Ask posters to name a general location where they live

[AnnieBrooke]

A lot of questions would be easier to answer intelligently if the poster would give a hint as to their location.  It doesn't need to be more specific than a region, but there is no use recommending products or services to someone who simply does not have them in the country where they live, or trying to help someone by suggesting social services that might not even exist where they are.  Is there any way to make at least a general region of the world part of the required fields for the person who is signing up?  I'm not talking about demanding they say anything specific enough that they would be concerned they could be identified, but sometimes the advice people give is ludicrously off the mark.  ("Go get the morning-after pill" doesn't cut it in Muslim countries, for example.)  

[AnnieBrooke]

Maybe instead of a forced choice on gender with a default to male if the person doesn't feel like answering, there could be a third choice, "do not wish to disclose gender."  It would, frankly, be less confusing.

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi there -

In situations where the profile says one thing, and the post says another, I would certainly go with what the post says.

Anyone can edit their gender, location, etc., but clicking on the "Edit" in the About Me box/widget on their profiles.

Here are some FAQs if you want to reference them - http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=88

It's not that I don't understand your points, and I hope you know that.  I will pass on the suggestions.

Emily

[FurballsMom]

I would have to agree with the gender thing.  It would be better to not specify the gender if people are going to go through all of that.  But, as there are gender specific medical questions, it would make more sense to be specific so people answering the questions aren't so confused.  I have seen the type of things that Annie brought up.  I often don't feel I can answer when I'm confused by the person saying she is male then asking questions that have to do with female medical questions.  I end up being far too confused, so I don't know how to answer to even try to be helpful.  I have also come across ones who were unaware that they had clicked on the wrong gender.

[AnnieBrooke]

People will ask "Are you a female, it says male on your profile," to someone who is writing about her vagina issue, and the original poster will often say something to the extent that she accidentally clicked the wrong thing and doesn't know how to change it.  I haven't signed up in so long that I have no idea if there is any way to confuse the two, and obviously someone might not want to admit that they were being cute when signing up and so signed themself up for the opposite gender.  But it might be worth looking at the sign-up pages to be sure there isn't any way to confuse what box to click.  I wouldn't say any of this except so many people's profiles have mis-assigned genders that are made obvious by the question they are asking, or even by its title ("Penis Rash" or "OMG Am I Pregnant,") that it doesn't make sense that they all do it to hide their identity.

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi -

When they join, they are asked if they are male or female, and members just choose the one they want.  From talking with members in the past, some are just really concerned about hiding their identity because of their situation, and others are really cautious about putting too much out on the internet.

Emily

[AnnieBrooke]

Ah, I should also say, thanks for responding so fast, and if you do discuss it I would think that was great.

Incidentally, what is with the sign-up process that causes people often to reverse their gender?  We see a lot of women who have posted as Male and a lot of men who have posted as Female.  Is there something confusing about that section of the sign-up page, like a radio button not associated very closely with the gender choice?

[AnnieBrooke]

I think it would take more than that to make someone afraid to ask their question.  We're talking about women who post long descriptions of their cervical mucus and men who describe their penises.  It seems they would not let a little thing like having to admit they live in the U.S.A. stop them.

[Emily_MHManager]

Hi there -

That's interesting.  We'll certainly discuss it.  I can see the benefits, without a doubt, but we let people give as little or as much info as they want so they won't be afraid to ask their questions. There are definite advantages to maybe even just asking what continent, etc.

Thanks for the idea.  :)

Em