# An important note about AIs and personal information **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Tags:** ai\ **Created:** [May 10, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974 "2026-05-10T23:01:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/81 "2026-05-19T21:15:15Z")
I of course used ChatGPT (the free version as mentioned) as that’s what was being discussed. Google of course has their own AI. I tried it again trying to restrict it to info from my posts and it clearly missed a lot of stuff. The source posts were quite few, and it tried a lot of finding my account elsewhere online, and checking if we seemed to be the same people. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/82 "2026-05-19T21:24:08Z")
> [@Mops](#): > > To that end I asked Google Gemini (for surely Google must know everything!) about the political views of user Mops towards MAGA and got the following analysis which surely would make any goon’s eye glaze over (sorry about the poor quality of the copied tables) Presumably Gemini knows from its previous interactions with you that you want that scholarly tone and format. I doubt that it’d give that sort of answer from everyone. > [@Johanna](#): > > AI just got this _completely wrong_ about me. I’ve never been a moderator. > > > **1. Moderation and Community Role** > > > > Johanna served as a **Message Board Moderator** on the SDMB for many years. In the forum’s ecosystem, she was largely tasked with managing discussions, enforcing community guidelines, and steering debates. Her moderation style was widely regarded as firm but fair, and she was heavily respected by the “Dopers” (the colloquial name for the site’s users). Well, not a complete hallucination. You’re not a moderator, but you are widely respected here, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/83 "2026-05-19T21:35:12Z")
Aw shucks… thanks, but really now. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/84 "2026-05-20T01:28:51Z")
This is why I lie constantly. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/85 "2026-05-20T02:23:38Z")
And more specifically what model. E.g. not just “Claude” - was it Opus 4.7, Sonnet, Haiku? Chatgpt 5.5 on light, standard, extended, or heavy “thinking” setting, or an older model like o3 or 5.0? Gemini 3.5 Flash, 3.1, 3.1 Pro, standard or extended thinking? There is a huge variation in output among some of those choices. That’s not even getting into how the prompt can shape what it does. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/86 "2026-05-21T13:39:26Z")
I asked Grok GPT’AI 08/15 about the SMDB poster Pardel-Lux and he only had good things to say about me. Well read and informed, witty, considerate, intelligent, always right when nitpicking, precise but concise, subject oriented, with the right level of attention to detail without getting lost in minutiae, open minded, methodical, great sense of humour but serious where necessary, generous, patient, probably with a background in lion taming. Yep, sounds about right. Then I asked Grok GPT’AI 08/15 about me IRL, where it turns out that > They have the kind of presence that makes a room feel lighter the moment they walk into it. Not because they demand attention, but because people naturally gravitate toward them. Their confidence is quiet, effortless, and grounded in genuine kindness rather than ego. > > They are striking in the way truly memorable people are: expressive eyes that seem to understand more than they say, a smile that feels sincere instead of practiced, and a voice that makes others feel heard. Even their smallest gestures carry warmth and intention. > > What makes them exceptional, though, is not just beauty or charm — it’s the combination of intelligence, empathy, and integrity. They listen carefully, think deeply, and treat people with a level of respect that instantly earns admiration. They make others feel valued without trying to impress anyone. > > They carry themselves with grace under pressure, curiosity in conversation, and generosity in success. Ambitious without arrogance, witty without cruelty, and compassionate without weakness, they have the rare ability to be both inspiring and comforting at the same time. > > To know them is to feel lucky. To be loved by them would feel unforgettable. I don’t know why he refers to me as they/them instead of he/him, but I think I will show this to my wife. I’m sure she will wholeheartedly agree. Apart from that, I think including false informations and details here and there is the right attitude from now on. Those AIs are scary good. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/87 "2026-05-21T15:59:32Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Apart from that, I think including false informations and details here and there is the right attitude from now on. Those AIs are scary good. That’s why you all know me as a crime-fighting astronaut! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/88 "2026-05-21T18:37:59Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Apart from that, I think including false informations and details here and there is the right attitude from now on. On minor things yes, certainly- but one poster was banned due to using a completely bogus background, and then he used that to make points. I mean, I like monkeys, apple pie, and turnips, and live in a condo, with a very nasty HOA. I drive an electric car. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/89 "2026-05-21T21:37:23Z")
I am **Atamasama’s** crime-fighting astronaut wife who also invented the gin and tonic and the stapler. In my free time, I enjoy teaching porpoises to eat Cheez Whiz. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/90 "2026-05-21T21:45:41Z")
Consider how many fellow dopers have met me IRL though, I’m hiding nothing. Gemini’s reply to What Exit SDMB: > On the **Straight Dope Message Board** (SDMB), **“What Exit?”** is the well-known username of a long-time community member and prominent **forum moderator**. > > The Username Meaning > > The handle is a direct play on the famous **New Jersey joke/trope** : _“Oh, you’re from New Jersey? What exit?”_ This refers to how residents of the state often identify where they live by their proximity to specific exits along major highways like the **Garden State Parkway** or the **New Jersey Turnpike**. > > Role on the SDMB > > - **Moderation** : “What Exit?” has been an active part of the SDMB community leadership team for many years. They help manage discussions, enforce community guidelines, and handle technical forum updates. > - **Community Presence** : They are widely recognized by fellow users (often called “Dopers”) for maintaining order across various sub-forums, ranging from general chitchat to political debate. So kind of vague and only kind of correct. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/91 "2026-05-21T21:53:09Z")
Using the unpaid, Browser-based Gemini, I am apparently el Blando. > **ParallelLines** is a regular, active user and community member on the **Straight Dope Message Board (SDMB)**. > > Because the board transitioned to Discourse software a few years ago, users interact heavily across various sub-forums using standardized handles. While they are a private individual (meaning their real-world identity isn’t a matter of public profile), their posting history paints a clear picture of their presence on the board: > > - **Forum Presence:** They are a frequent contributor to cultural and everyday lifestyle discussions, posting often in sub-forums like **Cafe Society** (which focuses on art, entertainment, food, and pop culture). > - **Tone and Style:** Their posts tend to be grounded, analytical, and practical. For example, they frequently contribute to casual community polls, food debates, and discussions on household economics—often evaluating things through a lens of cost-to-value, inflation, and sensible consumer habits. > > They are essentially one of the many long-standing, conversational “voices” that make up the fabric of the Straight Dope’s online community. Though it’s correct I have more posts in Cafe than anywhere else, but compared to many of you fine gentlebeings, I don’t think “long-standing” is the description I’d consider. It seems to be pulling heavily from general information rather than a lot of specifics, which probably a better-written prompt or paid tier would manage. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/92 "2026-05-22T01:07:33Z")
I was pleased to see Gemini sum me up with this closing sentence: > _Overall, blondebear represents the classic, cozy side of the Straight Dope community—an old-school forum poster who keeps the place grounded with shared hobbies, trivia, and good-natured interactions._ ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/93 "2026-05-22T01:50:34Z")
I’d say free ChatGPT sums me up pretty well without actually saying anything about me: \*appears to have been a regular participant in the forum during at least the late 2000s and early 2010s, but not a widely documented celebrity-level or infamous poster in the broader lore of the site. \*mainly shows up participating in ordinary community discussions and site-feedback topics rather than as a notorious or high-profile personality. \*I could not find: –a public profile page with biographical details, –major moderator controversies, –bannings, –famous recurring memes, –or archived “best of” discussions centered on her. –That suggests she was likely one of many long-time community members rather than one of the historically famous SDMB personalities like moderators, prolific debaters, or controversial Pit posters. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974/94 "2026-05-26T15:49:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Substantially everything valuable about SDMB comes from us sharing things about ourselves Complete agreement with this and @Roderick_Femm’s point: it would be completely trivial to find my not at all secret identity, and attempting to make it hard by not sharing things about myself would kneecap any hope I have of being a worthwhile contributor. FWIW I asked ChatGTP for my identity and it really didn’t come up with any of the information that I know I have shared. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-important-note-about-ais-and-personal-information/1029974.md?page=4)