Or at least provide more than "male" or "female" as there are those who don't fall into that either/or category. One of my friends, a paid member, is already leaving LJ over this.
Agreed. This contributes to the marginalisation of intersexed, transexual and genderqueer people. At the very least there should also be options for 'other' and 'decline to specify'.
What everyone said, and a side order of LOL at sing-up. Sounds like what we used to do around the campfire at sleepover camp.
Honestly, much as I didn't like specifying age, for many reasons, at least there were reasons FOR it. I can't think of a single one for gender, especially one as restrictive as only two options.
But I do agree that this is a really poor decision, and I hope LJ's administrators will reconsider. It was bad enough that users who did not identify as male or female had to choose 'unspecified' in order to get out of lumping themselves into a category that did not necessarily fit, without the effort to force said square peg into said round hole being made mandatory.
I find being forced to choose a gender to be offensive and discriminatory. Please reconsider an open option. I will strongly consider letting my paid account expire and leaving if forced to choose between man and woman.
seconded, heartily. I've given LJ the benefit of the doubt over most of the uproars for their various thoughtless mistakes, but this is just about the last straw.
Thirded! This is bigoted and ridiculous. It seems like LiveJournal is purposefully attempting to alienate their users, even those of us who pay to use the site. It seems offensive and wrong to me, especially considering that I have many friends who do not identify with either sex, or are transgendered.
Shame on you, LJ. I must say, I'm sad to myself growing used to being disappointed with you. I will not renew any of my accounts if this goes through.
Agreed on the gender issue. I like being able to have a profile that doesn't specify my gender and I don't see why there is any need for LJ to force me to choose from one of only two choices.
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Also, I have gone and turned my gender Unspecified now, when previously I'd picked one.
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Honestly, much as I didn't like specifying age, for many reasons, at least there were reasons FOR it. I can't think of a single one for gender, especially one as restrictive as only two options.
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But I do agree that this is a really poor decision, and I hope LJ's administrators will reconsider. It was bad enough that users who did not identify as male or female had to choose 'unspecified' in order to get out of lumping themselves into a category that did not necessarily fit, without the effort to force said square peg into said round hole being made mandatory.
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Shame on you, LJ. I must say, I'm sad to myself growing used to being disappointed with you. I will not renew any of my accounts if this goes through.
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