# Please enforce the location field **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600 "2010-12-10T00:09:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/21 "2010-12-10T17:41:11Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > This is a dumb idea for many reasons. One that I didn’t notice being mentioned is that the powers that be would have no way of checking to see if the location field was being filled out accurately, which would be pretty vital for this to be of any use at all. The “powers that be” do have access to IP addresses for users, so unless someone is using a proxy they would be able to check if the location entered is accurate. Actually checking that would be tedious and I agree with you that forcing users to fill in the location field is a dumb idea. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/22 "2010-12-10T17:47:42Z")
Seems like overkill for poorly written posts. Much better is 38 replies of “Tell us where you’re located Jagoff!” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/23 "2010-12-10T18:23:37Z")
I hate when people ask location-specific questions without mentioning where they are, but not enough to make the location mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/24 "2010-12-10T18:25:02Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > The “powers that be” do have access to IP addresses for users, so unless someone is using a proxy they would be able to check if the location entered is accurate. Actually checking that would be tedious and I agree with you that forcing users to fill in the location field is a dumb idea. The “Powers that Be” could only somewhat, more or less, determine if the poster lived in the general part of the world that they claim to even without using a proxy server. Like the targeted adds that try to customize to your area that are often quite wrong. My ISP is through CenturyTel and the adds often seem to believe that I live in Montana, more often though they put me somewhere near Aberdeen, Washington, when I am actually several hundred miles to the south, in Oregon. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/25 "2010-12-10T18:38:29Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Everybody who posts has an address. I’m homeless. What is my address? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/26 "2010-12-10T19:17:39Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Everybody who posts has an address. Mathematician Paul Erdős, who contributed prolifically to the current body of mathematics in a variety of areas, never had a fixed address and carried all of his worldly possessions in a suitcase. Would you exclude him from the pool of respondents because he would not have an address. I think the location field is generally useless, hence why so many posters poke fun at it by making a joke of their location. It is is pertinent to the thread at hand, the poster can provide it or be prompted for a location. Otherwise, who particularly cares? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/27 "2010-12-10T19:47:56Z")
Can we at least enforce the “species” field? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/28 "2010-12-10T20:05:14Z")
I’m sorry, but I’ve just acheived enlightenment, and I am one with everything. If I ask about a DVD region, you’re just going to have to fake it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/29 "2010-12-10T20:09:42Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’m sorry, but I’ve just acheived enlightenment, and I am one with everything. . So, you’re a Coney Island Hot Dog?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/30 "2010-12-10T20:11:01Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I am one with everything. You mean, like [this](http://www.la-foodie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/chicago-dog.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/31 "2010-12-10T20:13:45Z")
Just don’t ask me for change. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/32 "2010-12-10T20:48:24Z")
People who ask questions that need a location, but they don’t provide one…? Not much different from people asking a computer question not telling whether they’re using Mac or PC, or asking a question about THE THREE MUSKETEERS and not specifying whether book or movie or which movie… Yeah, people can make errors of omission, but that’s not a reason for us to insist on everyone providing location, or their computer-type, or… Si? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/33 "2010-12-10T21:16:29Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I have a better idea, which is to **not** enforce the location field. It’s a one in a million chance, but it just might work! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/34 "2010-12-10T23:21:43Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Seems like overkill for poorly written posts. > > Much better is 38 replies of “Tell us where you’re located Jagoff!” Sometimes we just need a fool to tee off on, and what better fool than someone who asks a location-specific question without giving a location? Fool! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/35 "2010-12-10T23:22:43Z")
Uh, that was a general ejaculation of “fool,” not calling **Saint Cad** a fool. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/36 "2010-12-11T00:18:33Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I like the wacky location jokes =( > > I wish guests could have locations ☹ I’m sorry, that’s just not possible. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/37 "2010-12-11T00:32:39Z")
ITT: **Cat Whisperer** ejaculated in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/38 "2010-12-11T01:28:14Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > ITT: **Cat Whisperer** ejaculated in the thread. She’s a squirter? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/39 "2010-12-11T01:44:20Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > She’s a squirter? :eek: Must be, unless she’s got a surprise! ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600/40 "2010-12-11T03:36:31Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > The “powers that be” do have access to IP addresses for users, so unless someone is using a proxy they would be able to check if the location entered is accurate. Actually checking that would be tedious and I agree with you that forcing users to fill in the location field is a dumb idea. On site after site, I get location based ads from a city at least 75 miles away and I am not hiding my ip address from any advertiser. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-enforce-the-location-field/563600.md?page=3)