To think the AMA section needs to go

[Risksrevealvalues]

It’s either

“I’m vulnerable as hell, ask me anything” (come and gawp at me)

or

“My job / life involves some sort of care for the vulnerable, ask me anything” (come and gawp at the misfits)

Fucking awful

...and calling other people misfits. Dear god, what decade have you just dragged in from?

Hide it if you don't like it. It needs the usual disclaimer at the top as a sticky about nobody on the internet being necessarily being who they claim to be, and us needing to take. it with a pinch of salt

I was thinking of doing an AMA about having bipolar disorder and having been in a psychiatric hospital...no doubt you'd tell me I'm 'vulnerable'.

Already been done.

There's nothing patronising about looking out for those who might be being taken advantage of.

What is the AMA section?

Reddit also has a CasualAMA section which is not verified.

For the official verified ones the mods send a private message to the person asking them to take a picture of themselves (if it's a recognisable person) or themselves with the credential e.g. doctor's licence or whatever including something like a piece of paper with a random phrase written on it generated for that particular verification. Or in the case of a well known person they may deal directly with their agent, like for MN web chats.

TBH just hide the section? It's a bit of a trend at the moment and it will probably die down after a while. I'm thinking of hiding AIBU because it has finally descended into madness for me (not this thread in particular but lots I've seen recently).

I did wonder whether it might be best for the AMA section to be like chat and disappear, though. Because of the identifying stuff. But really we are all grown ups and ought to be able to decide what to post and whether it's identifying.

@Bombardier25966

Given that the OP then moves on to call people misfits it's not exactly coming across as though she's hugely motivated by looking out for people

I also want to know how Reddit verifies people. They have a 'casual ama' topic too, maybe they only verify some?

Just read that Reddit check your photo against your ID, fine but do they also check that you do the job you say you do (or whatever)?

It is a pretty pointless topic to be fair.

And given all the name changing, it should probably be called the "Who shall I pretend to be today" topic.

But as others have said, if people choose to believe randoms on the internet, they only have themselves to blame.

I often dread to think what sort of advice they give their kids when they join social media, because it sure as hell can't be "Remember, don't believe all you read on the internet".

You’ve misunderstood that statement umpteen

Also, regarding vulnerabilities etc, all threads can have that element in a way to different extents. I thought the JWitness one sounded vulnerable. I haven't noticed any others though. Which ones revealed info about people they cared for? (Or 'misfits' as OP nicely put it)?

I’m enjoying AMA. I’m learning a lot.

Oh the voice of reason worra yes I completely agree

If you go onto the Reddit AMA forum it says on there. They ask for a photo (privately, to the mods) with some kind of identifying proof. What that is likely depends massively on whatever the claim is of the AMA author.

YABU. Just ignore them.

Problem with AMA is not getting a reply.

So it is AMA but I don't have to answer

Okay, so if someone put 'I'm a stripper ask me anything' (I have seen that on there several times)! They'd have to send a photo of themselves in a bra and knicks in a nightclub?

Or 'I have X condition ask me anything' (photo of prescription with their name on it....'?

I guess so. I mean reddit has a huge porn section so sending a picture of yourself in underwear isn't exactly a taboo (though obviously nobody makes anyone do it!) I would guess that some strip clubs have fliers with pictures of the dancers on them so a picture of themselves next to the flier or something like that.

I don't think MN needs to do anything like this FWIW - I think MN has a decent enough system with webchats and it's fine for the AMA section to be unverified and take with a pinch of salt.

I thought the whole point of the internet is that you can ask questions you couldn't in real life? Either through fear of being nosy, or because it was too niche a question to be answered by the bloke down the pub or the 20 year old encyclopedia in the library. Obviously some of the content on the internet is garbage but let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

I think so too bertie to be fair MN don't verify on any thread, some quite serious topics, and MN is pretty good at taking down dodgy ones.

I've made (genuine) threads under old usernames and not been believed too!

Only read the footballers wife one. Fascinating. I don't even care if she wasn't a real WAG!

I've only seen a handful of them as I'm not glued to MN but I've found most of the ones I've seen quite fascinating.
Those that don't interest me? I just move on 🤷🏻‍♀️

People used to periodically pop up and say AIBU had ruined mn
Was all genteel chat and pomanders before AIBU ruined mn.apparently

They're people doing different jobs aren't they? I haven't seen any that are vulnerable.