# Who is this well-known person? clues, but no name **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 1999, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024 "1999-12-14T00:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [December 14, 1999, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/1 "1999-12-14T00:29:00Z")
In the thread " [IRL in NYC: The Empire State Strikes Back](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/003184.html)", **manhattan** said > [@](#): > > There were no pictures. > Flora is actually a known personage, and a picture would ruin her anonymity. So? Details? Here’s what I’ve gleaned from her posts:[ul][li]Flora took her username from the poem [“Nothing to Wear”, by William Allen Butler (1857)](http://www.thacherproffitt.com/wear.htm).[/li][li]She lived in Baltimore in the 1970’s.[/li][li]She knew Lillian Gish.[/ul][/li]I can’t guess from that, but if someone wants to send me a private, confidential e-mail, spilling the beans, there’s a sawbuck in it for you! (waves 10-spot temptingly in the air) Full discretion is guaranteed. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/2 "1999-12-14T01:18:00Z")
## That’s easy. She’s actually Martha Stewart. Where’s my ten-spot? “If ignorance were corn flakes, you’d be General Mills.” Cecil Adams _The Straight Dope_ ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/3 "1999-12-14T01:35:00Z")
Martha Stewart? Pluto, wash your mouth out with soap, and say four Hail Algonquins. pat ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/4 "1999-12-14T01:49:00Z")
Hmmmm. I’m intrigued! * * * “There’s a snake in my boot!” ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/5 "1999-12-14T01:51:00Z")
Ann Sothern? ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/6 "1999-12-14T02:15:00Z")
John Waters? ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/7 "1999-12-14T02:23:00Z")
Beat me to it … I was gonna say “Divine”, except h’orsh’it (apologies to _Forbes_)died. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/8 "1999-12-14T03:25:00Z")
I would guess that she is someone who would prefer anonymity in this forum. * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/9 "1999-12-14T03:27:00Z")
Awww…why can’t we just let her be Flora? Maybe she’ll tell us someday, y’know? Good things come to those who wait/ in due time/ patience is a virtue… that sort of thing. * * * “…all the prettiest girls live in Des Moines…” –Jack Kerouac, _On the Road_ ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/10 "1999-12-14T04:41:00Z")
Amen, Flora be Flora, and I’m fauna her just like it is. ---
**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:** [December 14, 1999, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/11 "1999-12-14T04:44:00Z")
I’m not saying everybody has to know, just me. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/12 "1999-12-14T05:42:00Z")
I live around and in the midst of enough celebrities to think that Chris is right when she says – just let Flora be Flora. That is, let her have someplace where she is accepted for herself, and not for her celebrity, whatever that is. Even Kevin Costner used to take his turn when it was his girls’ turn to do treats for soccer practice. Treat 'em like any other soccer dad, or any other SDMB poster – let 'em have a real life. -Melin ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/13 "1999-12-14T06:44:00Z")
I completely agree with you guys - except… I love these kinds of mysteries. In fact, these are the sort of things that are always disappointing when they’re solved, because then the fun of discovering or guessing or wondering has been taken away… yet… it’s a Catch 22. * * * -PIGEONMAN- Hero For A New Millennium! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - updates every Wed & Sat. If I can be bothered. ---
**Author:** ![AuraSeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AuraSeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuraSeer)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/14 "1999-12-14T08:01:00Z")
Come on, people! If you’re interested enough, you can get on a plane and fly to the next NYC gathering. If that’s too much trouble, just leave the woman in peace. * * * Laugh hard; it’s a long way to the bank. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/15 "1999-12-14T08:30:00Z")
Flora is Bernadette Peters! Or is it Ethel Merman? Bela Abzug? Hilary? No, no, now I remember, she’s Harvey Fierstein!! Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/16 "1999-12-14T10:14:00Z")
C’mon, everyone knows that Flora is really Ed Zotti. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/17 "1999-12-14T10:45:00Z")
I am intrigued… When’s this next NYSD meeting? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/18 "1999-12-14T11:12:00Z")
If she’s a mild mannered reporter for the Daily Planet, then no wonder she wants to stay low profile. * * * -PIGEONMAN- Hero For A New Millennium! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - updates every Wed & Sat. If I can be bothered. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 1999, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/19 "1999-12-14T11:57:00Z")
People, manhattan was joking in that post that Arnold was quoting from. Go back and read it. manhattan said: \> There were no pictures. \> \> Flora is actually a known personage, and a \> picture would ruin her anonymity. \> Ike has been photographed \> Cap’n is in the Federal Witness Protection \> Program \> manhattan is butt-ugly \> CMKeller moved faster than the speed of \> light and would not show up on film \> SaxFace’s modeling contract prohibits the \> use of her image without substantial \> royalties. \> Tuba has no excuse, but why bring a camera \> for one? \> Alpha the scientist is developing germ \> warfare products for the Pentagon. He was \> advised not to be photographed. ---
**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:** [December 14, 1999, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024/20 "1999-12-14T16:20:00Z")
**Auraseer** , **Melin** , I also thought that **manhattan** was joking. I was more interested in seeing which celebrity would fit her “parameters”. I’m sure she wishes to be anonymous, but if she really was a “known personage” and didn’t want that fact to be disseminated, **manhattan** wouldn’t have mentioned it. * * * Quand les talons claquent, l’esprit se vide. Maréchal Lyautey [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-well-known-person-clues-but-no-name/12024.md?page=2)