Talk:Secret identity

Removal of "real life" secret identities
The examples of "real life" secret identities do not belong in this article. A secret identity is not the same as a pseudonym, pen name, alias, or a new identity established by witness protection are not the same thing as a secret identity. As the term is used it applies only to the fiction device, so that is what the article should be about. The other meanings already have articles so they need not be included here.--Darknus823 (talk) 04:31, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Large list of secret of fictional characters
I am chopping it down significantly (Weaponbb7 22:11, 4 March 2007 (UTC))

One of the few non-pulp or cb or cs characters to have a dual identity was John Eastland, the Exterminator from the 1980's films.

A few of the 1970's paperback characters may have had dual identities.

Paul Benjamin from Death Wish kept his identity secret, but had no code name.

Zorro appears to be a good example. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2A02:A45E:D106:1:C123:774A:6A51:49C3 (talk) 19:20, 10 May 2022 (UTC)

Secret identities of real people
I've changed the list of secret identities of real people so that the actual names of "X" and "Anonymous" are shown in the visible text of the article instead of the links. Remember that Wikipedia articles should be useful even if they're transferred to a medium with no links, such as when you click the "Printable version" link. In other words, it should not be the case that you can find out that "X" in the list refers to George F. Kennan only by clicking (or hovering over) the link, not by looking at the page.

I understand that this may seem inconsistent because the whole list doesn't include both secret and real identities (e.g., "Richard Bachmann" isn't followed by "(Stephen King)"), but most of the names are unique referents that the reader can look up on their own (again, imagine a print medium). Conversely, it may be unclear who "X" and "Anonymous" are supposed to be (and surely more than one person has used these names), so having actual names in parentheses will be more informative to readers.

So, that's the explanation for my change. Feedback is welcome as always. –Sommers (Talk) 19:14, 18 February 2006 (UTC)

the human torch does not keep his identity secret. (tony blanco) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tblanco (talk • contribs) 06:39, 5 September 2008 (UTC)

Alter Ego vs. Secret Identity
What difference, if any, is there between secret identity and alter ego? --Dr Archeville 19:53, 2 August 2007 (UTC)
 * A character with alter egos will not necessarily have a secret identity. For instance if the duel states of such characters as Mr Hyde, Dr Bruce Banner or the less tanned Prince Adam became well known then, while the alter egos could remain, the secret identity would be busted.  Moreover, the term alter ego will apply to all personas of a character while the term secret identity can only apply to identities that are in some way secret.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gregkaye (talk • contribs) 16:44, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

problems with and suggestions for the opening statement
The opening statement reads:

A secret identity is an element of fiction[1] wherein a character develops a separate persona[2] (usually adopting a pseudonym)[3], while keeping their true[4] identity hidden.

[1] Secret identities are not limited to fiction! see: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22Bob%20Woodward%22%20OR%20%22Carl%20Bernstein%22%20AND%20%22secret%20identity%22

[2] Fictional depictions of such characters are not limited character whose defining characteristic is their own willed development of a separate persona. The de character defining characteristic of someone who goes out either in darkness or goes out wearing a mask and acts as a vigilante is the action performed. That character could gain a reputation and have a persona applied to them but this does not mean that the character was involved with this development.

[3] "adopt"? Some lone operators chose their pseudonym though the use of calling cards or similar. Some team members may chose their codenames. In many other cases characters have little say in the pseudonym that gets attached to them. en.wiktionary.org/wiki/adopt.

[4] true? In the case of aliens and shapeshifters it is the baseline identity and not a secret identity that is true. Also, if one identity is true, is the other one false?

My proposals for the opening statement are: "A secret identity is a persona of character that is not generally known to be responsible for actions that are regarded to have been performed by another persona of the same character." OR "A secret identity is a persona of character that is not generally known to belong to the same person as another persona of the same character.

I know that this does not give the full picture of secret identity but it is more accurate than the current version. A central purpose of a secret identity is to preserve anonymity from the things that another persona does.Gregkaye (talk) 18:48, 16 June 2014 (UTC)


 * If the topic of the article is fictional secret identities then that is all that matters. It is irrelevant to count google results, and google searches aren't references. Bhny (talk) 14:02, 8 October 2014 (UTC)