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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 1:10 pm
(July 12, 2015 at 1:37 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: ... treat the women on the forum with particularly less respect than the men...
That sort of thing is unfortunately common. It is unfortunate that there is no simple, easy fix to stop people from being prejudiced. Stupid bigots are stupid, so it is hard to get them to see reason.
To avoid it online for oneself, one can select a gender neutral name (or one associated with males) and never post a picture of oneself and never say that one is female. For men who want to observe the difference, they can join a forum with a feminine name and never say they are male, and see how they are treated over time.
Long ago, my wife communicated on computer message boards, and used a gender neutral name. She noticed very different treatment than what happened in real life, as she was treated just like an adult man on the message boards. She was an underage girl at the time. But she could hold her own in conversations with adult men, and they had no idea who they were communicating with.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 1:12 pm
(July 12, 2015 at 1:10 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: (July 12, 2015 at 1:37 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: ... treat the women on the forum with particularly less respect than the men...
To avoid it online for oneself, one can select a gender neutral name (or one associated with males) and never post a picture of oneself and never say that one is female.
But how will we know who to hit on?
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 1:15 pm
(July 12, 2015 at 1:12 pm)whateverist Wrote: (July 12, 2015 at 1:10 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: To avoid it online for oneself, one can select a gender neutral name (or one associated with males) and never post a picture of oneself and never say that one is female.
But how will we know who to hit on? Hit on everyone.
It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley, but to believe or not believe in God is not important at all. - Denis Diderot
We are the United States of Amnesia, we learn nothing because we remember nothing. - Gore Vidal
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 1:16 pm
(This post was last modified: July 12, 2015 at 1:16 pm by robvalue.)
I tried it out once on an online role playing game I used to play. I made a female character in a PvP world, and instead of attacking me, male character just hung around me trying to chat me up.
I'd wait until the right moment then flip out and attack them, haha!
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 1:22 pm
(This post was last modified: July 12, 2015 at 1:23 pm by Catholic_Lady.)
(July 12, 2015 at 1:10 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: (July 12, 2015 at 1:37 am)Catholic_Lady Wrote: ... treat the women on the forum with particularly less respect than the men...
That sort of thing is unfortunately common. It is unfortunate that there is no simple, easy fix to stop people from being prejudiced. Stupid bigots are stupid, so it is hard to get them to see reason.
To avoid it online for oneself, one can select a gender neutral name (or one associated with males) and never post a picture of oneself and never say that one is female. For men who want to observe the difference, they can join a forum with a feminine name and never say they are male, and see how they are treated over time.
Long ago, my wife communicated on computer message boards, and used a gender neutral name. She noticed very different treatment than what happened in real life, as she was treated just like an adult man on the message boards. She was an underage girl at the time. But she could hold her own in conversations with adult men, and they had no idea who they were communicating with.
Thanks for the advice and the sympathies. It is sad that a woman would need to do that.
It is important to me, though, to be upfront and honest about who I am (at least to a certain extent, obviously I'm not gonna give my name lol). Whatever consequences in treatment people give me as a result... well, so be it.
Thank you for treating me with respect. :
Rob, whatevs, pizza... lol at all of you!
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 1:29 pm
In some ways it is the same as being a woman on a submarine, you just have to deal with it. Cannot change things overnight.
You make people miserable and there's nothing they can do about it, just like god.
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 2:27 pm
(July 12, 2015 at 1:22 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: (July 12, 2015 at 1:10 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: That sort of thing is unfortunately common. It is unfortunate that there is no simple, easy fix to stop people from being prejudiced. Stupid bigots are stupid, so it is hard to get them to see reason.
To avoid it online for oneself, one can select a gender neutral name (or one associated with males) and never post a picture of oneself and never say that one is female. For men who want to observe the difference, they can join a forum with a feminine name and never say they are male, and see how they are treated over time.
Long ago, my wife communicated on computer message boards, and used a gender neutral name. She noticed very different treatment than what happened in real life, as she was treated just like an adult man on the message boards. She was an underage girl at the time. But she could hold her own in conversations with adult men, and they had no idea who they were communicating with.
Thanks for the advice and the sympathies. It is sad that a woman would need to do that.
It is important to me, though, to be upfront and honest about who I am (at least to a certain extent, obviously I'm not gonna give my name lol). Whatever consequences in treatment people give me as a result... well, so be it.
Thank you for treating me with respect. :
...
I am not exactly suggesting that you do use a gender neutral name. I am merely presenting it as an option for you to consider. If you tire of dealing with sexist jerks, it is an option available to you for online communication. Unfortunately, most sites (including this one) forbid multiple accounts, so you would have to start out that way on a site if you are going to follow the rules.
Also, you do not have to lie to do this. You just don't reveal that information to people. You may regard it as personal information that is no one's business, just like your real name, social security number, etc. Not telling us your social security number does not require any lies, and not telling us your sex does not require any lies. That was the way my wife did it, as people just assumed she was a man.
And if I am ever disrespectful to you, it will not be because you are a woman.
(Besides, I do not know that you are a woman. You might be a guy just messing with us.  )
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 3:01 pm
(July 12, 2015 at 2:27 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: (July 12, 2015 at 1:22 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Thanks for the advice and the sympathies. It is sad that a woman would need to do that.
It is important to me, though, to be upfront and honest about who I am (at least to a certain extent, obviously I'm not gonna give my name lol). Whatever consequences in treatment people give me as a result... well, so be it.
Thank you for treating me with respect. :
...
I am not exactly suggesting that you do use a gender neutral name. I am merely presenting it as an option for you to consider. If you tire of dealing with sexist jerks, it is an option available to you for online communication. Unfortunately, most sites (including this one) forbid multiple accounts, so you would have to start out that way on a site if you are going to follow the rules.
Also, you do not have to lie to do this. You just don't reveal that information to people. You may regard it as personal information that is no one's business, just like your real name, social security number, etc. Not telling us your social security number does not require any lies, and not telling us your sex does not require any lies. That was the way my wife did it, as people just assumed she was a man.
And if I am ever disrespectful to you, it will not be because you are a woman.
(Besides, I do not know that you are a woman. You might be a guy just messing with us. )
Yes, very true. It's definitely a viable option, and one I would suggest someone take if they cared more about being treated objectively on the internet. If I get to that point (which I doubt I will, but anything is possible), I will definitely consider doing this in the future. Thanks again!
LOL! The numerous people here who have become my friend on facebook can attest to the fact that I am 100% who I say I am!
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Yeah... it's a little late for me to change my identity after almost three years here and being staff. I do notice I'm treated differently than other staff members at times; it might just be correlation, but maybe not.
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
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RE: Theists on atheist forums
July 12, 2015 at 3:13 pm
I generally treat all as a neutral gender entity and the non-PC male chauvinistic pig in me most always refers to him, he, them, they, mankind, chairman, whatever. Too old to change or give a shit.
You make people miserable and there's nothing they can do about it, just like god.
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
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