The Plaid Address

[Plaid Adder]

Once in a while I go out and Google "Plaid Adder" and see what pops up. Today I thought to check out the newsgroups (you remember newsgroups...poor things, they are dying out now) and came across a couple threads where people have posted my DU columns and then argued about them...and they're all calling me "Mr. Plaid" and referring to me as "he."

This happens to me all the time and it's startin' to bug me. Come on, people! Not everyone on the Web is male! Most of the DU people who know me have now figured out that I'm female, but out on the web people always seem to assume I'm male until someone corrects them.

I was bitching to my partner about this and she said, "You're going to have to start calling yourself The Plaid Address."

Don't think it's gonna happen, really. But dang. If you're going to call me a "sad little ostrich" (which one of them did, because I mentioned how I don't watch Fox) at least get the gender right!

@#$!,

The Plaid Adder

[Droopy]

1. The Plaid Adderette

She Plaid Adder

The name "Plaid Adder" doesn't really give any clues as to what your gender might be. I'm not suggesting that you change it, though. I guess people would be more correct in that situation to use he/she.

[salinen]

2. I know your gender

but I think I understand why someone might think you were a man, because an adder is a snake, and snakes are all men. Just kidding, but for some illogical reason, menacing animals always seem like males. Sharks, snakes, spiders, and RW republicans.

[Plaid Adder]

3. See, to me snakes seem more feminine.

They're all curvy and slinky and wily. But maybe that's me.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[brainshrub]

4. I think you should blame your frustration on this guy:

Frankly, at first I thought that your ID was a play on the BBC comedy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/

If people assume you are a male with a pseudonym like "Plaid Adder" that's your own fault! Snakes have a distinctly male association in most people's mind; And plaid is a color that brings up images of burley male lumberjacks.

I suppose most people would think I was a woman if my pseudonym was: Brainkitten or The Pink Violet.

By the way, I absolutely love your work! I'm a big fan.

[Plaid Adder]

7. No, you were right, it is a Blackadder joke.

But I would really rather blame Baldrick. Everyone else does.

Ah well,

The Plaid Adder

[ComerPerro]

5. I don't think "Address" works

Because I thought it meant "address" as in, "my address is 742 Evergreen Terrace..."

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. When I first read your work a couple of years ago, I too

thought you were a he...

Don't know why, but I went to your web site and removed all doubt.

I know for a long time, when I would submit a manuscript, I would use my initials rather than my first and middle name to remain an androgynous figure in the editor's mind. Gender is overrated in writing. It's the words, not the personality or make up. (IMHO)

You truly rock, PA. Keep it up and don't let the bastards get you down!

:toast: