# A secret you will never tell anyone **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2012, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798 "2012-08-27T08:42:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/41 "2012-08-27T23:21:08Z")
Not unless I can create a sock to talk about it. It might be fun to have a small sock-only or anonymous forum on here, but of course that would run counter to years of board culture. But just saying… it’d be fun 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/42 "2012-08-27T23:49:20Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Not unless I can create a sock to talk about it. It might be fun to have a small sock-only or anonymous forum on here, but of course that would run counter to years of board culture. But just saying… it’d be fun 🙂 I wish we had an anonymous forum on here as well. There have been many times I’ve wanted to ask advice about something but I don’t because people on this board tend to jump on people for seemingly innocuous things. I bet it’d end up being the most popular forum on the site! ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/43 "2012-08-27T23:58:09Z")
+2 that would be fantastic ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/44 "2012-08-28T00:12:13Z")
I’m really just a wannabe. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/45 "2012-08-28T01:01:22Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I wish we had an anonymous forum on here as well. There have been many times I’ve wanted to ask advice about something but I don’t because people on this board tend to jump on people for seemingly innocuous things. I bet it’d end up being the most popular forum on the site! Umm, aren’t we all just anonymous on here anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/46 "2012-08-28T01:26:58Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Umm, aren’t we all just anonymous on here anyway? Dunno about you, but I know the IRL identities of some of the Chicagoan members, our esteemed **QtM** , etc., and vice versa. Oh yeah, and my husband is a member as well. So this is **not** anonymous for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/47 "2012-08-28T01:36:31Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Umm, aren’t we all just anonymous on here anyway? LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/48 "2012-08-28T01:39:56Z")
Anonymity on the internet is a myth, sadly. Sucks too because it was a good place for people to talk openly about abuse, mental illness, addiction, depression, suicide, etc. now that corporations are going to spy on us and use that info to determine if they want to hire/keep us (or snoopers will dig it up, I don’t want every asshole on the street knowing my stuff) I’m polishing my online persona to pretend to be non-controversial. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/49 "2012-08-28T01:44:33Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Umm, aren’t we all just anonymous on here anyway? Not in the least. Not named is not the same as not known. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/50 "2012-08-28T01:58:44Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Not in the least. Not named is not the same as not known. OK. Who am I? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/51 "2012-08-28T02:11:07Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Umm, aren’t we all just anonymous on here anyway? I know where you work. You know that you probably know my ex. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/52 "2012-08-28T02:11:22Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > OK. Who am I? You are Leaffan. If you were to post some secret, say you killed cats for fun or something, that would change how people view and interact with the poster “Leaffan”. If there was a proper anonymous forum on here, you could post about killing cats for fun and it would have no effect on the rest of your SDMB experience. So, in the context of the SDMB you are not anonymous. (And in the context of real life, your anonymity depends on how much of your real life you share. Anyone who already knows me in real life, and who stumbled across my posts on this board, would be able to figure out who I am.) ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/53 "2012-08-28T02:13:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > OK. Who am I? Jean Valjean? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/54 "2012-08-28T02:16:33Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I feel really bad about that but I REALLY REALLY didn’t want to talk to my mom about HPV and how she got HPV on her anus. Seriously its bad enough talking about her anus every call, my wife doesn’t even want to talk to her anymore because every call is about how painful that day’s bowel movements have been. A friend of mine died at 40 from anal cancer that started as a melanoma. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/55 "2012-08-28T02:17:58Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I know where you work. You know that you probably know my ex. True, but you won’t tell me who he is. Besides, you’re my only “friend” on here, so don’t narc on me man! > [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > You are Leaffan. If you were to post some secret, say you killed cats for fun or something, that would change how people view and interact with the poster “Leaffan”. If there was a proper anonymous forum on here, you could post about killing cats for fun and it would have no effect on the rest of your SDMB experience. So, in the context of the SDMB you are not anonymous. (And in the context of real life, your anonymity depends on how much of your real life you share. Anyone who already knows me in real life, and who stumbled across my posts on this board, would be able to figure out who I am.) I s’pose. I’m not about to start killing cats though. What you see is pretty much what you get. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/56 "2012-08-28T02:20:39Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Umm, aren’t we all just anonymous on here anyway? Uhh IMO not really. If someone took ALL your posts as well as some CSI internet stuffy I suspect they could connect the real you with the internet you. That is why I state things here about me that are factually not true. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/57 "2012-08-28T02:27:15Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > That is why I state things here about me that are factually not true. Oh cool. Maybe I’ll start lying about who I am to impress the chicks and thwart the CSI investigators who are undoubtedly on the edge of their chair with my every post. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/58 "2012-08-28T02:30:19Z")
For years, nobody who knew me IRL knew that I’m bisexual – not even my wife (whom I have known since I was twelve). I was able to tell you weirdos, though - I even started a thread about it back in 2000 called [Ask the Closeted Bisexual Guy!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=23013). This led to occasional awkwardness when my wife accompanied me to Doper get-togethers - it was uncomfortable to be around people who !KNEW! when she didn’t (it didn’t occur to me that I might start hanging out with Dopers - everybody knows that people you meet online are imaginary). Eventually I was able to muster up the courage to tell her, and it went better than I could have hoped. Since then, I’ve come out to several of my IRL friends, none of whom has cared. However, NONE of my family know, and none of them ever will unless: [ul][li]Mrs. Chef dies before I do;[/li][li]I somehow manage to love again;[/li][li]The person I fall in love with happens to be a man; and[/li][\*]That man is insane enough to want to hang out with my family.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/59 "2012-08-28T02:50:14Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > True, but you won’t tell me who he is. Besides, you’re my only “friend” on here, so don’t narc on me man! It’s cool. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798/60 "2012-08-28T03:16:04Z")
I miss [anon.penet.fi](http://anon.penet.fi). -D/a [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-secret-you-will-never-tell-anyone/632798.md?page=4)