If you got any promotion pics or competition records people will be more likely to vote for you. Really all you need is 10 black belts to vote for you and you're golden.

Well, once you reach a certain age, your body starts changing and you might experience things you have never felt before...

...oh wait.

(I personally try to refrain from voting for people I've not shared the mat with unless it's really necessary to help a new school/region to come on board. Good luck!)

Sadly, the certain aged I’ve reached has changed me from young to old. If only I was back closer to that awkward body changing certain age.

And I get the verification thing. But if you’re ever near Orange County, come beat me up, then verify me. Lol

There’s a better chance of people wanting to validate your profile if it’s more well documented. For now, it looks kind of empty.

Thanks for the reply. Sadly, I don’t have social media or much of an online presence. I also detest having my picture taken, so I haven’t kept my promotion pictures from years past. I’ve tried to scrounge together other people’s photos where I’m helping Allan Goes (my former professor) to promote others. I can’t imagine anyone doubting Allan’s credentials. I’d hoped the fact that I’m doling out promotions with him, wearing my black belt, for over a decade worth of pictures, would be convincing enough. Maybe not. Oh well.

I believe your perspective on Beltchecker may be clouded by your minimal online /social media experience.
It's well known that anyone can fake an online identity and persona hence the need for the admins/moderators to authenticate and verify your real identity as much as possible via official govt issued ID and your photo.
Next point, the purpose of Beltchecker isn't to get a popularity vote, rather to enable those who are in your position (fall out with your previous teacher), not IBJJF member, etc. to have an alternative way to 'audit' your ranks and experience and to harness the power of social media in a positive way, to provide you the support and it's all done for free and voluntarily. If you are suspicious of this site or feel it's a scam then you your power to delete your account and presence is a mouse click away.
The upside is you become part of a global community, across all BJJ affiliations without the politics, to be recognised for what you are on a global scale. You can use your Beltchecker profile for the 'trust' factor in your BJJ club adverts or online presence, kind of like the "better business bureau" idea, except this is better and also free.
If you spend some time to go through the forums, posts, etc. you will see there are all sorts of conversations going on so find one that suits you or start a new one (like this thread) if there isn't one. I found this site more mature and pleasant compared with many other online groups due to the absence of anonymity and focus on our shared interest.
Like someone else who posted on your profile page, posting up your certs, belt award pics, etc. will provide the much needed evidence that you are who you say you are and I'll also throw in my vote when that happens.
Again, welcome aboard and hope you find your seat in this big room.

True, and we don't know you either....

Okay. I’m thinking some wires got crossed here.

First, I wasn’t trying to insult this site, or anyone using it. It seems like a good community; that’s why I’m here. I can see how my post above could have been taken as flippant or aggressive. That wasn’t my intention.

I can also appreciate how important it is to vet people so there are no fakes. That said, I think having multiple pictures of me in my black belt, standing next to Allan Goes and helping him promote students should be fairly compelling evidence.

Of course, if that doesn’t seem compelling enough to you, fair play. I agree that this would go down easier if I had pictures of all my belts, but I don’t.

You were the first one to comment, yet somehow I neglected to reply. Sorry about that.

I appreciate the advice and your reply. Thanks!

Alright. I enlisted my wife’s help, given that she does have social media, and together we were able to find a couple of pictures, on others’ Facebook pages, of my black belt graduation. Hallelujah!

Thankfully, the head instructor at Carlson Gracie Irvine (now a black belt) was graduated to purple on the same night I got my black belt. So I grabbed the pictures from his page on put them on my belt timeline here.

Thank goodness for my wife.

Allan Goes has fought Hendo and Sakuraba. I knew his name sounded familiar. Nice.

Yes. He’s legit.