Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Website and Forum > UsingEnglish.com Content > Comments & Suggestions
Register FAQDonate Members List Mark Forums Read Tags

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-Oct-2007, 23:00
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Posts: 3,113
Thanks: 13
Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default gender symbols

Hi moderators, and Richard...

Something just passed my mind today, I remember the time I was answering Veronīs post, maybe, a couple of months ago or so... And I was trying to use a pronoun for her, but I couldnīt, for I donīt know her gender that time, whether sheīs a she or a he. I then end up rephrasing my sentence to avoid using that pronoun.

Could we have, if possible, have gender symbols: that circle with a cross for women and circle with an arrow for men, say beside the names in posts....

I also have read one post directed to Soup saying (s)he, having the same problem as I did, a time ago... and still having the same problems till now....

thanks!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 07-Oct-2007, 23:49
Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Country: UK
Location: UK
First Language: English
Posts: 11,128
Thanks: 1
Thanked 1,073 Times in 1,038 Posts
Anglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud ofAnglika has much to be proud of
Default Re: gender symbols

I think it is very possible that some people do not want this kind of information about themselves to be shown. They like anonymity.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2007, 00:19
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Posts: 3,113
Thanks: 13
Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: gender symbols

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anglika View Post
I think it is very possible that some people do not want this kind of information about themselves to be shown. They like anonymity.
It would be for those who doesnīt mind showing their gender then. How about putting it as an option.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2007, 06:59
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Posts: 24,929
Thanks: 1
Thanked 150 Times in 147 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: gender symbols

I honestly don't know if we could do that- let's see what the Webmaster says. However, if it were done, it would have to be optional, so I am not sure that many would choose it- there is something about the anonymity as Anglika says.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 08-Oct-2007, 20:50
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Posts: 3,113
Thanks: 13
Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: gender symbols

In my case, I donīt mind people knowing my gender. In fact, I have had a problem before with other members who mistook me as a female, and then a homo, and finally got all things end well....
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 11-Oct-2007, 05:12
LwyrFirat's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Country: Turkey
Location: Ankara
First Language: Turkish
Posts: 273
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
LwyrFirat is on a distinguished road
Default Re: gender symbols

I think if it's happen, some people may abuse it. They may use this information to "hit on" ladies.Then these great forums would turn into a "partner finder". I am %100 sure dear blouen you have no bad intention at all, but I disagree with this idea. I belive, it's better to hide the gender
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 11-Oct-2007, 05:47
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Posts: 3,113
Thanks: 13
Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: gender symbols

My concern is just for us giving the right title of he/she/sir/maīam to other members, for even I, staying quite a time in the forum arenīt sure whether some moderators here or regular members are male/female.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 11-Oct-2007, 06:14
LwyrFirat's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Country: Turkey
Location: Ankara
First Language: Turkish
Posts: 273
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
LwyrFirat is on a distinguished road
Default Re: gender symbols

Hmm I can see your point, but as i said above there are disadvantages of it. My solution is that I don't care anybody's gender, I just think them as "users" and I use [s/he] as a pronoun
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 11-Oct-2007, 21:15
blouen's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Country: Philippines
Location: Manila
First Language: Filipino
Posts: 3,113
Thanks: 13
Thanked 19 Times in 19 Posts
blouen is on a distinguished road
Default Re: gender symbols

I think it pays to be polite, you see. And not to commit some lame fiascoes.
Anyway, it depends upon the webmaster, I guess, if he would love this....
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Explaining Symbols Malintzin Teaching English 1 10-Sep-2007 14:33
phonetic symbols needed eperson Ask a Teacher 4 30-Aug-2007 14:39
symbols Veron1 Ask a Teacher 16 11-Aug-2007 19:47
Skype-Entering phonemic symbols HotWombat Teaching English 2 11-Aug-2006 05:12
problem with phonetic symbols rogusx Pronunciation and Phonetics 4 31-Jan-2006 02:45


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:54.



vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0
Copyright Đ 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com