# Why won't you tell us where you're from? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474 "2006-09-28T06:09:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/61 "2006-09-29T06:11:08Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] Nah, that was uncalled for. I think you are mistaking what I used as a personal attack. I apologize. [/QUOTE] Jesus, take some responsibility for what you said. What - just a rhetorical device, eh? Since you obviously have some problem with me, show the modicum of self-respect it would take to give up the ridiculous pretense that you were just trying to make some point. I can take it. I’m not a particularly fragile person. It’d probably be good for you to get it out in the open. Sorry, to everyone else, for my part in this inane hijack. I won’t post again in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/62 "2006-09-29T06:25:27Z")
I can make an observation without it being a “problem” on my part. Quite frankly, I LOVE banter. But sometimes an attempt at banter can be taken much differently than how it is meant. I have nothing against you. But you responded directly to a post of mine that I was an unimportant person. Yes, on the internet, I AM unimportant. as are you. But I decided to answer you with an example that made my point. Perhaps I did step out of line in how I did it. Looking back, I see it was a kind of a grey area in re “attack the post, not the poster.” And, here is the important part, that’s how you took it. Whose fault is that? Both of us, I think. Me for pushing what seems to a button on you, and you for over (imho) reacting. But, hey, go ahead and think I have some secret agenda against you, if that’s what you want. I know I don’t. All you have is my pitiful attempts at humor. The smilies were meant to difuse any tenseness. Which is why I then over reacted to you with a rolleye. And, apparantly I was wrong. At least, wrong about how well YOU know me. Oh well, live and learn. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/63 "2006-09-29T06:28:53Z")
BTW, I’m in OKC, OK. And I HATE _American Idol_ I’m ending my part of this hijack, too. Apologies to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/64 "2006-09-29T06:51:51Z")
1. I’m a kid and I know there are predators out there. I’m not TOO paranoid about it- I’ve mentioned my location before in posts, so if you really wanted to know you could look it up. Hell, you could probably even figure out my name and what school I go to if you really really wanted to. But putting it in there along with every post means it’s paired with all kinds of other information. So if I say “Oh yeah, at the science museum where I work…” and I have my city along with every post, it’s pretty easy for any random person to have too much information on me at once. 2. I realize this is a public forum and has a lot of lurkers. I’m a little paranoid about people I know coming on and recognizing me. Again, it’s a matter of having all the info in one place versus having to look it up (and possibly pay $14 to look it up) 3. I do try to mention my location if it’s relevant. It’s certainly possible that I might forget, but I try. ---
**Author:** ![Moe\_Szyslak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Moe\_Szyslak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe_Szyslak)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/65 "2006-09-29T14:36:16Z")
There seems to be a major prejudice about my area of the country on this board. If I put my location on my profile, I would be assumed to be a uneducated, redneck, republican, fundamentalist, pickup-driving, racist, gun owner by a large portion of the posters on this board until I convince them otherwise. In reality, I only match one of those characteristics. I will let you guess which one. The sad part of it is that if you picked someone at random in the town where I live, a lot of the times the assumption would be correct. But, not everyone fits that stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/66 "2006-09-29T14:54:08Z")
I make the assumption, possibly incorrect, that everyone has heard the song I am referencing. Since the cable cars really do run right in front of my door, it’s actually very specific 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/67 "2006-09-29T15:34:54Z")
**Missy2U** : How terribly embarrassing. Of course you need to take 53 north for Euclid, NW Hwy, or even Rand (now tha tI think about it). 90 only gets you Arlington Heights Road or Roselle (which we all knwo if not AHts). **Saarafeena** , I’m sure you are erudite, well-read, and generally a good person. My wife gre up in Berkley Square and went to BGHS. **Kat** , it depends where your mom lives (if it’s Northgate, then maybe). I am intimately familiar with Prospect Heights, as I drive down Schoenbeck every other day to work out at the Bally’s in Mt. Prospect. Sorry for the hijack, all! I really want my Location: to say Ireland, and truthfully! -Cem ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/68 "2006-09-29T15:37:45Z")
[QUOTE=Scissorjack] It’s not all tea and cannelloni in the Witness Protection Programme, y’know: if the Mafia got wise that I was really Jackie Scissors, notorious Mob snitch, my life wouldn’t be worth a plugged nickel. [/QUOTE] Thank goodness your SD nickname won’t blow your cover, Jackie! I’m sending Nunzio over for a…discussion. -Cem ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/69 "2006-09-29T15:50:29Z")
[QUOTE=Cemetery Savior] **Saarafeena** , I’m sure you are erudite, well-read, and generally a good person. My wife gre up in Berkley Square and went to BGHS. -Cem [/QUOTE] Ha ha! Do you normally find the residents of AH do NOT have all these wonderful qualities? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/70 "2006-09-29T16:22:36Z")
I think it’s more important for people to know where I am coming from than where I am. If my location becomes relevant I’ll say what it is in a post. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/71 "2006-09-29T16:26:58Z")
By the way, **Inigo** , I love your location quip. It amuses me every time I read it. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/72 "2006-09-29T17:21:39Z")
To those of you who think you’re being clever: you’re not. To those of you who think we should know where you are based on previous posts: we don’t. To those of you who are afraid to post too much info about yourselves: I can kind of understand this, but really, would it be so bad to give us the state/county/region/country without getting too specific? Knowing where a person is from can give a little bit more context. I know many of you are giving us that info when you feel it’s relevant to the specific topic, but there are times when it’s not directly relevant, yet would still be helpful to know. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/73 "2006-09-29T17:31:13Z")
I think a lot of it comes down to, those of us who don’t explicitly state our location just aren’t that bothered by not knowing where other people are. I don’t understand why some of you feel so strongly about this issue. You keep saying that we’re not being clever, and yet there are a number of posters whose joke locations I find amusing and/or clever. Who is it that has “Location: BEHIND YOU!”? I think I laugh every time I see that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/74 "2006-09-29T17:54:14Z")
[QUOTE=Moe Szyslak] If I put my location on my profile, I would be assumed to be a uneducated, redneck, republican, fundamentalist, pickup-driving, racist, gun owner by a large portion of the posters on this board until I convince them otherwise. [/QUOTE] You’re from NYC? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/75 "2006-09-29T18:02:54Z")
OK, fine. I put the location in, for those who are irked by it not being there. Not that anyone knows where it is anyway, or cares as I rarely post. For the record, I had it blank because of a rather nasty ex who liked to follow me online, but that’s no longer an issue. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/76 "2006-09-29T18:10:38Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] You’re from NYC? 😕 [/QUOTE] No, Orange County. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/77 "2006-09-29T18:58:28Z")
[QUOTE=The Weird One] I think a lot of it comes down to, those of us who don’t explicitly state our location just aren’t that bothered by not knowing where other people are. I don’t understand why some of you feel so strongly about this issue. You keep saying that we’re not being clever, and yet there are a number of posters whose joke locations I find amusing and/or clever. Who is it that has “Location: BEHIND YOU!”? I think I laugh every time I see that. [/QUOTE] C’est moi. I was going to say “Behind you. Licking honey off knives and looking for an opening in your chain mail,” but there wasn’t enough space. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/78 "2006-09-29T19:06:27Z")
I have my location in there (er, I think), but I so rarely look at anyone’s that I generally don’t notice who has one and who not. I must hang in the wrong threads. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/79 "2006-09-29T19:12:34Z")
[QUOTE=The Weird One] I think a lot of it comes down to, those of us who don’t explicitly state our location just aren’t that bothered by not knowing where other people are. I don’t understand why some of you feel so strongly about this issue. You keep saying that we’re not being clever, and yet there are a number of posters whose joke locations I find amusing and/or clever. Who is it that has “Location: BEHIND YOU!”? I think I laugh every time I see that. [/QUOTE] I’m beginning to feel like _removing_ my location. [/quote] I like the jokes. My favorite is “Staring blankly at my GPS.” I had for a long time “The city that always sleeps” in reference to the old comment about NYC, “the city that never sleeps”, since my town likes to put in big spurs and pretend it’s a big town when it’s just a little baby town. But in the end I noticed it was annoying to always have to explain to people so I went with my current locale. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474/80 "2006-09-29T19:18:57Z")
As a few others have mentioned, if you Google mine, you will find out where I am. First option, bingo! I put it the way I did because it not only says where I am, it says something about what I like, and it promotes my city to people who share my interest. Three purposes in one little word. How concise! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-you-tell-us-where-youre-from/374474.md?page=5)