Why do people mistake me for a man online?

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The discussion centers around the frequent misidentification of gender in online forums, particularly in physics-related communities. Participants share experiences of being assumed to be male due to gender-neutral usernames or cultural biases that favor male identities in technical fields. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by women in physics, with some members noting that women often use feminine usernames or avatars to avoid unwanted attention, while others express that they prefer being perceived as male for the respect it can bring. The thread also touches on the broader implications of gender identity in online interactions, including the use of language and the cultural norms that shape assumptions about gender. Overall, the dialogue reflects a mix of humor and frustration regarding gender perceptions in digital spaces.

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.
 
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  • #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.
 
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  • #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:
 
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  • #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.
 

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