This somewhat confusingly-named tag is an indicator of how open one is in real life about one's online persona, where there is a difference between that and one's 'real self'. As such, it bears a relationship to the Reality Index, though possibly a confused one, since it hinges very strongly on what definition of 'real self' one is using.

For example, Wyrm's site notes that “those who are human on-line, or otherwise are what they say they are in real life, can omit this tag!” But someone with a Reality Index of R+++ or R+++!, who would consider themselves to be, for example, a dragon in real life and who therefore might well say that they are what they say they are, might nonetheless find the use of this tag extremely relevant in a way that someone who is human both online and in real life might not.

As with things like the Gender tag, one gets the impression that while the makers of the Code certainly wished to be sensitive and understanding toward issues of self-identification, the way in which they handled it was sometimes a little clumsy, though this may say as much about the terminology and discourse of the time as anything else.

How to rate myself here is something I'm a bit uncertain about, because it depends on how brave I'm feeling and (as with the Reality Index) which persona we're talking about, but I generally default to something like S-.

I have made a determined effort to advertise the fact that I'm not a human. My close friends have got used to explaining me to strangers to save them time. I'm so militant about my true identity that even the men in white coats were impressed!

My friends' parents all know. I use my on-line name in front of total strangers regularly. I've received letter from people I've never met asking questions about how to deal with being non-human.

All of my friends know. I told my parents instead of waiting for them to find out. The local cybercafé's manager calls me by my on-line name.

Most of my friends know. I'd tell my parents if I thought they'd take it well. I've used my on-line name in public on occasion.

A few of my friends know. I'm glad my parents have never asked me about this. I'm rather low-key but don't dodge the subject.

I don't want to be thought crazy in human life. If the subject came up, I'd tell my closest friends only.

It's something that would make me rather uncomfortable to have let out. I'm open on-line but try to keep my human side untraceable, and vice versa.

I've e-mailed only a few kindred souls I think I can trust, not telling them anything about my human life, naturally. There are great advantages to my continued silence.

No on knows, period. I live in fear that my intolerant neighbours, colleagues, or relatives will turn me over to the Thought Police! I post only under condition of anonymity. I'm going out on a limb even assembling my Dragon Code!