# Would you out him? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868 "2010-10-21T07:58:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/21 "2010-10-21T17:48:33Z")
For those examples? Hell no. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/22 "2010-10-21T17:54:01Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > True. I’m talking about outing them on the board, ie Oakminster’s real name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, and he lives \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. > > That sort of thing. What exactly does the OP have in mind as far as “outing?” Would I run and tell the media? No, probably not. Would I tell my buddies, “hey, Johnny Politician burned a couch when he was college…” Yeah, maybe. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/23 "2010-10-21T18:09:30Z")
Yeah, I voted before reading any examples. I was thinking more along the lines of: – As a candidate, he’s militantly anti-same-sex anything, yet he talks on the Dope all day about he just luuuurves the cock … then yeah, I might write a letter to the editor or something. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/24 "2010-10-21T20:35:12Z")
It would depend entirely upon whether or not I agreed with him ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/25 "2010-10-21T20:35:56Z")
No. Golden Rule. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/26 "2010-10-21T20:40:07Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Oakminster’s real name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ You know, I kind of always suspected that you were \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, **Oakminster**. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/27 "2010-10-21T20:44:22Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Yeah, I voted before reading any examples. > > I was thinking more along the lines of: > > – As a candidate, he’s militantly anti-same-sex anything, yet he talks on the Dope all day about he just luuuurves the cock … then yeah, I might write a letter to the editor or something. Yeah, this is pretty much what I was thinking, too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/28 "2010-10-21T21:01:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > RNATB, are you speaking legally or ethically? I agree that message boards posts have no such legal expectation. Both. > [@lisacurl](#): > > There are people on this message board that I have met in person. So you’re saying it would be okay if they posted details about my personal life? Well, that depends. Are the details “ **lisacurl’s** husband John makes delicious brownies”, or “ **lisacurl** likes it when you tie her up and tease her with vegetables”? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/29 "2010-10-21T21:22:44Z")
I don’t think anyone still considers politicians to be saints, if they ever did. I would out him only if the issue were something that seriously conflicted with his public persona, and it were something that the electorate had a right to know about. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/30 "2010-10-21T21:35:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > . > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > > > I wouldn’t, but IMHO anyone who posts stuff on a public message board no longer has a reasonable expectation of privacy. > > > > RNATB, are you speaking legally or ethically? I agree that message boards posts have no such legal expectation. > > Both So does that mean YOU feel free to out someone, or simply that you’ll not judge another persron who does so? If the former, what circumstances would justify outing someone in your opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/31 "2010-10-22T03:15:18Z")
I’ve never been very fond of people who offer information on others as if to influence my opinion of them. Somehow it seems insulting, as though I am unable to make my own assessment of someone’s inclinations. And I think all people should be free to make their own assumptions about others, erroneous or otherwise. I’d never out anyone’s sexual preferences under any circumstances (unless they were illegal.) ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/32 "2010-10-22T04:53:03Z")
No, I wouldn’t. Sexual orientation 1) really isn’t any of my business, 2) really isn’t anyone else’s business, and 3)have very little impact on what I think about a person. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/33 "2010-10-22T06:13:58Z")
If the transgression doesn’t contradict his public character/political positions, I’d keep it to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/34 "2010-10-22T12:43:03Z")
It seems unlikely. I don’t care enough to bother. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/35 "2010-10-22T17:21:57Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Just to be clear, I am thinking here along the lines of stuff like: > > 1. He is pro same sex marriage, but clearly hetrosexual with a wife and kids, but has admitted to a homosexual encounter in college that he didn’t enjoy > 2. He once got drunk in college and set fire to a hotel bed - something for which he made full restitution, regrets and learnt a lesson about drinking too much > 3. His mother had a bout with alcoholism when he was in elementary school, but she recovered and this is not public knowledge… From those examples, a resounding NO. Most was from college and, well, college students tend to do stupid things - that is a part of growing up. Plus, nothing you mention was exactly earth-shattering news - setting fire to a bed while drunk was dumb, but nobody was hurt and he learned his lesson. I think if some politician is running around making life miserable for others and leading a double life could be a different story. Holier-than-thou bible-thumpers who claim homosexuality is an unforgivable sin - and then hang out in truck stops giving blow jobs - well, I would out their sorry ass in a mega-second. That goes for politicians, religious leaders and celebrities. If you are a self-loathing fag, do the rest of us a favor and at least shut up - otherwise, you get what you deserve and get no pity from me when the shit hits the fan. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/36 "2010-10-22T19:32:16Z")
No, and honestly the fact that you have to ask makes me question your integrity. Just wanting attention it seems. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/37 "2010-10-22T21:58:22Z")
Let me be clear. There is a presumption of some privacy here that occasionally can be compromised. E -mail adresses etc. Anything I learn here stays here, period . Unless it involves crimanality. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/38 "2010-10-24T20:56:54Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Just to be clear, I am thinking here along the lines of stuff like: > > 1. He is pro same sex marriage, but clearly hetrosexual with a wife and kids, but has admitted to a homosexual encounter in college that he didn’t enjoy So? Many here are hetero and pro SSM. > [@](#): > > 1. He once got drunk in college and set fire to a hotel bed - something for which he made full restitution, regrets and learnt a lesson about drinking too much College kids are well-known for their indiscretions. > [@](#): > > 1. His mother had a bout with alcoholism when he was in elementary school, but she recovered and this is not public knowledge… Pretty sure revealing such medical information is against various laws anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/39 "2010-10-24T21:48:37Z")
Probably not, but I could conceivably see myself doing it if it was a politician I disagreed with strongly enough, and it was an issue I felt passionately about. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868/40 "2010-10-27T01:23:22Z")
Given bengangmo’s examples, no, I suppose I wouldn’t. In general, I’m leery of outing online personae where there’s a long held record. Certainly I’ve been on the Dope a long time, & use the relative anonymity here to hash out my own ideas, many of which are of course bad. I joined hoping to learn some things, & I have. So I would be worried if someone were to pull out something I’ve said here in the past to use against me, or if the SDMB became other than anonymous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-out-him/557868.md?page=1)