Being Gendered Correctly

[Rakashu]

Sorry dude, but I'm not going to bother to ask, as your gender or what ever you identify as, doesn't matter to me.

You say "By the way, I'm a girl" is obnoxious to you, how obnoxious do you think it would be for every one to go "HEY! WHAT GENDER ARE YOU?! WHAT DO YOU GOT IN YOUR PANTS?!". It's not the assumption that every one is a guy, it's just an attempt at being as neutral as possible. Do you think there are guys out there playing as female avatars that wouldn't be upset if they are constantly referred to as "she" as well? The English language has always used masculine pronouns as its defacto when referring to some one of an unknown gender; it's how the language works.

If you'd like to change that, well, good luck.

[Purrfectstorm]

Sorry dude, but I'm not going to bother to ask, as your gender or what ever you identify as, doesn't matter to me.

You say "By the way, I'm a girl" is obnoxious to you, how obnoxious do you think it would be for every one to go "HEY! WHAT GENDER ARE YOU?! WHAT DO YOU GOT IN YOUR PANTS?!". It's not the assumption that every one is a guy, it's just an attempt at being as neutral as possible. Do you think there are guys out there playing as female avatars that wouldn't be upset if they are constantly referred to as "she" as well? The English language has always used masculine pronouns as its defacto when referring to some one of an unknown gender; it's how the language works.

If you'd like to change that, well, good luck.

How did these pronouns become "de facto"? Who decides how language "works"? Language is an ever evolving thing. Perhaps masculine pronouns became the default at a time when women were being treated unequally and perhaps things still are not equal even now. Some authors however have taken different approaches: using he/she, or they, alternating gender pronouns (he in even numbered chapters, she in odd numbered chapters, for example). There's not one way to do language and it's certainly worth considering examining new was when the old ways are bothering some people.

[Rakashu]

cut

Your talking about an entire language, and this is an MMORPG. You really want to change it? Like I said, good luck. It becomes that way because that's how our vocabulary is structured and developed. You want the real answer? Go ahead and spend the next 2,000 hours of your life delving deep into the creation of the English language and how it got to be the way it is today; I ain't got that time for that.

I continue to fail to understand why you so desperately need to be identified as a woman in a video game, a make believe setting that has no barring on the real world, where we'll never see your face or know who you really are. If some one in a group just began to assume I was a female because of my supple features and boyish haircut; that'd be fine, because I really don't care, and neither should you.

[Purrfectstorm]

Your talking about an entire language, and this is an MMORPG. You really want to change it? Like I said, good luck. It becomes that way because that's how our vocabulary is structured and developed. You want the real answer? Go ahead and spend the next 2,000 hours of your life delving deep into the creation of the English language and how it got to be the way it is today; I ain't got that time for that.

I continue to fail to understand why you so desperately need to be identified as a woman in a video game, a make believe setting that has no barring on the real world, where we'll never see your face or know who you really are. If some one in a group just began to assume I was a female because of my supple features and boyish haircut; that'd be fine, because I really don't care, and neither should you.

You make it sound like not stereotyping every gamer as a guy is a lot of work. Nobody's asking you to fix the English language! But being mindful of your own language might not be a bad start.

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

I just base gender on character gender. I've always done it in any game I've ever played, and for the most part no one corrects me even if I'm wrong. People I become friends with I just eventually learn their real gender and either have an "oh, cool" moment or a "WOW REALLY?" moment (it's quite funny when you were friends with someone you assumed was female for nearly a year and then you suddenly find out they're a guy).

I just assume that if someone takes offense to me gendering them based on their character, they'll kindly correct me. If they don't, I assume they don't care or aren't bothered enough by it. Most of the time I just let people think I'm a male since my characters are usually male, I don't really care all that much lmao.

[jars]

hm you want numbers? take for example lol, the most popular game in the world. riot does statistics on their player base. guess what? you got it! 90% male.

the whole 45% of gamers are women is, like I said, as dumb as saying 45% of tv viewers are women so why doesn't espn have more content for women? because most women don't watch espn even though they might watch tv

[Macka]

hm you want numbers? take for example lol, the most popular game in the world. riot does statistics on their player base. guess what? you got it! 90% male.

the whole 45% of gamers are women is, like I said, as dumb as saying 45% of tv viewers are women so why doesn't espn have more content for women? because most women don't watch espn even though they might watch tv

What!! Every female I know watch espn wth you taljing about. Also you still not showing any proof of your nunbers. I would also like to add on my psn friendlist including 4 of my sisters are 21 out of 50 are females that play this game.

[Purrfectstorm]

hm you want numbers? take for example lol, the most popular game in the world. riot does statistics on their player base. guess what? you got it! 90% male.

the whole 45% of gamers are women is, like I said, as dumb as saying 45% of tv viewers are women so why doesn't espn have more content for women? because most women don't watch espn even though they might watch tv

Can we at least agree that a non-zero number of FFXIV players are women, some don't like being referred to as "he", and their feelings matter?

[o3o]

I get called a he all the time too. To be honest.....


I dont really care. Chances are they dont either.

[Tashigi]

I kind of get it, but to be honest? I don't play this game with that level of expectation. I just play for a good/fun time; though this is subjective I suppose.
The opposite is true for me. I am male and play a female character; get addressed as a "she" constantly. Very rarely called a "he"; typically only by those who are close enough to me to know.
Doesn't bother me at all.

Guess you and I just have different approaches to this.
Sucks it's not working out as you expect it. But my personal advise would be not to expect it. It might lessen the impact; though not fix the issue.