# Would you be willing to verify that you are who you say you are? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152 "2012-06-24T16:33:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/81 "2012-06-28T00:04:16Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > Wouldn’t mind at all. I went to school with one Doper, and several are Facebook friends. No problem. Okay, 'fess up, you just posted that so that someone would comment on the post/username irony, right? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/82 "2012-06-28T02:41:13Z")
I suffer from no delusion that I am posting anonymously now. But why would proving I am what or who I say I am matter? Why would anyone care? What I post stands or falls on its own merits and possibly my record of previous posts (for better or worse) not on any basis of what or who I claim I am. Sure, if the thread is an “Ask The …” thread where the post really is the cite and there is reason to suspect that the poster is a crock, then such a request is valid and can be provided to mods only whose ability to vet on behalf of the TM yet keep specifics confidential would need to be trusted. Same for any poster whose collection of posts seem likely to represent a false persona. If someone is suspected by mods to be a troll then a request for confidential proof that such is not the case seems just. But for the rest of the us? I’d want to know what the reason was first. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/83 "2012-06-28T03:20:11Z")
I just had to certify who I was for a job. Used my passport card but I had my birth certificate to back that up if needed. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/84 "2012-06-28T03:44:38Z")
My username is just my surname in reverse, I’ve given people my first name, and frequently reveal information that betrays my identity. Yes I’d be happy to verify who I am. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/85 "2012-06-28T03:48:17Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > Okay, 'fess up, you just posted that so that someone would comment on the post/username irony, right? 🙂 I figured someone might point that out. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/86 "2012-06-28T03:53:30Z")
_ **HELL NO111!!1!11!** _ Ain’t nobody knowing _nothin’_ about me. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/87 "2012-06-28T03:55:27Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > My username is just my surname in reverse, I’ve given people my first name, and frequently reveal information that betrays my identity. > > Yes I’d be happy to verify who I am. Wait..You’re _actually_ Mr. Blackman? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/88 "2012-06-28T17:20:15Z")
To be blunt, **Ed Zotti** knows my name, address, phone number, where I work, some of my family, and other very personal details. As a result I don’t need nor feel any obligation to supply any additional information to anyone on this message board about me being “real.” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/89 "2012-06-28T17:43:31Z")
It’s not just my anonymity. It’s my husband’s anonymity. And our friends and family members. And my clients. I don’t live in a vacuum (heh). ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/90 "2012-06-29T22:17:52Z")
On this board, not necessarily. On other boards, yes. My first exposure to the Internet was on a message board where you HAD to use your real name. (If you thought that stopped the flame wars, you would be wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/91 "2012-06-29T23:13:22Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Wait..You’re _actually_ Mr. Blackman? do do do do do do do do namkcalb ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/92 "2012-07-04T08:23:05Z")
No, because the only way possible would be to identify myself to someone else who can also be trusted by both me and everyone else here. And I can’t think of anyone who fits the bill on both counts. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/93 "2012-07-04T08:27:15Z")
I yam what I yam. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152/94 "2012-07-04T14:33:08Z")
I will verify my identity to Cecil Adams only. He will have to verify his identity first. In reality I have revealed my work history and given advice based on that. I would be willing to give proof to admins if needed. And I have met several Dopers including PRR at a Dopefest and gave my real name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-willing-to-verify-that-you-are-who-you-say-you-are/626152.md?page=4)