Gender Identification Requirement! Why?

[ila]

I am in complete agreement with Marlowe and also wonder why the need for gender identification. On more than one occasion I have publicly identified myself as a male, but I chose to do so. I do not see a need for enforced identification and think that this policy should be rescinded.

[sesame]

In a forum, everyone hides their real identity. We take up non-descriptive names like cat, mat, bat or A, B, C and ply all over the place. It is sometimes uncomfortable to ask someone upfront, Hey, are you a man or a woman or Tg? How many times have you done that?
There are threads asking about your Occupation, Place of Origin or Gender. But its a hard job finding (or remembering if I read it somewhere) those facts for one particular member from hundreds of posts.
Its uncomfortable to chat or commune with someone I know nothing about. Just letting others know my gender doesn't feel like a bust on my privacy. I'm sorry and readily apologise if someone feels otherwise.

Knowing a little about your addressee indeed improves communication.

[ila]

Originally Posted by sesame

In a forum, everyone hides their real identity. We take up non-descriptive names like cat, mat, bat or A, B, C and ply all over the place. It is sometimes uncomfortable to ask someone upfront, Hey, are you a man or a woman or Tg? How many times have you done that?
There are threads asking about your Occupation, Place of Origin or Gender. But its a hard job finding (or remembering if I read it somewhere) those facts for one particular member from hundreds of posts.
Its uncomfortable to chat or commune with someone I know nothing about. Just letting others know my gender doesn't feel like a bust on my privacy. I'm sorry and readily apologise if someone feels otherwise.

Knowing a little about your addressee indeed improves communication.

I still say it is unnecessary to this site and to other users to know what the gender is of any other users.
It is usually possible to determine someone's gender from the posts that a person makes. If you are really unsure of the gender of another and want to know PM said person and ask.
I can't see how knowing anyone's gender makes it any easier to communicate. Just treat all others with the respect that you would like to be treated with and there should be no problem.
In conclusion gender identification is not necessary and is an intrusion on a person's anonymity.

[sesame]

I have always treated everyone with respect. There is no question about that. A man talks and treats a Ggirl or Tg in a certain way, which is quite distinct from the manner he will with his fellow man. The same goes for behavioral patterns of women/transwomen mutually and towards the gender they are attracted to.
All human beings have a different set of behaviors reserved for the opposite sex. How uncomfortable does it feel if you pass a comment on someone assuming the person's gender and it turns out otherwise?

It is usually possible to determine someone's gender from the posts that a person makes.

Well, easier said than done. Let me site a good example for your benefit.
I did'nt know you are a man until yesterday!
Now, do you understand?

Knowing the gender of the member I am talking to really improves the quality of conversation.
It doesn't take away your anonymity.
anonymity = namelessness I still dont know your name!

[marlowe]

Originally Posted by sesame

All human beings have a different set of behaviors reserved for the opposite sex.

Do they? Highly debatable, I'm not sure how you can speak for all human beings. Certainly it can be the case when some people adopt different behavior towards the opposite sex that it's despicable. Also, surely it's not possible in some cases of gender self-identity to define an 'opposite'.

How uncomfortable does it feel if you pass a comment on someone assuming the person's gender and it turns out otherwise?

If that scenario makes you uncomfortable perhaps it's better not to pass the comment.

Let me site a good example for your benefit.
I did'nt know you are a man until yesterday!
Now, do you understand?

No. I understand that in this post and your previous reply you make a good case for why you feel more comfortable knowing the gender of another member, and how that is a help for you in judging what behavior you wish to adopt. However I still see nothing that addresses the question of why it is a requirement. If it is deemed a requirement then that is presumably because it is necessary. I don't understand what, for the functioning of this forum, makes stating ones gender self-identity a necessity?

[Joebad]

I don't have a problem with it. Now you know that I'm a man who lives somewhere on earth (presumably).

[SSL]

Ok guys, this new requirement was not meant to upset or discriminate anyone, i only implemented it to simplify the communication between forum members. Every now and then I am receiving complaints from members (especially from those with misleading monikers or avatars) that they're getting PMs from other people that assume they are of some different gender, and it's getting them annoyed. I believe this is the reason some of the members have totally opted out of receiving PMs at all...

To address this remark of Marlowe:

I think this is bizarre on a forum which has some lively discussion on aspects of gender identification, it's ambiguities, nuances, and fluidity.

Well, Gender is and always will stay editable at members' profiles. So if someone for example feels more like a tgirl than a transvestite on a certain day, it can be changed in a matter of two clicks Consider specifying your gender as the way of telling other people how to address you.

Do you think i should add more selection choises (perhaps, "undisclosed") to the list?