# Invisible Wombat is Gary Robson **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 25, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912 "2009-11-25T15:35:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/1 "2009-11-25T15:35:19Z")
I’ve been using this here Internet thing for a long time now, and the Straight Dope Message Board is the only place of any significance where I don’t use my real name. Even in articles published in computer hacker magazines, I’ve used my name amongst a sea of pseudonymous writers. Being anonymous on the SDMB has made some discussions awkward, where I’ve tried to speak as an authority on certain subjects without being able to cite my qualifications, and I’ve been asked in a bunch of threads what books I’ve written. I’ve had to dodge that question, because the books are so specialized I’m often either the only author in the field, or one of two or three (I write about closed captioning for the hearing-impaired, and I’ve written 17–yes, I said 17–children’s books about animal poop and tracks). Any of you who took the trouble to tie my posts on different subjects together could have figured out who I am anyway. How many authors own a bookstore and newspaper in rural Montana? Just one, as far as I know. So, as of a bit later today, my online name is changing from InvisibleWombat to Gary “Wombat” Robson. I’m keeping the “Wombat” in there so that discussions in old threads don’t get confusing. The net effect on all of you should be absolutely nil, and most of you probably don’t care. But if you do care, take a peek at [my website](http://www.robson.org/gary/). I feel like I’ve made some friends in almost seven years here on the Dope, and it will feel good to just be me, no longer hiding behind the veil of anonymity. Thanks for listening. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/2 "2009-11-25T15:43:06Z")
So… you’re visible? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/3 "2009-11-25T15:47:40Z")
Damn it! I’m coming out too! My real name is Clint Eastwood - yes, THE Clint Eastwood! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/4 "2009-11-25T15:58:20Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > **So, as of a bit later today, my online name is changing from InvisibleWombat to Gary “Wombat” Robson**. I’m keeping the “Wombat” in there so that discussions in old threads don’t get confusing. The net effect on all of you should be absolutely nil, and most of you probably don’t care. But if you do care, take a peek at [my website](http://www.robson.org/gary/). I feel like I’ve made some friends in almost seven years here on the Dope, and it will feel good to just be me, no longer hiding behind the veil of anonymity. > > Thanks for listening. You’ll always be **Invisible** to us. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/5 "2009-11-25T15:58:46Z")
Scat for children!? ---
**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:** [November 25, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/6 "2009-11-25T16:12:36Z")
_Beastiality_ scat for children. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/7 "2009-11-25T16:38:03Z")
Next time you have to chastise an evildoer, I hope you’ll say “Who pooped in my forum?” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/8 "2009-11-25T17:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Being anonymous on the SDMB has made some discussions awkward, where I’ve tried to speak as an authority on certain subjects without being able to cite my qualifications, I _have_ to ask - when has someone questioned your qualifications to talk about children’s books on animal poop? God bless the SDMB - they’ve got experts on _everything_. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/9 "2009-11-25T17:17:41Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > You’ll always be **Invisible** to us. 😃 Awwww. Thanks. > [@jjimm](#): > > Scat for children!? :eek: It’s the _books_ that are for children, **jjimm** , the _ **books** _. 😃 > [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Next time you have to chastise an evildoer, I hope you’ll say “Who pooped in my forum?” Hmmm. Maybe that should be my new .sig > [@Shodan](#): > > I _have_ to ask - when has someone questioned your qualifications to talk about children’s books on animal poop? Actually, **Shodan** , it was a different subject. If I recall correctly, I was challenged on some TV-related stuff, and I actually hold a patent on a relevant technology. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/10 "2009-11-25T17:25:52Z")
Just as a side note: I changed my profile picture to show how I dress when I’m moderating. I understand **Marley** uses full plate. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/11 "2009-11-25T18:13:32Z")
No fuzzy ears? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/12 "2009-11-25T19:00:03Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > No fuzzy ears? 😕 I may be getting old, but I’m not _that_ old. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/13 "2009-11-25T20:39:40Z")
Oh, wow, most mods just use a moderator hat, but a moderator mail coif? That takes the cake. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/14 "2009-11-25T21:08:20Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:10, topic:518912”] Just as a side note: I changed my profile picture to show how I dress when I’m moderating. I understand **Marley** uses full plate. [/QUOTE] So, if mods aren’t wearing the full mod uniform, we can just ignore them? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/15 "2009-11-25T21:10:43Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Damn it! I’m coming out too! > > My real name is Clint Eastwood - yes, THE Clint Eastwood! What kind of stupid name is that? \ ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/16 "2009-11-25T21:48:49Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:9, topic:518912”] > [@](#): > > I have to ask - when has someone questioned your qualifications to talk about children’s books on animal poop? Actually, **Shodan** , it was a different subject. If I recall correctly, I was challenged on some TV-related stuff, and I actually hold a patent on a relevant technology. [/QUOTE] Darn. I was hoping it was something like “Dr. Suess Tells Us Where the Bear Shits”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/17 "2009-11-26T00:06:32Z")
Dude knows his shit! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/18 "2009-11-26T00:08:52Z")
I thought he was the Green Lantern. ☹ ::hands Marley a sawbuck:: ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/19 "2009-11-26T00:45:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Darn. I was hoping it was something like “Dr. Suess Tells Us Where the Bear Shits”. I can not find bear tracks and poop. I cannot find them, Mr. Yoop. Could you find them in a cave? Would you go there? Are you brave? I could not, would not in a cave. I wouldn’t go there. I’m not brave! Could you find them by a lake? Could you tell if they were fake? I just might find them by a lake. I’d count the toes to spot a fake. I could not, would not in a cave. I wouldn’t go there. I’m not brave! … ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912/20 "2009-11-26T02:01:54Z")
So, do you play darts or soccer?:D:p > **[Gary Robson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Robson)** > > Gary Robson is the name of: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-wombat-is-gary-robson/518912.md?page=2)