Gender Identification Requirement! Why?

[ila]

Originally Posted by Shemale Sex Lover

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...

Apparently putting my gender, which appears next to my avatar, is no barrier to receiving PMs from other men assuming that I am not male. I still receive PMs from men telling me how beautiful I am (I can only wish to look so good). It doesn't bother me if someone sends a PM to me assuming that I am not male. Sometimes the PMs are even rather humourous. My point is that even though I have identified myself as a male both in my profile and in several posts some people don't bother to read that one little line beside my avatar, therefore why the identity requirement. (This is not a complaint SSL. I don't mind receiving PMs of any kind).

So here is a hint for new users. My avatar is Amy. I am not Amy. :-)

[hankhavelock]

Originally Posted by ila

Apparently putting my gender, which appears next to my avatar, is no barrier to receiving PMs from other men assuming that I am not male. I still receive PMs from men telling me how beautiful I am (I can only wish to look so good). It doesn't bother me if someone sends a PM to me assuming that I am not male. Sometimes the PMs are even rather humourous. My point is that even though I have identified myself as a male both in my profile and in several posts some people don't bother to read that one little line beside my avatar, therefore why the identity requirement. (This is not a complaint SSL. I don't mind receiving PMs of any kind).

So here is a hint for new users. My avatar is Amy. I am not Amy.

May I politely ask why u don't put a pic of urself then? Isn't that better branding, so to speak? :-) Or is it just me who so totallymisunderstood it all?

[ila]

Originally Posted by hankhavelock

May I politely ask why u don't put a pic of urself then? Isn't that better branding, so to speak? :-) Or is it just me who so totallymisunderstood it all?

I don't have any digital pictures of myself. I don't have a digital cameral either. And as I said before I don't mind identifying myself as a male. I have on several occasions. I'm also not complaining about people that send my PMs or those that think I am not male.

[hankhavelock]

Originally Posted by ila

I don't have any digital pictures of myself. I don't have a digital cameral either. And as I said before I don't mind identifying myself as a male. I have on several occasions. I'm also not complaining about people that send my PMs or those that think I am not male.

:-) It's all fine - I just asked :-)

[GRH]

I will never use a blatantly gender-fied avatar, nor will I ever use a screen name that leads to associations one way or the other. This is no criticism of anyone, it's just how I've conducted myself over the years on the internet. I'm not even a huge fan of avatars to begin with, as should be evidenced my lack of one. That DOES make me less memorable, and I'm ok with that. I'd rather be remembered for my content and substance than a picture by my name. But as has been pointed out, does the presence or lack thereof of a gender ID necessarily clarify things? Avatars, screen names, etc. play such a huge role in how we perceive each other...I again urge that the GID should be optional, as is the choice to use an avatar. We can relate to each other however we so choose, be it by full disclosure of GID, a picture of ourself in the avatar, hell, those that want can even include their address and phone number in a profile. Still, we should have a choice without being forced to lie or categorize ourselves...

[sesame]

We like to hide our faces and crotches!
... from the judging eyes of society (which is so full of shit)

[sesame]

In this world, especially over the fictitious Internet, everyone is for themselves and everything is so very temporary! Love, friendship, enmity, fame, notoriety... everything is false and worth two days. So revealing everything about yourself for one glimpse of a mask (not the real thing even) is infinitely foolish.

What do you say?