- Invitation Status
- Look for groups
- Looking for partners
- Posting Speed
- One post per week
- Slow As Molasses
- Online Availability
- Varies
- Writing Levels
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Nonbinary
- Transgender
- Genres
- Fantasy, Modern Fantasy, Horror, Light Romance, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Fandoms (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel/DC)
I would just like to put in my two cents, as someone who has been stalked and almost kidnapped three separate times by three separate people. Granted, it wasn't an online atmosphere, but the fact remains that I have experience with the seriously-fucked mentalities of some people.
Having concerns about being able to know another person's gender without hassle is valid. No one is denying that. But please take into perspective, as has been stated, that there are seriously screwed up people that target anyone and everyone that fits their profile. It's not just teenage girls. These people have a niche, and sometimes it can seem out of the blue (I.e. They end up targeting 30 year old males for whatever reason). By removing the gender selection, I personally feel much safer. Of course, I've never felt unsafe on this site in particular, but I have on others where I was targeted just for my identity as a female.
Although these people could just as easily check our profiles' About Me to see who's what (for those who opt to specify), the simple fact is that it is no longer easy access. Yes, that makes it no longer easy access for the rest of us, but it's neither impossible nor impractical. It just takes a few more clicks or a simple question. Or, if you're like me, you simply just take a wild guess or use "they" as a fall back.
I just wanted to throw in my support for this, as someone who has been stalked both online and IRL. It's terrifying, and it's taken me YEARS to trust strangers online or otherwise with something as simple as my real age. It might not seem like a huge deal. After all, it's not THAT hard for someone to figure out your gender, especially since not many people here are necessarily shy about it. But if it makes it even a little bit more difficult for stalkers to target people, I'm willing to inconvenience myself.
Having concerns about being able to know another person's gender without hassle is valid. No one is denying that. But please take into perspective, as has been stated, that there are seriously screwed up people that target anyone and everyone that fits their profile. It's not just teenage girls. These people have a niche, and sometimes it can seem out of the blue (I.e. They end up targeting 30 year old males for whatever reason). By removing the gender selection, I personally feel much safer. Of course, I've never felt unsafe on this site in particular, but I have on others where I was targeted just for my identity as a female.
Although these people could just as easily check our profiles' About Me to see who's what (for those who opt to specify), the simple fact is that it is no longer easy access. Yes, that makes it no longer easy access for the rest of us, but it's neither impossible nor impractical. It just takes a few more clicks or a simple question. Or, if you're like me, you simply just take a wild guess or use "they" as a fall back.
I just wanted to throw in my support for this, as someone who has been stalked both online and IRL. It's terrifying, and it's taken me YEARS to trust strangers online or otherwise with something as simple as my real age. It might not seem like a huge deal. After all, it's not THAT hard for someone to figure out your gender, especially since not many people here are necessarily shy about it. But if it makes it even a little bit more difficult for stalkers to target people, I'm willing to inconvenience myself.