Profiles - Gender

Brick wrote:

ren wrote: Please I beg you don't encourage them, by the end of the week we'll have a "tick if being called a jew offends you" box.

Oh Ren :laugh:

I see you're point, but you don't help yourself haha

Well let me be of help then and beg the council yet again to get rid of the gender and sex boxes or whatever you call them ...

Gender information could prevent miscommunication, but how much of an issue would miscommunication actually be? If someone makes a mistake, assuming it bothers one at all, they can be corrected. Is the average individual going to even view a personal profile in the first instance? Personally I never view people's profiles nor often use Forcebook. Indeed one may not even be able to view a person's profile (I can't view yours Avalon) - I think this can only be done if each are in the respective contact lists.

Akkarin wrote:

Avalonslight wrote: Akkarin, the other option which has been suggested (in the other thread I think) was the addition of the opposing category so that both are available and the user can utilize which they want. Given that profiles are quick snippets of information meant to be accessed easily so that people have a basic understanding of one another in communication, I would still say that if changing the form type of the current option is of too much difficulty, adding a second option entirely would be best because we have historical proof it can be done.

If we're adding boxes under "Basic Information", why not add race/ethnicity/sexuality?

There's space available for people to add whatever they wish, indeed those particular things they are inclined to add are themselves informative of what one considers important "Basic Information". As for what is not mentioned, there is something to be said about being blind to another's qualities - it highlights how unnecessary they are in interpersonal communications.

I don't call people by their race/ethnicity/sexuality. It has nothing to do with what words I use when I talk to or about them. What we do have are male/female pronouns instead of gender neutral ones. I've been taught it's poor English to call an individual "they" (as it's plural), and the male pronoun is the default but as a gamer, being assumed that I'm male kind of rubs my fur the wrong way sometimes. So I try to avoid that if I can for others That's seriously all I use the gender option for. If the information is available in a profile, I like not assuming. Sometimes it's not there for our new members anyways but it's nice if it is.

Could an option be to change the gender section to simply "Preferred Pronoun"?

I personally dont have a preference as far as either "box" goes, whatever the Council decides on this issue i'll probably support, so long as it is the decision of the Council and not one Individual...

Akkarin wrote:

Warning: Spoiler!

Avalonslight wrote:

Akkarin wrote: If we're adding boxes under "Basic Information", why not add race/ethnicity/sexuality?

There's space available for people to add whatever they wish, indeed those particular things they are inclined to add are themselves informative of what one considers important "Basic Information". As for what is not mentioned, there is something to be said about being blind to another's qualities - it highlights how unnecessary they are in interpersonal communications.

Response:

I understand gender is a big issue for some members here. I mean no disrespect by the comparison I'm about to make:

What if "race" is a big deal for me? Let's say my race has played a pivotal role in my identity. Should I get to demand this site to put it up there as an option to select on the profile?

I mean, there is an "about me" free-for-all textbox to write in any information is "must know" for others...

Your race doesn't dictate how people address you (he, she, etc) in normal conversation. Your gender does. This information being readily available on your profile can help prevent early miscommunication with other members.

Also, I stated elsewhere but will repeated again, the average individual isn't going to spend time reading a paragraph when they can see "sex: [x]" just to see if they mention a different gender identification in that section. It stating gender alleviates the possibility of any confusion that sex cannot alleviate due to them being two different constructs.

Gender information could prevent miscommunication, but how much of an issue would miscommunication actually be? If someone makes a mistake, assuming it bothers one at all, they can be corrected. Is the average individual going to even view a personal profile in the first instance? Personally I never view people's profiles nor often use Forcebook. Indeed one may not even be able to view a person's profile (I can't view yours Avalon) - I think this can only be done if each are in the respective contact lists.

No, you can't. I have mine set to "contacts only", but no one in my contact list. I, however, can see yours (yours says gender: male), so the ability to see a person's profile is not solely dependent on contact status.

And some people don't actively view profiles. I do. I can't even remember which thread I've said it in or how far back now, but I do so that when I'm talking to someone new or who I don't know, I know how to be respectful of them. I actively try to avoid causing offense, intentional and unintentional, as much as possible over things like that because those offenses can be prevented so easily.

Unfortunately I have known too many people to be directly impacted by the disregarding of gender in lieu of biological sex. Even if I am a cisgender female, I find the issue as a whole to be very important and worth investing as much effort into as possible. Everyone else's mileage will likely vary.

Kit wrote: I don't call people by their race/ethnicity/sexuality. It has nothing to do with what words I use when I talk to or about them. What we do have are male/female pronouns instead of gender neutral ones. I've been taught it's poor English to call an individual "they" (as it's plural), and the male pronoun is the default but as a gamer, being assumed that I'm male kind of rubs my fur the wrong way sometimes. So I try to avoid that if I can for others That's seriously all I use the gender option for. If the information is available in a profile, I like not assuming. Sometimes it's not there for our new members anyways but it's nice if it is.

Could an option be to change the gender section to simply "Preferred Pronoun"?

Be sure not to miss my post just above yours. You may have been taught not to use the singular "they", but that doesn't mean you can't (I promise not to call the grammar gestapo). There are gender neutral pronouns beyond "they" and "you".