I’m currently working on a volunteer-run programming project and I just received a very unusual bug report from one of the test team. Not to bore you; but the project allows multiple users to log on to a web-based system and manage various details about themselves – their name, date of birth, gender, etc. – on a kind-of profile page.
Here’s the gist of the bug report:
Bug Report #124: Site has transgender issues
I just made myself male. I have permission to do this.
Surgery is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?
Then, I changed my nickname.
Now, I look like I’m female, despite my not touching my gender.
Maybe you shouldn’t have changed your nickname to “Dorothy.”
It seems if you’re saved as Male, you’re recognised as Female.
If you’re Female, you’re seen to be Unspecified.
Only if you’re in the Ukranian women’s shot-put team.