# Aargh! Someone figured out my SDMB secret identity™!! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573 "2003-01-19T02:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/1 "2003-01-19T02:47:27Z")
So, I’m at work, exchanging e-mails with a buddy of mine in T.O. about work-related stuff, and out of the blue he says, “By the way, are you Northern Piper on the SDMB?” My SDMB secret identity is no longer secret! What will my mild-mannered real life persona do? Anyone else been busted IRL? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/2 "2003-01-19T03:58:38Z")
yes ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/3 "2003-01-19T04:06:04Z")
Yes, but not on the SDMB yet… ---
**Author:** ![Triss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Triss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triss)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/4 "2003-01-19T04:34:48Z")
No, I don’t know anyone else who posts here or even knows about it. How did they figure it out, **Northern Piper**? And did they spill their identity to you? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/5 "2003-01-19T04:45:56Z")
From my location and the topics I post on. And no, he’s a good bud, just wanted to know if he was correct in his guess. Forget about that “anonymity of the internet” thing… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/6 "2003-01-19T04:53:43Z")
ack! hit “reply” too soon. I meant to add that I’m not bothered that that my friend figured it out (and my Beloved thought it was sort of funny), it’s just that it caught me by surprise that even on the (relatively) anonymous internet, someone can figure out who you are without needing much info. ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/7 "2003-01-19T05:41:39Z")
I’m no geographer, but your location looks awfully specific. I’d think a like-minded person from the same area who knew you would be able to figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/8 "2003-01-19T06:01:59Z")
sure, but he’s two provinces over… ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/9 "2003-01-19T06:57:28Z")
Nope, not yet. Although it would appear that none of my IRL friends post here. Or lurk here. Dang it. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/10 "2003-01-19T08:34:40Z")
Well, I’m hoping that my three ex-wives don’t find me… I owe them and my sixteen children so much child support it’s not even funny… 'Course, those idiots are too stupid, and me and my fourth wife are just HAPPY living the American dream, out here in Californication! ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/11 "2003-01-19T11:07:33Z")
I saw another Doper performing in a musical put on by Medicine students. At the time, I didn’t realise I was watching a fellow Doper sing and dance, but she later posted about it, thereby blowing her Secret Identity. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/12 "2003-01-19T12:20:53Z")
A poster here emailed a friend of theirs in Virginia and asked him if he posted as pezpunk on SDMB. He replied no but did mention that his best friend from high school who is in Florida has an email address that begins with pezpunk. Turns out that it was me. Pretty crazy huh? ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/13 "2003-01-19T12:25:15Z")
In a period of lurking before registering, I recognised a family member on the board. He’d happened to post something very specific that only a very narrow group of academic specialists would know. And he’s one of them. The username was then obvious. Reading back over some of his previous posts just confirmed it. I mentioned it to him at the time. Even turned out that I was indirectly responsible for him discovering the place. But as far as I know he doesn’t know I’ve subsequently posted myself. Unless he’s bluffing real good. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/14 "2003-01-19T15:41:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Northern Piper \* > \*\* “By the way, are you Northern Piper on the SDMB?” > > My SDMB secret identity is no longer secret! \*\* You need to work on the “_Who?_ SD _what?_” response. Practice it until you can deliver it quickly and convincingly! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/15 "2003-01-19T16:51:36Z")
No, but if any of my close friends were to read my profile and my posts, they could easily guess who I am. Actually, my profile would probably be enough for most of my friends. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/16 "2003-01-19T18:24:18Z")
Yes… sort of. Another poster here posts in another message board I am also a member of. He figured out… weeks later than I did. That’s OK. He’s a trustworthy person. Anyone who knows me would figure out that I am MG by reading my profile. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/17 "2003-01-19T18:42:19Z")
Once my sister knew that I posted here, she was able to figure it out fairly quickly by checking posts. I was surprised at how much information I had revealed about myself (and the things that she considered to be my “trademarks”). ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/18 "2003-01-19T19:21:49Z")
Well, in a way, but I’d hardly call it “busted”. I posted in a thread where my occupation and location was given. It turns out that another poster here read it, and her stepmom works in the cube right next to me! Her stepmom asked me about it the next day, though I doubt she reads the boards. ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/19 "2003-01-19T22:08:33Z")
My best friend in the whole world came across a messageboard I happened to frequent. I’d never told her that I went to this board. She recognized me **by my choice of user name alone** , a user name that I had never used anywhere else, or derived from a phrase I used around her. She knows me so well. So well, it’s scary. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573/20 "2003-01-19T22:53:12Z")
I know that my brother figured out who I am…he lurks here occasionally, IIRC, but I don’t think he’s actually registered. He mentioned it to me this summer, where he was just looking at GQ and thought that a certain thread would be something I would have posted in, and, of course, I had. He recognized some comment I made, and a look at my Loaction tag confirmed that it was me. Prior to that, he knew that I posted here, but didn’t know my username. I get along well with him, so I’m not too bothered by the possibility that he might read something “bad”. I don’t really post personal things here anyways - I think the most personal was my Insomnia thread, but I’ve been an insomniac for years, so its not news to him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aargh-someone-figured-out-my-sdmb-secret-identity/149573.md?page=2)