Forum preconceptions.

[Tank]

When a new member turns up and has no avatar and a gender neutral title what are your default preconceptions of the person?

I'll kick off, white, male, aged 17 to 25, atheist.

[pinkocommie]

It really depends on what they write.  I never really think about race.  I usually don't assume gender unless they self identify in their writing as one or the other - but people usually think I'm a dude so that's probably way I'm more careful not to assume gender, and if there's no avatar I'm more likely to assume it's an older person who doesn't know how to upload an image or doesn't care to.  

[karadan]

I won't form an opinion until they have typed something substantial. This can be after their first post or 100th post.

But then again, what someone types here, no matter how long-winded, will never beat actually meeting them in person to really get to know them.

[Whitney]

If someone is aggressive I assume a he if the person is more emotional I assume a she...I'm often wrong that's just how society has me programed.  I generally don't really think about gender unless I'm having to use he or she in relationship to a poster when writing something.

Most users assume I'm male....which goes to show how accurate gender assumptions are.

[Davin]

To me, everyone on the internet has no gender, but I'll use whatever gender they want to be identified with.

[fiendmf]

I've been around message boards/forums for years now. My initial thinking is they're a troll. This conclusion usually is justified by their posting(s) soon after the fact. It's always nice to be wrong in this sense though.

[KDbeads]

I have long since stopped even thinking about all that when first reading a person online  

But I'm weird like that.  

[elliebean]

To me, everyone on the internet has no gender, but I'll use whatever gender they want to be identified with.

^This, IRL as well.

[hismikeness]

Puerto Rican. Why not?

[Tank]

It's interesting as I obviously start with a 'template' that gets modified in the light of evidence. Am I unusual in this respect?

[KDbeads]

Depends on the situation  

[Tank]

Depends on the situation  

That makes sense.

But if I asked you to describe the 'average forum user' what would you describe?

[KDbeads]

Well, since I've read enough of everyone so far  
educated, middle aged, 50/50 male/female ratio, with a deep liking of philosophy

[Tank]

Well, since I've read enough of everyone so far  
educated, middle aged, 50/50 male/female ratio, with a deep liking of philosophy

How interesting! I must have frequented a different type of forum to you!

[KDbeads]

I was thinking this forum  
If I have to classify the rest of the one's I've played in......  Mostly women, 30's to 40's, fundamentalist if not evangelical, under educated by choice.