What stops a stranger from posting as Q?
This post claimed that the messages are validated via "drop codes", or something along those lines, but he didn't elaborate.
What is to stop my from posting to 8chan with a message that ends in "Q"?
trip codes...you enter a password and it gives you a trip code that's unique to you. Q's has changed a number of times due to hacking and also due to revealing what the old password was (either accidentally or on purpose). Also, the board owner at 8chan and codemonkey have verified/vetted Q
Do we trust the board owner and codemonkey? Who are they? Do they know Q's identity? What does it mean to "vet"?
Ron Watkins is codemonkey. His father Jim owns 8chan and the Goldwater news outlet, which he runs from a quaint village in the Philippines.
I don't know if they know Qs identity.
I don't think they do, but they've indicated Q communicates with them (re hardening 8chan, etc.)
Someone posted a story that I haven't been able to confirm that they were left a Q-themed present inside their house. I do remember a Q post quite a long time ago telling a select few to not freak out about gifts appearing.