Gender Identification Requirement! Why?

[TheSkronkDonkey]

I did, and still do, regard the mandatory requirement of specifying gender as an infringement on privacy / liberty. For a while, I decided not to specify my gender, especially after I'd already been a member, and suddenly had this requirement thrust upon me, which meant I couldn't view the board and was clearly barred from any way of contributing. This seemed outrageous to me. In the end, I relented and put my gender up, as it's no big personal deal to me, but on principle, I almost never relented and came back. I do think this policy should be rescinded -- or at least revised. The idea of having an "undisclosed" option is an excellent idea.