Anonymity within game messaging

[Oxmeister]

Hi, I'm new to this site and involved in some anonymous games. I've looked at the rules, and I think they are fairly clear to me, but the attitudes of players seems to indicate different interpretations.

From what I've seen in the rules, you cannot break your anonymity here on the forum, but you can do as part of the game messaging (public or private), as you could be lying.

I've seen examples of anonymous games where people claim they are somebody else (in anonymous countries) or disclose who they are. On the other hand I've also interacted with players in games who are surprised when I comment that we seem to be in different time zones that they don't want to be too specific to avoid breaking anonymity, almost as if I maybe I shouldn't be asking.

This is useful information, but I don't want to break the rules, so my question is simply to clarify whether there are any limitations on how I approach anonymity *within* the game messaging systems? can I confirm I know somebody who is, having worked out by their press style, to other players? can I ask questions that might give up a players identity? can I make claims about my own identity?

Thanks

[Pootleflump]

My understanding is that generally you can tell anyone who you are WITHIN a game (either by direct message or in the PP) - even anonymous games - because yes, you could by lying or pretending to be someone else and that's all part of the game. Some people are known for being more loyal than others (such as..... cough.... Pootleflump..... cough..... fiercely loyal).

What you can't do is contact anyone OUTWITH the game. Or tell anyone outwith the game (e.g. on the forum, chatbox or in another game) that you're in a certain game.

That said, if you're in a tournament, it's always worth checking the rules of that tournament. For example WHSeward used to organise an annual elite tournament where it was expressly part of the rules that you shouldn't discuss a players identity within the game.

For the two current tournaments on PlayDip (Pastis and PDL), I'm pretty sure it's ok to pretend to be anybody, including yourself within game.

Somebody told me in a recent game that they'd come across several people (in different games) pretending to be Pootleflump. I think they made even more outrageous Pootleflumps than me. How dare they!

If you meet a Pootleflump, make sure she's the original...

[TTBen]

What Pootleflump said above is accurate. I may be a poor judge of style but I've been fooled several times thinking I knew who someone was. Even timezones are not a foolproof method of ID'ing someone as you never know what hours someone is awake (some people might regularly be up at midnight their time)

[Oxmeister]

Very helpful both, thank you

[Jack007]

... I may be a poor judge of style but I've been fooled several times thinking I knew who someone was. Even timezones are not a foolproof method of ID'ing someone as you never know what [is true]

And even the forum avatar isn't a foolproof method of identification. That having said I ask now the other "Pootleflump" here to stop faking me, because there can be only one Pootleflump, and that's me.

Best..
Pootleflump

[Pootleflump]

And even the forum avatar isn't a foolproof method of identification. That having said I ask now the other "Pootleflump" here to stop faking me, because there can be only one Pootleflump, and that's me.

Best..
Pootleflump

PROVE IT! What colour is your underwear? Only the real Pootleflump knows the answer.......

[Custer]

I know......

Creepy Uncle Custer

LoL

[V]

What underwear?

[Oxmeister]

What a funny turn a mundane thread about rules has taken

[UM85]

I know......

Creepy Uncle Custer

LoL

Custer, how many times have we asked you to stop wearing Pootleflump's underwear?