# Why is location so often left blank? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 8, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498 "2002-04-08T15:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/1 "2002-04-08T15:26:08Z")
As a newbie, I can’t help noticing that many people choose not to specify their location, and am wondering why this is so. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/2 "2002-04-08T15:31:34Z")
The old board software didn’t have a location field that showed up on the thread screen, so my guess is that many people just haven’t bothered updating their profile since the big nasty. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/3 "2002-04-08T16:03:20Z")
Because we don’t really care to let you know where we live. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/4 "2002-04-08T16:06:44Z")
You aren’t supposed to put in your real location, but rather a nifty little something to display your wit. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/5 "2002-04-08T16:19:20Z")
General Questions is for questions with factual answers. ATMB is for questions about this message board. I’ll move this to ATMB for you. **DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator ---
**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:** [April 8, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/6 "2002-04-08T17:37:25Z")
Come on gazpacho! Spill the beans! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Joan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71e660/32.png) [@Saint\_Joan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Joan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/7 "2002-04-08T18:42:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*Come on gazpacho! Spill the beans! \*\* Since you’re now the board’s little designated spy, you tell him where he 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:** [April 8, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/8 "2002-04-08T19:31:13Z")
The name’s Winkelried. Arnold Winkelried. And I’ve got a 00 number! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/9 "2002-04-09T15:20:23Z")
Mah name’s Bondy, James Bondy, and I got a 7. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/10 "2002-04-09T22:38:40Z")
My name’s Kat and I have three aces and a pair of queens. I think I win this hand. _reaches out to scoop up the poker chips_ ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/11 "2002-04-10T02:10:01Z")
The name’s keyoatey. donkeyoatey. And I want my feedbag shaken, not stirred.🆒 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hillbillycavewoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bc8723/32.png) [@hillbillycavewoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hillbillycavewoman)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/12 "2002-04-10T23:19:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*You aren’t supposed to put in your real location, but rather a nifty little something to display your wit. \*\* Ha. I live in Barstow Ca. Barstow Barstow Barstow. And that’s as unreal as you can get. (other SoCal-ians are now laughing in derision). ---
**Author:** ![hillbillycavewoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bc8723/32.png) [@hillbillycavewoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hillbillycavewoman)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/13 "2002-04-10T23:24:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gazpacho \* > \*\*Because we don’t really care to let you know where we live. \*\* Nay, we Barstow types fear no uninvited visits; no one would ever come here if they didn’t have to. (other SoCal-ians now nodding and snorting in rueful agreement) ---
**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:** [April 11, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/14 "2002-04-11T15:18:49Z")
Barstow isn’t as obscure as all that. Sheryl Crow mentioned your town in one of her hit songs, _Leaving Las Vegas_. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/15 "2002-04-11T16:29:19Z")
Barstow’s fame spans the continent. Interstate 40 ends in Wilmington, North Carolina. As you head west from Wilmington, a sign informs you that you are exactly 2,554 miles from Barstow: [http://www.ncroads.com/interst/barstow.JPG](http://www.ncroads.com/interst/barstow.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/16 "2002-04-11T22:40:49Z")
Wind comes up awful strong around Barstow. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Linear\_Crack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Linear\_Crack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linear_Crack)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/17 "2002-04-12T00:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Location: So Often, Left Blank Why I oughta… 😉 ;j :eek: ---
**Author:** ![hillbillycavewoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bc8723/32.png) [@hillbillycavewoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hillbillycavewoman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/18 "2002-04-12T02:22:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PhiloVance \* > \*\*Wind comes up awful strong around Barstow. :eek: \*\* Yeah,there’s an old joke: “Know why the wind’s so strong around here? Cuz… Barstow blows, and San Bernardino sucks!” Or maybe it’s vice-versa. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hillbillycavewoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bc8723/32.png) [@hillbillycavewoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hillbillycavewoman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/19 "2002-04-12T02:25:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whitetho \* > \*\*Barstow’s fame spans the continent. Interstate 40 ends in Wilmington, North Carolina. As you head west from Wilmington, a sign informs you that you are exactly 2,554 miles from Barstow: [ncroads.com](http://www.ncroads.com/interst/barstow.JPG) \*\* That is really cool. And here I thought we had no culture. It’s a sign, I tell ya. Seriously, thanx. I’ve got to find a way to print that up for my wall. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![hillbillycavewoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bc8723/32.png) [@hillbillycavewoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hillbillycavewoman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498/20 "2002-04-12T02:28:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*Barstow isn’t as obscure as all that. Sheryl Crow mentioned your town in one of her hit songs, _Leaving Las Vegas_. \*\* Yeah, in real flattering terms… I never said it was obscure, per se. Just …not exactly a destination resort. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-location-so-often-left-blank/102498.md?page=2)