@secrettourpro and the dangers of uncertain anonymity [thegolfnewsnet]

[nevets88]

A long form piece about the detrimental effects of STP and an attempt to figure out just who he (or they) is (are). Looks at tweeted photos and it seems STP is co-opting those as his. If there is anyone who should make your BS radar go off, it's this guy.

Quote

Again, I'm perfectly willing to admit that I have no idea who the person is or people are behind this account. They clearly have some golf knowledge. They either read a lot of forums for rumors or hear them on ranges they stroll. They may well know of equipment changes ahead of other people, but the photos of where they are don't belong to them.

This may not be an answer, but, for the curious, you might now have more ammo to figure out the rest.

http://thegolfnewsnet.com/ryan_ballengee/2016/02/23/secrettourpro-dangers-uncertain-anonymity-16328/

[Patch]

I never, ever believe any reports where the term "anonymous source" is used. I never believe a named reporter who uses an anonymous source. I might read it for it's possible, humorous entertainment value, but that's about it.  

If the reports are true, then they will be proven to be true at a later date. 

[mchepp]

There is a tour pro who writes for Golf Magazine as an anonymous person and I think he does it fine without me trying to guess who he is. 

Twitter on the other hand is loaded gun. If given to someone who doesn't know how to use it or is extremely emotional it could be dangerous to themselves or innocent folks who are wondering by.

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, mchepp said:

There is a tour pro who writes for Golf Magazine as an anonymous person and I think he does it fine without me trying to guess who he is. 

Twitter on the other hand is loaded gun. If given to someone who doesn't know how to use it or is extremely emotional it could be dangerous to themselves or innocent folks who are wondering by.

This has been proven many times!!!!

[colin007]

Sometimes I wonder why I wander....

[billchao]

I don't particularly care whether STP is real or not (count me in the "not" camp), but the article does bring up an important point about journalistic integrity. STP and other social media personalities are not held to any standard as far as the content they publish, but have enough followers that the things they claim can be perceived to be true regardless of its validity. There's a serious ethics issue there.

The anonymity doesn't help, but as we've seen with others, having one's name attached to something doesn't stop them from spouting out whatever garbage they want.