Comments on: Introducing the Gender Guesser http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/ The home of the Word Pirates Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:23:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Joy http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-387793 Joy Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:45:59 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-387793 Oh and as for that bit on professional writers--I would be very interested to find out when Gender Guesser added that little disclaimer. Oh and as for that bit on professional writers–I would be very interested to find out when Gender Guesser added that little disclaimer.

]]> By: Joy http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-387792 Joy Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:44:27 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-387792 It has been over a year since I wrote this post, but if I remember correctly, I wrote the first section specifically for the machine, and then on other "tests" I copied and pasted from other things I wrote--particularly from my blog at ohjoy.org, which is informal. The result was always male. Marcia had the same experience. So I dunno, seems to me that this is based on a lot of silly stereotypes, but that could just be my illogical female brain puttering away again... It has been over a year since I wrote this post, but if I remember correctly, I wrote the first section specifically for the machine, and then on other “tests” I copied and pasted from other things I wrote–particularly from my blog at ohjoy.org, which is informal. The result was always male. Marcia had the same experience. So I dunno, seems to me that this is based on a lot of silly stereotypes, but that could just be my illogical female brain puttering away again…

]]> By: Matt http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-387517 Matt Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:43:18 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-387517 Anyone can fool a machine if they're trying. However you probably wouldn't have wrote that exact passage had not you known about the program. Also, the formal and informal categories make the guesser partially up to interpretation. It is up to you to decide whether or not the writing circumstance is formal or informal. Also, read the information bellow before you go on a sarcastic female hissy-fit because a computer thinks you're a man. "Similarly, professional female writers (and experienced hobbyists) frequently use male writing styles. Gender Guesser does not take any of these factors into account. " Anyone can fool a machine if they’re trying. However you probably wouldn’t have wrote that exact passage had not you known about the program. Also, the formal and informal categories make the guesser partially up to interpretation. It is up to you to decide whether or not the writing circumstance is formal or informal. Also, read the information bellow before you go on a sarcastic female hissy-fit because a computer thinks you’re a man. “Similarly, professional female writers (and experienced hobbyists) frequently use male writing styles. Gender Guesser does not take any of these factors into account. “

]]> By: Robin http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-146818 Robin Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:04:50 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-146818 Try as I might, I was still pinned as a male, but only on the formal. It turns out that I don't know nearly as much about fishnets and fashion as I would like... Okay, actually I don't give a flying crap about either. That may have been the problem. Also, I wasn't sure what informal euphemism women use for the male phallus, but I was certain it would not be "dong," so I avoided that term. However, I did end up as an informally weak female, indicating that I may be European. I'm confused. Try as I might, I was still pinned as a male, but only on the formal. It turns out that I don’t know nearly as much about fishnets and fashion as I would like…

Okay, actually I don’t give a flying crap about either. That may have been the problem. Also, I wasn’t sure what informal euphemism women use for the male phallus, but I was certain it would not be “dong,” so I avoided that term. However, I did end up as an informally weak female, indicating that I may be European. I’m confused.

]]> By: Joy http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-146755 Joy Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:09:36 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-146755 Neal, But those aren't the full results. When I remove the quotations from the sample, I get: Genre: Formal Female = 50 Male = 277 Difference = 227; 84.7% Verdict: MALE As well as: Genre: Informal Female = 318 Male = 317 Difference = -1; 49.92% Verdict: Weak FEMALE Secondly, by removing the quotations, the text is under 300 words. My blog post is also under 300 words. Your program claims that it can only analyze 300 words or more to get accurate results. So how can I trust the results in your comment? Finally, I tried another experiment. I made the detective a lesbian and changed all the pronouns from "he" to "she" and "him" to "her." I left in the dialogue. The result that time? Genre: Formal Female = 301 Male = 454 Difference = 153; 60.13% Verdict: MALE Genre: Informal Female = 400 Male = 492 Difference = 92; 55.15% Verdict: Weak MALE So sorry, I still hold to my original opinion. However, I'm glad to know you think I write realistic male dialogue. Thanks for stopping by. Joy Neal,

But those aren’t the full results. When I remove the quotations from the sample, I get:

Genre: Formal
Female = 50
Male = 277
Difference = 227; 84.7%
Verdict: MALE

As well as:

Genre: Informal
Female = 318
Male = 317
Difference = -1; 49.92%
Verdict: Weak FEMALE

Secondly, by removing the quotations, the text is under 300 words. My blog post is also under 300 words. Your program claims that it can only analyze 300 words or more to get accurate results. So how can I trust the results in your comment?

Finally, I tried another experiment. I made the detective a lesbian and changed all the pronouns from “he” to “she” and “him” to “her.” I left in the dialogue. The result that time?

Genre: Formal
Female = 301
Male = 454
Difference = 153; 60.13%
Verdict: MALE

Genre: Informal
Female = 400
Male = 492
Difference = 92; 55.15%
Verdict: Weak MALE

So sorry, I still hold to my original opinion. However, I’m glad to know you think I write realistic male dialogue. Thanks for stopping by.

Joy

]]> By: marcia http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-146646 marcia Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:10:10 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-146646 I put in my speed dating story and got "Weak Male" 55%. Perhaps that was why I didn't get any dates. I put in my speed dating story and got “Weak Male” 55%. Perhaps that was why I didn’t get any dates.

]]> By: Dr. Neal Krawetz http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/comment-page-1/#comment-146510 Dr. Neal Krawetz Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:19:53 +0000 http://wordpirates.org/2008/03/08/introducing-the-gender-guesser/#comment-146510 Hi Joy, Your writing sample included quoted text. In dialogue text, the author tries to write like the subject. Since the subject is male, the quotes sway the results to appear as male. If we remove the quoted sections, but keep everything else, then we get: Genre: Informal Female = 400 Male = 317 Difference = -83; 44.21% Verdict: Weak FEMALE Weak emphasis could indicate European. In contrast, this blog entry of yours (everything above and below the blue quoted text) says you are female: Genre: Informal Female = 149 Male = 99 Difference = -50; 39.91% Verdict: FEMALE Enjoy Joy, -Neal Hi Joy,

Your writing sample included quoted text. In dialogue text, the author tries to write like the subject. Since the subject is male, the quotes sway the results to appear as male.

If we remove the quoted sections, but keep everything else, then we get:
Genre: Informal
Female = 400
Male = 317
Difference = -83; 44.21%
Verdict: Weak FEMALE
Weak emphasis could indicate European.

In contrast, this blog entry of yours (everything above and below the blue quoted text) says you are female:
Genre: Informal
Female = 149
Male = 99
Difference = -50; 39.91%
Verdict: FEMALE

Enjoy Joy,

-Neal

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