Why do people mistake me for a man online?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GreatEscapist
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the phenomenon of online gender misidentification, particularly how individuals with gender-neutral usernames, like "GreatEscapista," are often assumed to be male. Participants highlight cultural biases that lead to these assumptions, noting that many users default to male pronouns when gender is unknown. Suggestions for mitigating this issue include changing usernames or avatars to more explicitly feminine representations. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of gender identity in online spaces, especially in male-dominated fields like physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of online identity and anonymity
  • Familiarity with gender-neutral language and its implications
  • Knowledge of cultural biases in digital communication
  • Awareness of gender representation in online communities
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of usernames on online identity perception
  • Explore gender-neutral language usage in digital communication
  • Study the representation of women in STEM fields, particularly in online forums
  • Investigate strategies for creating inclusive online environments
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for online community managers, gender studies researchers, and individuals interested in understanding identity dynamics in digital spaces, particularly in male-dominated fields like physics and engineering.

Did you think I was a man?

  • Yes

    Votes: 13 65.0%

  • No

    Votes: 7 35.0%
  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .
  • #61
I used to play an online game called Monarchy and a similar game called Utopia. My kingdom kept getting attacked, so I decided to make a female kingdom, because I thought people wouldn't attack me if I was a girl. After I made that kingdom, I think I got attacked more.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #62
Still waiting for proof also lisab and any other female poster here should give some too. Any pic of you around the age of 18 will do :)
 
  • #63
Keep waiting.
 
  • #64
Redbelly98 said:
And for some reason, having the avatar of a male woodpecker isn't enough of a clue to some people. :confused: C'mon people, female red-bellied woodpeckers are only red on the back half of their heads. Sheeeesh.

So now he just gets hit on by non-nerds.
 
  • #65
Ok so I had a thought... What do you think is the name/pic you need to use to get women to e-spam you?

My guess is a picture of money and a name with Pimpdaddy in it.
 
  • #66
magpies said:
Still waiting for proof also lisab and any other female poster here should give some too. Any pic of you around the age of 18 will do :)

My daughter just turned 18 a few days ago :-p.
 
  • #67
There are no girls on the internett.
 
  • #68
Asking for 18 yrs old sounds like so pedophile ..
 
  • #69
Does it? Does it really? *looks around* What?
 
  • #70
magpies said:
Women are too smart to do math imo.

Bingo. You must be very, very wise. :-p
lisab said:
Wait a second...the title of this thread is, "Do you think I am a man?" but the poll question is "Did you think I was a man?"

What about those who didn't but now do? Or will in the future?

Oh, oh well. They don't matter. :-p This was a poll for this week. I'm sure I will continue to be a man on the Net until I'm dead.
 
  • #71
magpies said:
Does it? Does it really? *looks around* What?

We're all here to help.
Kind of. In a far-away sort of sense.
 
  • #72
magpies said:
Still waiting for proof also lisab and any other female poster here should give some too. Any pic of you around the age of 18 will do :)

Are there words missing from some of those sentences or what?
 
  • #73
GeorginaS said:
Are there words missing from some of those sentences or what?

The pitiable result of typing with one hand. :)
 
  • #74
Please?
 
  • #75
Geigerclick said:
The pitiable result of typing with one hand. :)

:bugeye:

magpies said:
Please?

:rolleyes:

Well, this topic went downhill fast. :-p
 
  • #76
magpies said:
Still waiting for proof also lisab and any other female poster here should give some too. Any pic of you around the age of 18 will do :)

Browsing around in these threads could have helped too.
 
  • #77
Nice find bro.

Ya ok so nobodys insanely ugly here or at least from people willing to post pics... Annnnd evo's daughter is cute who could have guessed?

Buuuuut still man until proven not.
 
Last edited:
  • #78
magpies said:
Nice find bro.

Ya ok so nobodys insanely ugly here or at least from people willing to post pics... Annnnd evo's daughter is cute who could have guessed?

Buuuuut still man until proven not.

You're young aren't you? Lisab is pretty darned good looking in my estimation, as is Evo from what I've seen on that thread.
 
  • #79
magpies said:
Nice find bro.

Ya ok so nobodys insanely ugly here or at least from people willing to post pics... Annnnd evo's daughter is cute who could have guessed?

Buuuuut still man until proven not.

I still can't tell if you're being totally serious.

You know you're desperate when you want pictures from a physics site. :-p
 
  • #80
This is a question for Lisa and/or Evo, has there ever been a long standing PF member who for one reason or other by their style of writing, etc... had most PF members convinced that they were a man/woman when in fact they were the exact opposite ? This is an indirect synesthetic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgyny" poll. lol.

Rhody... :wink:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #81
leroyjenkens said:
I used to play an online game called Monarchy and a similar game called Utopia. My kingdom kept getting attacked, so I decided to make a female kingdom, because I thought people wouldn't attack me if I was a girl. After I made that kingdom, I think I got attacked more.

What an interesting experiment!
 
  • #82
leroyjenkens said:
I used to play an online game called Monarchy and a similar game called Utopia. My kingdom kept getting attacked, so I decided to make a female kingdom, because I thought people wouldn't attack me if I was a girl. After I made that kingdom, I think I got attacked more.

:smile:
 
  • #83
rhody said:
This is a question for Lisa and/or Evo, has there ever been a long standing PF member who for one reason or other by their style of writing, etc... had most PF members convinced that they were a man/woman when in fact they were the exact opposite ? This is an indirect synesthetic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgyny" poll. lol.

Rhody... :wink:

Not offhand that I can remember.

Regarding gender-style writing: I used to think shorthand texting (e.g., u ppl r gr8) "sounded" feminine to me. Not sure why...it just doesn't sound, hmm, manly I guess.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #84
lisab said:
Not offhand that I can remember.

Regarding gender-style writing: I used to think shorthand texting (e.g., u ppl r gr8) "sounded" feminine to me. Not sure why...it just doesn't sound, hmm, manly I guess.

Lisa,

Funny you mention that, my daughter is most guilty, shorthand is always her first choice when it comes to non-formal communication, must be a text message habit she picked up, since using cell phones. I have learned a whole new language begrudgingly because of her (ttyl, syl, ty, gmtfoh, lol). I have seen her use: "u ppl" before too.

Rhody...
 
  • #85
lisab said:
Regarding gender-style writing: I used to think shorthand texting (e.g., u ppl r gr8) "sounded" feminine to me. Not sure why...it just doesn't sound, hmm, manly I guess.

It does to me too. It kind of makes me feel uncomfortable when I text a known guy and he does that...
 
  • #86
rhody said:
Lisa,

Funny you mention that, my daughter is most guilty, shorthand is always her first choice when it comes to non-formal communication, must be a text message habit she picked up, since using cell phones. I have learned a whole new language begrudgingly because of her (ttyl, syl, ty, gmtfoh, lol). I have seen her use: "u ppl" before too.

Rhody...

I seen this used way before texting became a fashion, way before IM programs became so widespread in use that everybody uses them. I think (but I can be easily mistaken) that its origin can be traced back to BBS systems and the first online communities.
 
  • #87
Doesn't really sound feminine to me, it just sounds like the person isn't very smart. Now people who use "OMG" sound like they're a 14 year old girl.
Of course, men shouldn't be texting in the first place.
I think a lot of people got used to typing like that when they were 14 years old and just couldn't, or didn't try, to break the habit. Now they still sound like they're 14.
 

Similar threads

Why do we crave attention, even in the most uncomfortable situations?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Do Online Reviews Really Tell the Whole Story?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
Why do so many people hate science?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
12K
Why do we care if we offend people?
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
14K
Do You Have a Favorite Alien Species in Fiction?
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
5K
I want to help Physics education. What should I do?
  • · Replies 76 ·
3
Replies
76
Views
6K
Uniform Motion in 2D - A man chasing a bus
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
1K
Do Communication Styles on Forums Reveal Gender?
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
5K
Is Doing More Always Better for Society?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Why I don't like a well-meant response and what is wrong with it.
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K