Discussion:Post your profile - where is Kevin?

However, that's not what you're doing - you're responding with a demand to see a profile. Keep in mind, please, that profiles are not required. They ARE strongly recommended, and you are 100% correct that profiles contribute to getting more, and often better, answers to a question.

But by the time your new guy posts his question, he's passed up two opportunities to update his profile. Once, when signing in as a new user, and once when clicking on the start a new question button. He's made a choice to ignore the requests - and oddly, no matter how strongly we change the wording on those pages that you click through (about profiles being really, really important), people continue to ignore the request. And while I wish we had a separate board where DIYs and people without profiles could post, and the rest of us could answer if we wanted (and as you can see, there are plenty of people who really aren't bothered by a lack of a profile), that doesn't seem to be something Tim wants to do. Just like Tim could make adding a profile mandatory - but he doesn't.

So I'd just ask everybody, please, to follow rules 3 and 8 of the Code_of_Conduct - don't bite the newcomers (or the DIYs). Either say nothing at all, or politely explain - just as Lance did in the post above - why a profile is important.

Thank you for your post. I also get annoyed by the profile police. If you don't like a poster not having a profile, just don't respond.

If it's not required - then why be judgemental about it? I continually see here answers to posters' questions where it's obvious they're not tax professionals by the way they word their questions - yet this board continually boasts about its existence FOR professionals, but doesn't discourage those seeking free advice. Maybe having some more Beatle Freds post here will frustrate the leaders of this board to take action. I've previously made suggestions to Tim Doyle about how to restrict use - but since he works for Intuit - he has to abide by what they tell him, and can virtually disregard suggestions others make.

I still don't understand why the powers that be just don't add a DIYer area and then all will be right in the world.

The repeated bashing actually takes away from the forum because now true professionals become afraid to ask questions in fear of being deemed stupid. I can guarantee that some read a DIY question and say, yeah, I had the same question, yet were afraid to ask.

I really think we should ask Aunt Em.

It's either one or the other but not both simultaneously. If it's a public forum, then drop the "tax professional" claim.

The reason Tom Doyle won't change things here, is because despite what his motives and intentions are, he has a "higher authority" to answer to - Intuit - a corporation that continually promotes conflicting interests simultaneously.

From the owner of this site to what other poster think or want I don't really care. However, I try to be professional when I post. (I know I am very trying.) I have not posted on this site very long, nevertheless, I started posting under the impression that most of the posters were tax professionals. Sad, I now find that a lot of the questions reveal that the poster is trying to do something, which in my not so humble opinion (IMHO), would require more complex and professional answers that is beyond my ability to post to this forum. Some of the question are from non-professionals and some are from people who should be professional, as a result, the responses to some of my posts are very confusing to me.

Those of you who refer to the profile police are as much outline as those of us who are profile police, we, all, are allowed to use this site until we are branded.

Everyone, go have another Latte with whatever is your favorite favor.

THIS IS THE INTERNET FOLKS!!!! Can someone not just copy and paste some resume they find online and fill out a profile? Who checks it? I think if you want to answer, answer..if not, then just be silent!!

Mama always said..."If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything"....so for Mothers Day I agree!!

Hey my new profile:

I am a 20 year old petite female who just graduated at the top of my class....hehehehehehe

Instead the truth is...well nevermind...it is the internet....

Fred, you crack me up. I'm glad to see you're back to your old self after your vacation.

I agree it would be nice to have a DIY forum.

'Us professionals' could go there when we want to answer Q's, from the goodness of our hearts.. (or just for the humbling experience when Q's are asked that 'we'- or is it just me - have to think hard to answer on occasion).

The cynic in me doubts that DIYers would restrict themselves to posting only to that DIY forum....

And as Sandy says above.....a profile can be as fictious/creative as one desires. I like her 'proposed' version. Fantasies are a good thing, IMHO  :-).

A profile is anything the mind can imagine. I actually have met some people from the internet and lo and behold it amazed me....

I have talked to people on the phone and even that is misleading....you can say anything you want. If there is a site that can challenge to actually PROVE credentials, then this would work, if not, then here is my new profile.

"Hey!! I am a 27 year old professional CPA, EA, passed the Tax Court Exam in flying colors and am a partner in a major firm in NYC. I started preparing tax returns with my father when I was 18 years old and then went to Baylor to finish at the top of my class with an MBA. Price/Waterhouse/Coopers hired me right out of school as I could use a 10-key faster than anyone they have ever seen!! I prepare 1200 tax returns per season and of those 1000 are corporate clients. The other 200 are friends and family that I cannot neglect now that I am rich and famous!!!"...hehehehehe

Instead this is the truth (or at least the truth according to the internet)

I graduated high school, wanted to go into nursing but instead raised children. Worked as a bartender to put myself through college and then took the CPA exam in 1989 in FL. I passed after the 2nd try. I worked for Coopers and Lybrand in the audit department and then took a position in a privately held CPA firm to gain experience in taxation. I resigned in 1995 from public accounting and went to work for churches in the area. Decided in 2003 that I would try to form my own small business and here I am!!"

So which is correct? AHHH the Internet; any could be disguises.....

I still want to be known as the accountant who serves Draft Beer at the office :) OMG just kidding here.....if you say that, I will DENY IT!!!!

You can go ahead and remove your profile.

In reading the comments that profiles may not be true it occurs to me that Riley2 may be a prison inmate who is using this forum as his own personal Second Life!

I'm doomed for sure.

Perhaps, in addition to a DIYer forum, we need a 'fantasy forum'. Profiles WILL be required, and they can't an ounce of truth in them; the more creative the better. The more creative ones can be submitted for a creative writing award, similiar to the awards currently posted to the real profiles.

(Baby Belle?!*? Sounds like those little cheese thingys that are included in Christmas food baskets)

I like Belle's idea...Baby Bella? Great cheese....ok I am getting "cheesy"

I personally could care less about who leaves a profile or not. After being in this business this long, it is easy to determine ones level by the questions that are asked. If one knows the answer - leave a post to the question. This site is a learning tool for many professionals - if you do not want to pass on your knowledge because someone did not leave their profile - that seems a bit shallow to me. It is not a requirement of this site so accept it and strut your stuff.

As Sandy has pointed out - who is to say that the profiles placed are even reality. Most are I hope.

The only time I check out ones profile is when one leaves a really great answer or when one makes an a$$ of themselves by hammering someone else who tried!

Well-spoken!