If a celebrity was a member and admited it

[Nobody]

From time to time I see speculations about possible celebrities that might be members of the board, but I've always wondered, if they said who they were, how would the rest of us know if it was legit or not? Maybe if he/she stated they were a member on the dope during a interview with Letterman, or one of the other talk shows perhaps.

And then of course, there are celebrities, that if they are members, probably don't want to reveal themselves after reading what's been posted about them. I'm talking about the likes of Tom Cruse and Sarah Jessica Parker. I know if I was one of those two, I wouldn't want to reveal myself to the board.

So, if someone posted that yes, the are a celebrity, what proof would you demand?
And, if there's a hated celebrity on the board, would you still want them to reveal themselves, or would you prefer they stay anonymous?

As for my answers, first, to prove they are who they say they are, I'd want them to admit it on TV. They could write something on their own website or blog, or something like that, but those things can be hacked.

And for the second question, mostly for their sake, if a hated, or looked down upon celebrity was on the board, I'd hope they'd stay hidden

[Nzinga, Seated]

You're not fooling anyone, Sarah. You should have the common horse sense to know that 'Nobody' is the worst pseudonym ever.

[Todderbob]

Doesn't matter to me either way.

The internet is a place we go to become someone where it's what we say, not who we are that matters, imo.

I could be a six year old kid, and as long as I have something intelligent to bring to the conversation - why not? (Albeit, this forum has a none-under 13 policy, unless it also has one of those 'send your parents signature' clauses in)

If I'm a 45 year old Ph D who does nothing but spout obviously ignorant stuff like the LHC is Satan's Stargate, does the fact that I'm a 45 year old Ph D and celebrated publisher of renouned <insert discipline> texts change your opinion of me?

[Nobody]

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the ability of some posters to get upset and/or defensive over harmless trivial subject matters.

Oh, and Nzinga, Seated....I got nothing. Damn, wish I was good at snappy come-backs.

[Nzinga, Seated]

Originally Posted by Nobody

Oh, and Nzinga, Seated....I got nothing. Damn, wish I was good at snappy come-backs.

Hay, just ignore my corny puns. It is almost five a.m., and I am delirious with lack of sleep. I better hit the hay.

[The Second Stone]

I'd hire professional writers to write my posts for me, just like my lines in real life.

[SurrenderDorothy]

It would be a lot easier to just post a picture of themselves with a paper sign that says "Sarah Jessica Parker aka "Nobody" ~ hi SDMB!" like people do on myspace. or post a picture of themselves in a specific pose like with one hand touching their nose and the other one giving a peace sign. I would think a celebrity would be pretty reluctant to do a shout-out on TV or their website because then fans who are not already members would know right away where to find and talk to them.

[Nobody]

Originally Posted by Nzinga, Seated

Hay, just ignore my corny puns. It is almost five a.m., and I am delirious with lack of sleep. I better hit the hay.

For your second link, I get:

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /v3/28/45828/1/49819361.farmpics2005Sept25Farm003.jpg on this server.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apache/2.0.58 (Unix) Server at i.pbase.com Port 80

[Nobody]

Originally Posted by SurrenderDorothy

I would think a celebrity would be pretty reluctant to do a shout-out on TV or their website because then fans who are not already members would know right away where to find and talk to them.

Excellent point.


And for the record, one reason that I couldn't possibly be Sarah Jessica Parker is that I'm a Guy.

[Stauderhorse]

Maybe during a talk show appearance or magazine interview, the celebrity could throw out a reference that only we'd get. For instance, if the host/interviewer asks something like "what have you always wanted to do before you die?" or something, the celebrity might say "Well, I'd really love to do a fake funeral while I'm still alive. Then I'd pop out of my coffin right before they bury me and say 'Gotcha ya!'"

[runner pat]

Originally Posted by Stauderhorse

Maybe during a talk show appearance or magazine interview, the celebrity could throw out a reference that only we'd get. For instance, if the host/interviewer asks something like "what have you always wanted to do before you die?" or something, the celebrity might say "Well, I'd really love to do a fake funeral while I'm still alive. Then I'd pop out of my coffin right before they bury me and say 'Gotcha ya!'"

Needs to be more subtle and SDMB-centric. Like being asked what are their favorite precious stones and the third item on the list are Opals.

[Shayna]

Originally Posted by Nobody

And for the record, one reason that I couldn't possibly be Sarah Jessica Parker is that I'm a Guy.

So you say. Why should we believe you?

[elmwood]

Originally Posted by Nzinga, Seated

[snip]Sarah[/snip]

[snip]horse[/snip]

Was that really unintentional?

[RealityChuck]

If someone said they were a celebrity, I'd probably say "that's nice" and then move on. It wouldn't matter all that much and I'd respond to him or her just like I do anyone else.

Of course, there are venues where I'm a celebrity, and I'm used to hanging out online with some big-name science fiction and fantasy writers. But the discussions are no different than discussions here with no famous names.

[What Exit?]

I suspect it would be foolish for a celebrity to identify themselves on a board they wanted to post at regularly unless it was their own. No matter what you and I think of a celeb there is a good chance some crank will start bothering or harassing them.

Besides unless the celebrity was specifically addressing an issue about their area of celebrity how would their status as a celebrity help them? I would probably be far easier for them to maintain a low profile.

If they were the type to do shows like Letterman maybe they could give a shout out to the SDMB without identifying their user name. That would drive dozens of dopers nuts guessing for weeks if someone did that.

[Annie-Xmas]

Anthony Rapp went on a theatre message board and started kicking people who didn't like the Rent movie. When someone figured out it was him, he was blasted for treating people who didn't like the movie so poorly.

[Fish]

Obviously Nobody is secretly Odysseus, hero of the Greek armies.

[Merhouse]

Originally Posted by Nobody

Excellent point.


And for the record, one reason that I couldn't possibly be Sarah Jessica Parker is that I'm a Guy.

Hmm, then I'm guessing you can't be Sarah Palin, either?

[MoodIndigo1]

I remember seeing an interview of Halle Berry and she talked about going to some game site where she played a few games and posted on their message board. At one point, she mentioned that she was Halle Berry and everyone laughed at her, and then people were so cruel and sarcastic that she decided never to do that again. She said she was hurt by their reaction.

So that would probably be people's reactions here too, so just drop the shtick if you plan to keep posting here Sarah.. I mean Nobody.

[Nzinga, Seated]

Originally Posted by Nobody

For your second link, I get:

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /v3/28/45828/1/49819361.farmpics2005Sept25Farm003.jpg on this server.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apache/2.0.58 (Unix) Server at i.pbase.com Port 80

You were spared. It was just more bales of hay.

[Nobody]

Yeah, I figured.

And for everybody talking about not treating anybody here different or not if they're a celebrity, this thread isn't about that. This is only dealing with A) If a celeb revealed themself, how could they prove it's really them, and B) If a disliked celeb was on the board, would you want them to reveal themself, or stay hidden?

[Fretful Porpentine]

If they did it during a Mafia game, they would promptly get offed by the Vigilante. I speak from sad experience

[Rilchiam]

Originally Posted by Annie-Xmas

Anthony Rapp went on a theatre message board and started kicking people who didn't like the Rent movie. When someone figured out it was him, he was blasted for treating people who didn't like the movie so poorly.

Holy crud. I was in school with him when he did Adventures in Babysitting. He was rude to the people who complimented him. Because we all said more or less the same thing, and he got tired of hearing it. So he hasn't changed, eh?

[Shagnasty]

We have had a number of minor or former celebrities on this board like Bad Astronomer and a member of the 60's pop-bad, The Five Americans plus several others that received world-wide media exposure due to contests, game-shows, and books. It wasn't very hard to tell that they were genuine. If you are talking about the current TV, music, and movie A-list, flash in the pan type people, I don't that the topic will ever come up.

[FairyChatMom]

I don't think I'd want a celeb to out him-or-herself. I prefer to interact with folks here according to my own preconceptions. I wouldn't want outside prejudices to affect that interaction.

Although it would be entertaining if someone famous tossed one of our buzzwords or phrases out during an interview or something.

[Hazle Weatherfield]

Originally Posted by runner pat

Needs to be more subtle and SDMB-centric. Like being asked what are their favorite precious stones and the third item on the list are Opals.

Buckeyes

[jali]

Originally Posted by Hazle Weatherfield

Buckeyes

Cracks me up! Still.

[The Second Stone]

Originally Posted by Nobody

Excellent point.


And for the record, one reason that I couldn't possibly be Sarah Jessica Parker is that I'm a Guy.

So, you got a sex change operation. Big deal. You looked like a man anyway.

[Annie]

Jerry vouches them from their name on their credit card?

OK Natalie Hershlag, come out and say hi

[clayton_e]

I was going to mention BadAstro but I see its already been done. I don't think he posts much anymore, no?

And it reminds me of an interview I read with (I think) Bill Gates who mentioned that he was the Bill Gates in some message board many years back. They banned him for being a dumbass faker.

[Tuckerfan]

Really, it all depends upon who the poster is and what they're posting on. If its someone who mostly lurks and only posts occassionally, I'm not going to shift my opinion one way or the other. If, OTOH, it turns out that one of our local nutters (say Jack Dean Tyler) was really Samuel L. Jackson, I'm going to be sorely disappointed in Mr. Jackson. And if one of our intelligent and respected posters (say Stranger on a Train) is revealed to be Tom Cruise, I'm gonna have a big WTF moment.

I should also like to point out that Jim Beaver, star of Deadwood and other roles has posted here in the past and was well treated by folks.

[Cyberhwk]

Originally Posted by MoodIndigo1

I remember seeing an interview of Halle Berry and she talked about going to some game site where she played a few games and posted on their message board. At one point, she mentioned that she was Halle Berry and everyone laughed at her, and then people were so cruel and sarcastic that she decided never to do that again. She said she was hurt by their reaction.

I believe a similar thing happened to Bruce Willis once...then he jumped on his webcam to prove it was really him.

[Quartz]

Originally Posted by Tuckerfan

I should also like to point out that Jim Beaver, star of Deadwood and other roles has posted here in the past and was well treated by folks.

I hope he started (with the Mods' permission!) a second account where he could remain anonymous.

[What Exit?]

Originally Posted by Tuckerfan

Really, it all depends upon who the poster is and what they're posting on. If its someone who mostly lurks and only posts occassionally, I'm not going to shift my opinion one way or the other. If, OTOH, it turns out that one of our local nutters (say Jack Dean Tyler) was really Samuel L. Jackson, I'm going to be sorely disappointed in Mr. Jackson. And if one of our intelligent and respected posters (say Stranger on a Train) is revealed to be Tom Cruise, I'm gonna have a big WTF moment.

I should also like to point out that Jim Beaver, star of Deadwood and other roles has posted here in the past and was well treated by folks.

3 posts in one thread from a successful character actor does not celebrity poster make. That was a very interesting post he did make though.

[Count Blucher]

Originally Posted by Nobody

And for the record, one reason that I couldn't possibly be Sarah Jessica Parker is that I'm a Guy.

You know, they never Did say what she did with her mole afterwards...

"C'mere, Matthew. You've been a Bad Boy...!"

Note: to anybody who may now be (or ever be) famous reading this, well done.
(Hey, I like shopping early...)

Originally Posted by Hazle Weatherfield

Buckeyes

No 'The Horror of Blimps'...?

[Nobody]

Originally Posted by Count Blucher

You know, they never Did say what she did with her mole afterwards...

"C'mere, Matthew. You've been a Bad Boy...!"

Uhm......say what?

[Hunter Hawk]

On the Firefly fansite, I interacted a couple of times with whatshisname who played Jayne. He was kind of a dork--a strong conservative whose debate method often consisted of copying & pasting material from opinion columnists.

[vifslan]

Terry Pratchett used to be (still is, for all I know) a regular in the Usenet group alt.fan.pratchett, though more so when he was well and less encumbered by other commitments. And sure enough, maybe three times a year newbies asked, "Do you really expect us to believe that you're Terry Pratchett?"

Of course, his presence made it necessary to keep speculative threads on Discworld out of his eyes and clearly marked as such, since he didn't want potential lawsuits from people saying that he'd stolen their ideas. I remember a case where someone threw out that it'd be great with a Discworld novel on Sound of Music with Susan Sto Helit as Maria, and Terry replied, "Gee, thanks. Now that story is almost certainly never going to get written."

[AK84]

On the issue of celebs and usernames, I have a friend who works for a publicist. She told me that it was nay impossible for celebs to create an account with their own names, people already had done so.

[Tuckerfan]

Originally Posted by What Exit?

3 posts in one thread from a successful character actor does not celebrity poster make. That was a very interesting post he did make though.

You're just jealous because nobody famous ever dropped into one of your threads. (Besides, we do have plenty of posters who only post about once or twice a year, if that. Odds are, its those folks who'd be a celeb, not somebody like you or I with thousands of posts to their names.)

[InterestedObserver]

I imagine most "celebrities" would prefer to remain anonymous..they get enough attention in real life, and the internet allows them to interact with others free of the whole fame thing, something impossible in just about any other setting.

If it were me, I'd prefer to remain hidden and just lurk, checking out what was being said about me. That HAS to be good for a laugh

I've heard reliable tales of celebs getting banned from sites dedicated to THEM, lol, either because they came out of lurkdom and identified themselves and were disbelieved or for posting something which violated the rules of the board/was considered disrespectful to themselves, lol.

I guess it'd be fairly easy to prove your identity should you care to, though. Just take a photo of yourself including elements requested by others on the board, say. I suppose such evidence could be photoshopped, though, but it's usually pretty easy to tell if that's the case.

I'd just as soon they remain hidden. Who cares, really?

One of the funniest things I've ever seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUcd9Hzgjo

[lorene]

Originally Posted by InterestedObserver

If it were me, I'd prefer to remain hidden and just lurk, checking out what was being said about me. That HAS to be good for a laugh

Or a cry...I remember reading an interview with the actress who played Meadow on The Sopranos (no cite, sorry...I was either in a Dr's office or a hair salon if I was reading that type of mag) and she said how detrimental it was for her to go on fan sites and message boards and read how fat people thought she was. She's in recovery from an eating disorder and it really messed with her, according to the article.

[InterestedObserver]

Well, listen not at keyholes, lest ye be vexed, and all that. In her case, she probably shouldn't have been visiting those sites, since she was apparently vulnerable.

[lorene]

Oh, I agree. I just think there's at least as much bad stuff we say about celebrities as good. Many of the celebrity threads around here are "love to hate them" threads.

[Count Blucher]

Originally Posted by Nobody

Uhm......say what?

*assumes she was a 'waste not want not' kinda gal & sewed it back on someplace else. Also assumes "Scuse me while I whip this out..!" was already taken.


Now that I think about it, I'm glad I didn't post the rest.

SPOILER:

"See? I Told you I was a bigger star than Nathan Lane."

"That's just So Wrong...! And at least mine is 'all natural'."

"Welcome to My world...."

*whimper*