I don't understand what motivation anyone would have for making them up, but out of an abundance of caution, I'd like to know for sure before using them and making an ass of myself.

anyone can put (almost) anything on youtube. There is no way of knowing which are 'true', which are 'false', which are merely misinformed, and which are 'exaggerated'.

I suppose you could search the site for other stuff uploaded by the same person and get a feeling if they are honest......

I guess, it's wise to be cautious, if you are going to take the video at anything other than 'face value'

Emily Pearson is certainly legit. Other than that I would not know for sure, but I would guess they are accurate. I wish some were more detailed though. Many do not give that good of reasons for leaving. Not that you need a good reason to leave the cult, but for a youtube type format that is going to many different people I want real intelligence. One of the ones a lady left because they didn't teach about God loving puppies in nursery anymore. I need more than that.

I also wish they were more detailed, however, I find that sometimes emotion speaks better to certain people than logic. I don't indeed to use these videos to deconvert others, just to foster understanding..I've discussed my version of events with my family, but I get the feeling that they can't see the forest for the trees.

I know personally quite a few of the people on "I am an exmormon" videos.

Better question: Are the people on "I am a Mormon" videos typical of Mormons?

They are legit I know a lot of these people.

What about the I'm a mormon videos? Does anyone know for sure if they are real?

I don't get Why you are you asking. Are ex-mormons held to a higher standard? Do the mos you are talking to accept all of their claims without question but any counter claims have to be proven? Listen, if the 'im'a mormon' stuff is assumed to be accurate or representative why in hell wouldn't the "i'm and exmormon" not be assumed to be representative? It just sounds like a double standard to me. Exmos have to be proven but mos are taken at face value.

I know some of those people, so I know they are legit. But why would you take my word for it any more than theirs? They actually show their faces, but I'm just an anonymous poster. How do you know if anything is real? Use your own judgement.

No, I cannot know beyond a shadow of any doubt, but having a board of people that I am familiar with vouch for them strengthens the case.

Just that I wouldn't be willing to show my face as openly as they did, and I respect them for that. Several people I met and heard essentially the same story from them directly, prior to their posting it. You can probably meet these people in person if you live in the area.

the point is ... are you getting any useful information from them.

But I think a few of them could be used to help my family understand me better.

Though I have to admit I'm confused as to why some of them are laden with low grade hostility. Oh well, hopefully it's just me imagination ;-)

Yes. They are legit.

I've heard interviews with the filmmaker and I know (through friends) at least 4 of the people interviewed.

Heartbreaking, but legit. Even my TBM wife cried at a couple of them. (She read Emily Pearson's book and liked it so much I showed her Emily's ex-mormon video.)