Age & gender in profile info?

[Space_Man]

And so you feel we would do a disservice to those two groups if we lumped “transgendered” and “other” together (“transgendered/other”)? In other words, you think there would be value in separating the two choices?

[swirlish]

Personally, I think an "Other" option would be sufficient. The suggestion of having the four options (male, female, transgendered and other) came from my friend. I'm not comfortable with having only the option "transgender" with female and male, for reasons I stated earlier (not everyone conforms to that), but an "other" would do, in my opinion. We can't list *every* possibility.

I would be interested in hearing other's views on this too. It's interesting. to say the least.

[J_R]

An other option, I think, would be sufficient. Most transgendered people would identify as, well, the gender that they identify as. Or so I assume. And there are simply too many other possibilities to reasonably consider listing them all. Or maybe just leave a space for the person to write in their gender identification?

Of course, this would all be optional. But then, I think that most of the people who are outside of the usual gender/age-range (female/teens-early twenties) here would fill that out.

And in your example about the homosexual couple, I'm a bit shocked and confused that there would be a difference in advice if the couple were straight or gay.

You really don't see a difference between "My parents don't like me dating" and "My parents don't like me dating my own gender?"

[Space_Man]

An other option, I think, would be sufficient. Or maybe just leave a space for the person to write in their gender identification?

And you know what I just realized? Looking at how the current profile information is set-up—with just a blank space for folks to put what they want—I can only assume that if this gender & age information were to be added as well, they too would probably be just open blanks. Then, of course, members could describe their gender in whatever kind of detail that they wanted to.

[Something Else]

As a transgendered person, my preference would be to fill in the blank as I pleased, rather than selecting an option. My second choice would be to have transgender and other as separate options, or with a slash, rather than just male, female, and other. I'm not an other. I'm transgendered. And while I could just put male, there's a difference that is sometimes relavant to the conversation (for example, I mention PMS and my lookup says male, people might get confused). For the record, I'm also okay with genderqueer, but I feel transgendered is the more inclusive term.

(Also, not everyone who identifies as transgender is transsexual--that is, having a gender identity opposite that of physical birth sex. I have a friend who identifies as transgendered, but is androgynous, and has no wish to medically or legally alter their body. Many cross-dressers identify as transgendered, but also have no wish to permanently change sexes.)

Ray

[Proximity]

As a transgendered person, my preference would be to fill in the blank as I pleased, rather than selecting an option.

This is also my feeling .. if there was a place to write in a word, that would be preferable to a pull-down menu with limited choices.
Then I could list my gender as "tomboy" or "irrelevent" or "a chick type person" or something like that, which would all be more in keeping with my personality, and with the general spirit of BUS, I think, because just looking at what people put in their "location" boxes, I'm glad they're not limited to a pull down menu of countries or something.
similarly with age, I think it would be fun if people could write "older than dirt" or "still a kid" or "I forgot" ... in this way the option to answer is provided, but also in a fashion where if you like you can not *really* answer, but still not leave it blank.

however .. I don't think it's needed at all .. there are a million places where you could put your sex, gender or age .. in your profile, in your sig, in the location thing, in the post itself ..

AND it never hurts anyone to ask, though you might not get an answer, it's OK to say, "I'm sorry, could you tell me if you're over 18?" or .. as I frequently do, write a post that addresses a couple possibilities..
like .. well I would try to tell the parents about your relationship, unless you're gay and you think there is no way they could accept that, in which case, it might be better to wait until your boyfriend has moved out before telling his parents." or "yes, that's confidential, unless you're under 18." or whatever.

it's good to try not to assume ..
but then agian .. I've been known to realize that I thought I knew somemthing, and I didn't. There are several BUSsers whose gender I've been mistaken about when I thoght I knew it. Stripes, for example, confused me to no end

Anyhow .. yeah. If you want your gender and age out there, you've got plenty of places to put it .. so no need for something special. Though I think that if we did have something specail for it, it should be a free fill-in-the-blank option.

prox.
[thrillered]

[bonita_05]

i'd have to agree with you. it would be very very nice to know somoenes age and a little about them before talking to them, but in anoyther way the anonymity of it all is kindof nice


Ellen

[Something Else]

however .. I don't think it's needed at all .. there are a million places where you could put your sex, gender or age .. in your profile, in your sig, in the location thing, in the post itself ..

I dunno. I'd really like a place in the profile for gender (and possibly age). Because it isn't really addressed in any of the current profile questions, unless you count it as a location (Where you from? 15-year-old Chickville, dude!) an interest (What are you interested in? Well, being a middle-aged guy, going online, reading, gardening) or an occupation (So, what do you do for a living? I menstruate, as I have for the past decade!). And, to me at lease, it seems obtrusive to add it as a sig ("And, oh yeah, I'm a dude, and I'm 17"?).

It's as legitamate a question as location or occupation. I really think it deserves its own place. Or at least put a general "About me" space or something in the profile, where we could add whatever info about ourselves as we chose to. No matter what format it is, no one would have to say anything they were uncomfortable with others knowing, the same as it is now with location and such.

Ray

[Proximity]

however .. I don't think it's needed at all .. there are a million places where you could put your sex, gender or age .. in your profile, in your sig, in the location thing, in the post itself ..

I dunno. I'd really like a place in the profile for gender (and possibly age). Because it isn't really addressed in any of the current profile questions, unless you count it as a location (Where you from? 15-year-old Chickville, dude!) an interest (What are you interested in? Well, being a middle-aged guy, going online, reading, gardening) or an occupation (So, what do you do for a living? I menstruate, as I have for the past decade!). And, to me at lease, it seems obtrusive to add it as a sig ("And, oh yeah, I'm a dude, and I'm 17"?).

It's as legitamate a question as location or occupation. I really think it deserves its own place. Or at least put a general "About me" space or something in the profile, where we could add whatever info about ourselves as we chose to. No matter what format it is, no one would have to say anything they were uncomfortable with others knowing, the same as it is now with location and such.

Ray

Ray, I dig your sig right now.
And I think you're right.
I'm going to ask about how hard this would be to implement as soon as this weird BUS being hacked thing is resolved.

prox.
[no.]

[Space_Man]

however .. I don't think it's needed at all .. there are a million places where you could put your sex, gender or age .. in your profile, in your sig, in the location thing, in the post itself ..

Well, I will respectfully disagree with your opinion that it isn’t needed. It is information that I have had several occasions to seek (most recently—especially the gender information—within this Pornography-related thread in Debate: viewtopic.php?t=64663).

Will every member of this board have a celebration party when “age” & “gender” information appears in the profile section? No, certainly not; because—like you, apparently—not everyone will see a need to know the information about other members. Likewise, not every member will opt to fill-out/provide the information in the first place, and that’s fine too (as I’ve always maintained: providing age & gender information would NOT be mandatory). But there are certainly a hand-full of us that would appreciate it.

...it isn't really addressed in any of the current profile questions, unless you count it as a location (Where you from? 15-year-old Chickville, dude!) an interest (What are you interested in? Well, being a middle-aged guy, going online, reading, gardening) or an occupation (So, what do you do for a living? I menstruate, as I have for the past decade!). And, to me at lease, it seems obtrusive to add it as a sig ("And, oh yeah, I'm a dude, and I'm 17"?). It's as legitimate a question as location or occupation. I really think it deserves its own place.

Well said—thank you.

[Proximity]

however .. I don't think it's needed at all .. there are a million places where you could put your sex, gender or age .. in your profile, in your sig, in the location thing, in the post itself ..

I dunno. I'd really like a place in the profile for gender (and possibly age). Because it isn't really addressed in any of the current profile questions, unless you count it as a location (Where you from? 15-year-old Chickville, dude!) an interest (What are you interested in? Well, being a middle-aged guy, going online, reading, gardening) or an occupation (So, what do you do for a living? I menstruate, as I have for the past decade!). And, to me at lease, it seems obtrusive to add it as a sig ("And, oh yeah, I'm a dude, and I'm 17"?).

It's as legitamate a question as location or occupation. I really think it deserves its own place. Or at least put a general "About me" space or something in the profile, where we could add whatever info about ourselves as we chose to. No matter what format it is, no one would have to say anything they were uncomfortable with others knowing, the same as it is now with location and such.

Ray

Ray, I dig your sig right now.
And I think you're right.
I'm going to ask about how hard this would be to implement as soon as this weird BUS being hacked thing is resolved.

prox.
[no.]

spaceman. this is the post of mine right above yours.
did you read it? because I said that I agreed with Ray. And that I was going to ask for a change.
no friendly fire, please!!


prox.
[no.]

[Space_Man]

Prox: Sorry—just making sure that you are completely & thoroughly convinced!!

[Space_Man]

Um... (anyone): Any up-dates on this? I'm just curious...

[Proximity]

it is being discussed.
in light of the hacker stuff recently, board software needs to be able to be updated more quickly, so complicated mods are a limitation to that.
So .. it's being discussed.

prox.
[pet sounds]

[bojangles]

i have only just seen this thread for the first time, so excuse my tardiness in entering the conversation

I dont have a problem with the suggestions being made, but I do have one teensy little thing I want to bring up - if you are going to have an option for age - perhaps we could restrict people underage to only be writing under 18 or under 16 or whatever we choose is acceptable. I only say this because we have a lot of younger members at bus and I worry about predators, etc - maybe I'm being a bit over the top, I know generally we are pretty lenient when it comes to making exceptions for people's age...but perhaps on this one, we could at least think about it. I don't want word getting out that bus is a place full of underage vulnerable people - we dont need a predator problem as well as a hacker problem

oh and regarding the gender discussion going on - i agree that a blank space to fill in what you like sounds best - allows for people to say whatever gender it is they identify with

~bojjie

[Kasie]

Also entering the conversation in an untimely late manner however going to put my two cents in anyways

I think Bojjie is right about the options for age...

I also think leaving a blank option for gender would be ideal...

It's great to have such diversity in a group like this... however it can make adjusting things to suit everyone difficult...

Would it be possible to have a 'personal information' field available that people can put in whatever info they want under their avatar... limited to say 20 spaces... then we have the space, but we can put in whatever info we want... also easier for those that get to program it too

edited to correct stupid wording mistakes lol...

Just my two cents

[sine nomine]

there are a couple of issues here: one is that i'm in the midst of moving house and it's a bit brutal and god only knows when my net access wil be consistent enough for me to install any extra features. i just don't have the time right now. i'm sitting on the floor right now typing on a hastily set up computer.

the second problem is that if/when exploits are discovered, we may have to nuke and re-install, losing whatever features have been installed. so it's a bit of a worry.

finally, installing features is a pain in the ass for me, because most of them require files to be edited in every theme.

deb

[Space_Man]

...if you are going to have an option for age - perhaps we could restrict people underage to only be writing under 18 or under 16 or whatever we choose is acceptable.

Yes—wonderful idea; I am all for this...

[Jellybob]

the second problem is that if/when exploits are discovered, we may have to nuke and re-install, losing whatever features have been installed. so it's a bit of a worry.

I can probably put something together which will get round most of this, there's nothing quite like the 'patch' command for getting modifications installed

finally, installing features is a pain in the ass for me, because most of them require files to be edited in every theme.

Sadly I'm not sure there's much of a solution to this one

Jon

[Space_Man]

Just wondering if there was any update on when/if we might get these profile features...?