# Is anybody tracking the Dopers in harm's way? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 13, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853 "2004-04-13T21:02:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/1 "2004-04-13T21:02:27Z")
Since most of us are here anonymously (except Happy Lendervedder–who’d’ve guessed that was his real name?) and some members are currently working in Iraq AND since there have been increases in kidnappings, woundings, and deaths among people there, both in and out of uniform, is somebody who has access to their real names keeping an eye on the news in case they show up? If not I could ask them to send me their real names and I could pass along any news they are, ahem, no longer able to pass along. It’s not like I don’t read the obits already. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/2 "2004-04-14T05:36:03Z")
While these people are our friends and fellow community members, they are still entitled to their privacy and so are their families. It would be one thing if the person involved came to one of us and asked us to be a conduit for information “if and when,” but otherwise, no, that’s really not appropriate. Let’s respect their privacy. I’m sure they appreciate your concern, but that first step needs to come from them. Jenny your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/3 "2004-04-14T14:01:04Z")
Of course we want to respect their privacy and it should come from them, you silly girl! I just want to make sure there is SOMEBODY who is acting as a conduit for each and if nobody else is I’d offer my email as a nonpublic place where somebody could drop their (not somebody else’s) real name. Then I’d watch the news and if something bad happened to them I could spread the word and we could have an “Aw shucks, that’s too bad” thread in their honor. One of our own, especially one who is kidnapped or dies while in service to their country or humanity, deserves this at least as much as one of Eve’s semi-celebrities, and if one doesn’t have an understanding family member or friend, like Wally’s daughter or Persephone’s husband, to come online to tell us these people could disappear from the board and we’d be none the wiser as to their fate. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/4 "2004-04-14T14:28:01Z")
I’d be more than happy to be someone’s contact person. If any military dopers pesons would like to contact me, my email is in my profile. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/5 "2004-04-14T19:43:02Z")
Wait a second… When did **Persephone** die? ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/6 "2004-04-14T20:26:22Z")
**Chronos** , tell me you’re joking. No, wait. Tell me you’re _not_ joking. Wait. That’s not right either. Just… tell me what you meant. I’m confused. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/7 "2004-04-15T06:52:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wait a second… When did **Persephone** die? Well, not everyone visits [MPSIMS](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=243208) … I happened upon the news quite by accident and, although I never interacted with Persephone on the board, I enjoyed her posts and was very saddened at her passing. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/9 "2004-04-15T12:06:36Z")
**Bruno Puntz Jones** , please mind your language. Insults are not permitted in **ATMB**. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/10 "2004-04-15T12:17:31Z")
Not only is that kind of insult not permitted in ATMB forum, neither is a discussion that belongs in MPSIMS or elsewhere. This thread is about SDMB members who are military personnel, and whether they would like a “contact” person to keep the boards advised in the event of any unpleasantness. Anyone who wants to catch **Chronos** up-to-date, please do it by email. Not here. And **Bruno** , there are lots of us who do not read all of the forums. A newcomer is far more likely to skim around a bit than a long-time member with little time and specific interests. However, in any event, as **xash** says, personal insults are not permitted outside the Pit forum. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/11 "2004-04-15T13:41:41Z")
Not just military, Dex. I believe we’ve got at least one with an NGO and possibly (I don’t know everybody here) some contractors. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/12 "2004-04-15T19:53:11Z")
As **Shrinking Violet** surmised, I don’t often venture into MPSIMS, but I have seen enough by and about **Persephone** in the years I’ve been here that I knew that she was a well-liked and respected member of the board. Which is why I was curious about her passing. The linked thread has all the information, so no further “catching-up” is necessary. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/13 "2004-04-16T21:15:40Z")
Returning to the theme of in-theater Dopers, **Tripler** has checked in. Details in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=251356). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/14 "2004-04-17T03:05:48Z")
Not to be ghoulish, **paperback** , but do you have his real name so you can monitor his health? ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/15 "2004-04-17T03:47:10Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Not to be ghoulish, **paperback** , but do you have his real name so you can monitor his health? No, unfortunately, I do not. If we stop hearing from him, I won’t know whether its that he ran into a firewall at his end, or a wall of fire. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/16 "2004-04-17T04:15:11Z")
Who is your doper buddy, **dropzone**? **withaK** is in Texas right now but is headed overseas pdq. If anything happens to him and **sperfur** doesn’t post it, I will. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/17 "2004-04-17T04:57:29Z")
A while back I mailed some cookies and a note to **Will Santini**. I do not know his real name, nor will I ask. But I did include a SASE with the cookies, asking him, if possible, to let me know if they arrived in edible condition. I’ve not heard back, but that’s not unusual. He’s probably _very_ busy. What I will do, if I hear from him, is to simply make a simple post about it. I don’t want him to feel pressured or obligated. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/18 "2004-04-17T17:42:33Z")
I was wondering, with our Doper servicemen and women, will there be an extension for them to register at the charter member rate? After all, they may have a couple of more important things to do than PayPal $5 right now. ---
**Author:** ![Jessity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jessity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jessity)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/19 "2004-04-18T19:36:55Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Not to be ghoulish, **paperback** , but do you have his real name so you can monitor his health? I do, and I know I’m not the only one here who knows. Definitely not to be ghoulish either, but I do keep an eye out for that name. ---
**Author:** ![sperfur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@sperfur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sperfur)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/20 "2004-04-19T18:12:34Z")
> [@misstee](#): > > **withaK** is in Texas right now but is headed overseas pdq. If anything happens to him and **sperfur** doesn’t post it, I will. You know I love you guys - but I prefer to think he’ll be back here to post about his trip himself. In the meantime - for those of you that don’t regularly visit MPSIMS - check out these threads if you want to take part in entertaining the troops: [Lazy Army Husband’s Form Letter (Home)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=248435) [Soldier’s Form Letter From Home](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=250178) I’m still working on the second one and will post in that thread when its done. The first one is completed and I will email it to anyone who wants it. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2004, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853/21 "2004-04-19T18:43:41Z")
> [@sperfur](#): > > You know I love you guys - but I prefer to think he’ll be back here to post about his trip himself. I didn’t plan on telling about his trip, rather reporting if something should happen to him. But I can see you are following this thread so it will not be necessary for me to. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-tracking-the-dopers-in-harms-way/239853.md?page=2)