I notice that there’s a poster here who goes by the name Barack Obama. Is using the name of a real, public person kosher? If it is, can I be Brad Pitt?
I’m not putting this in the Pit because I don’t have a beef with any of Barack’s posts. In fact, he seems like an okay guy. I’m just wondering about the appropriateness of the board name, is all. Is there a rule?
Yes, he’s a personal friend of Cecil, so don’t pit Barack. Cecil even considered being his running mate.
This “okay guy”: might he be Barack Obama? If he, or Brad Pitt, wanted to register with their real name as their username, how do TPTB verify that they’re not plain old okay guys–for the nonce considering the President and actor not being part of that set–with problematic usernames?
Does the administrator start demanding real-life ID? I hope not, because I’m marked for death and have to keep a low profile.
Which Leo Bloom are you, anyway? The one from Dublin or the nervous accountant?
My real name is John David Waltzes with Cacti, and I have a bone to pick with you.
In my name the K is silent and the rest of the letters don’t count. 
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
We have no specific rule. Wesley Clark also posts here. Although less well known than Mr. Obama now, when he joined in 2003 he was one of the top Democratic candidates for president. Bill Clinton posted here for a while in 2000-2001; I guess he had better things to do in retirement. George Clooney made one post in 2000. I am sure we have lots of other politicians and celebrities as members.
The only thing I could see being a problem is if the poster used the username to troll. (This could include having a deliberately obnoxious username like, say, Charles Manson or Heinrich Himmler.) I would emphasize that this is not a rule, but rather something that would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Opie, is that you?
I don’t know about any of you, but I am Spartacus.
I, on the other hand, actually am Lamar Mundane.
I also would think it would be bad if the poster tried to really pretend he was the President, etc, but I guess that’s 'trolling".
Who is the most famous person (other than Cecil) to post here- anyone know?
The Bad Astronomer (Phil Plait) used to post here, and authors Paul Levinson and John Varley posted once or twice here too.
Hey - they’re famous to me!
Also actor Jim Beaver, who posted a few times as jumblejim.
I AM …
No, wait … no I’m not.
Hell, Satan posted here, but was banned.
Check out this thread for folks’ self-assessment of their famousity: How famous are you (or think you are)? - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board
**J Michael Straczynski **popped in once to post a lengthy comment about Babylon 5, then went away again.
And UK musical satirist/comedian/author/actor/probably-some-other-stuff **Mitch Benn **also did a driveby after a self-Google turned up a mention of him here.
Both used their own names as usernames IIRC.
linky?