullible you are.
 

---

Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
 
fiazko is a GIRL? Wow, I always thought she was a guy...

Ooh...I've been used as an example of girliness!
*glows with pride*
I always thought I was a tomboy, though.
 

---

Posted by Lissande (Member # 350) on :
 
I just read Spektyr's analysis of gender styles, and am mildly amused at the way not one of his spoken or written communication stereotypes applies to me or anyone else I can think of. Really. Of course, I realize that this is only anecdotal evidence against his theories, so I won't go so far as to say that they're unresearched, pretentious crap, but I would suggest a critical reappraisal.
 

---

Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
 
I don't think anyone here knows me well enough to have formed an opinion, but on Pweb it is almost a rite of passage for new members to assume I'm male and be corrected. This honestly confuses me. But it is also amusing.
 

---

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
You know, it wasn't until Ralphie dedicated a whole thread to how much she wanted to hug me, almost four years ago, that her girlness finally sunk in. *embarrassed laugh*

And yes, Eruve is OBVIOUSLY a girl, but I thought fiazko was male, too.
 

---

Posted by fiazko (Member # 5812) on :
 
I'm not sure how to take all these people thinking I was a guy. I mean, Ralphie? That makes sense. If I were remotely feminist, I would be offended that a name like fiazko would automatically imply masculinity. But I'm not remotely feminist. I struggle enough with feminity. Which I why I have to say Thank you, Hatrack. Thank you for bringing my masculine tendencies to my attention. Thank you for giving me some of the best laughs (at my own expense) that I've had in a while. And looking to the future, I can't wait until this thread drops off the list completely so that anyone who missed this thread or the one on the other side can make the same mistake, and I can laugh about it all over again.

*insert a "blow kisses at admirers" graemlin*
 

---

Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
 

quote:

---

so I won't go so far as to say that they're unresearched, pretentious crap, but I would suggest a critical reappraisal

---

<laughs at Lissa's excellent phrasing>
 

---

Posted by Frisco (Member # 3765) on :
 
Wait, wait, wait....


TomDavidson's a guy?!
 

---

Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
 
i get confused over people's genders ALL the time. I actually leave the hatrack photo album open the whole time im posting and go check if i dont know who it is. Which is why i must insist that all you newbies get on the ball and get photos in there. Im tired of saying 'thanks bro' to hot girls. It makes me feel like an ass


 

---

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
That was almost four years ago??
 

---

Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
 
Was that question directed to me? Cause if it was, you ahve to remember that i AM a complete idiot and need things spelled out more than that.

 

---

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
 

quote:

---

That was almost four years ago??

---

quote:

---

"Hon", "Sweetie", and so on are generally dead give-aways of a female speaker

---

This made me laugh, cos Tony (Scythrop) always calls other women he knows well hon or sweetie (I never do).

I was thinking about the whole 'people tend to assume you're male until shown otherwise' - could this be because it's less "insulting" for a woman to be mistaken as a male because of her posting style (this is, I should stress, distinct from being mistaken as a man because of her looks - something I'm sure many people would take offence at) than it is for the opposite? That is that some of more traditional 'masculine' qualities of assertiveness, rationality etc are considered positives when applied to women, while some of the more 'feminine' qualities are not considered positive when applied to men.

Sorta like it's more socially acceptable for a little girl to play with trucks than it is for a little boy to play with Barbies.

(Note - I'm not saying that assertiveness is necessarily a masculine, or male quality. But in terms of traditional gender constructs, those types of qualities are veiwed as male)

[ December 11, 2003, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: imogen ]
 

---

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Well, on the other forum I spend a lot of time on, over 80% of the posters are female. So I tend to assume that newbies with generic-sounding SNs are female unless otherwise indicated.

Here, the male:female ratio is fairly even, I think. And I'm equally likely to accidentally assume a male is female and vice versa. I try to use genderless pronouns if I don't know.
 

---