Are we going too far on stolen valor?

I think the current issue lies with individuals wanting/needing the social media attention for themselves for "outing" a faker. The more energy poured into a video recording the more "likes" they receive for themselves and the higher the personal gratification, as if they have somehow done us all a favor.
I'm all for calling a fake when you see one, but we should do so with the same professionalism and tact that we would display if we were policing up one of our own. A professional and a leader wouldn't correct a newly enlisted solider in a PX by screaming and making a scene, what kind of example would that set? Fakers want to be part a profession that they will never know, so why not exude that professionalism if you really want to cut them down to size. After all, nobody yells at the booger eating 5 year old for dressing like his favorite super hero right?
I have on numerous occasion thanked certain businesses for asking to see ID before giving a military discount. I think an increased difficulty to get away with freebees helps to curb the desire for stolen valor.

I've read so much on this in the last few weeks, and to be honest, as a vet, this concerns me. I know it may sound strange to some, but there are parts of the country where seeing a mid-50's guy with a beer gut, long hair and a "Desert Storm Veteran" ballcap with a million pieces of 'flair' on it is pretty common. Hell, I've been out long enough that I look more like a lost member of The Satler Brothers than a former naval officer. Some years back, my father (former 82nd NCO and LRRP), currently an artist, age 71, was commissioned to provide a bronze memorial to all the veterans of our home county. The unveiling included uniformed gentlemen from WWII to the present. Some of those guys were certainly not ready to pass any inspection (Dad's uniform looked perfect...save the hair)...But I'd have dared any of my OEF/OIF peers full of %iss and vinegar to have taken issue with these men who stormed Omaha Beach and survived Khe Sahn...let alone the mild mannered cake-baker and "hippie" in the corner who ended up being a Navy SEAL. I say we be the professionals we want to be respected as and let the "you know what" float where it tends to.

There have been cases that went to far. Service can and should be verified prior to calling someone out publicly. That being said, I think that these fakes should be exposed. The do pose some serious issues and threats. If they are truly devious they take advantage of good people wanting to help, that is stealing, they also seem to always want to worm their way in the "Special" military areas. Here is the threat I see. There are a lot of people in those area such a Ranger, SEAL, Green Beret, EOD, that have a lot of critical of very sensitive/classified knowledge about the operations and security protocols. The biggest threat is the insider. If they are willing to fake valor/service, prey on the hearts of people and take money doing so then they are willing to sell your country out to the highest bidder. These people should be called out appropriately and they should be put on the Terrorist watch list.

I have over looked several other replies to this post and I am apparently the odd one out. I do not disagree with these videos. VERY FEW are in fact in service or served and if someone is currently serving and wearing a different uniform or claiming to be an "elite" operator that is just as bad if not worst then a civilian claiming that title. I fully support all of the morons being called out and publicly humiliated, I do not see it as a form of flattery.

Not to mention there is an overwhelming number of people who are doing this to benefit themselves financially, this isn't "I like the military so much I am trying show support". No this is far beyond that and the only way these P.O.S will stop doing it is when they are caught and publicly humiliated.

To those that quote the NCO creed, I cant say anything regarding that because you are correct. Those who say we should be more professional you are correct. With that said I would disregard both and aggressively pursue these posers. Everyone breaks and bends the rules at some point and time and this is a topic I will shame the military according to some of you.

It definitely has gone too far. Like most, I'm all for some of these people getting called out, especially when you have a SSG wearing more medals than General Patton, but if there's a kid just wearing a uniform, and not trying to get anything from it, and even if he doesn't have his CAC on him, just leave it alone, at the most get his name, ask him who his chain of command is, then address the issue that way. But I agree with CW2 McCollum, most people are just looking for social media attention, and it's almost become a game to see who can get the next faker outed.

LTC (Join to see) Sir seems like people are going out of their way too look for issues with people wearing the uniform. I have no issues that they are doing it, but to seek out and try and make it like others haven't served or wearing something wrong I think might be a little bit overboard. Just my thought and opinion.

People need to calm down. There is a difference between com fronting someone and bulling someone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyRYaIyvzsY

I don't believe we are, I just think that those who wish to claim or harass someone and claim they have violated "stolen valor" should do their research before they start anything.
Those that impersonate the millitary disgust me, they have not earned the honor to wear the unifrom or claim the achievements both of which they have no buisness dealing with.

Assuming for a second this is a real Soldier, what really scares me is his leadership letting him walk around like that.

If it's so important we should stop selling and or donating any and all uniform items on the civilian market. Also, discretion is the better part of valor, use some professionalism when confronting complete strangers, the secret to a long life is, try not to shorten it. Yelling and screaming at someone in public is uncalled for and is not how we should represent the uniform services.