"Really, people, what is wrong with looking in the mirror, naked, and accepting what the lab report would say?
You ran the DNA?
Yeah, your suspect is a white male.

Ohhh, well, must not be that guy.
Really, why not?
Well, his college papers say he's a black guy,, "

 The above statement utilized the word "suspect" so I assumed an investigation would be in place for a criminal act.  Especially if DNA is being used, but to be fair one could be a suspect in non-criminal activity.  However I do not think anyone would choose a college application as evidence to a person's race over their DNA results as was indicated above.

 I misinterpreted what you typed.  

 I believe we are seeing this from two different angles, I don't think it matters what is checked on an application as long as the physical facts are observable.  
 
 I may matter if there's a measurable consequence and not a theorized one.  If there's supporting evidence that's not opinion I'd like to look at it.

Explain the benefit to all involved by saying you're what you aren't.

Why do that?
At best it's pointless.
I explained why I call it a bad idea.

Explain why it's a good idea.

Not just shrug and pretend that without empirical evidence to prove it is a bad idea that you should just accept it.

Why so quick to embrace the insane and wait for the damage?
It's NUTS to believe that a person
Identifies
As something that they Are Not. Seriously, it's a mental illness if they do and a mental illness to believe otherwise.

How is it
Possible
To IDENTIFY as something OTHER than what you ARE?

How old were they when they figured it out?

What event precipitated the break with the obvious truth ?


And if it's Bad and
Cultural Appropriation for a white guy to have Taco Tuesday,
How in God's name is it okay to suddenly

BE BLACK?

Sorry, I didn't intend to cause pain.
But you can't have both sides.
Where are the clever retorts now?

 JOG, You made 4 comments in 6 hours 14 minutes.  People sleep, not sit on these forums all day and night.  What is an acceptable time frame for you to get a response to a question you pose on here?


"How is it
Possible
To IDENTIFY as something OTHER than what you ARE?"

 I don't know.  I need to know what "identify" is considered by the organization placing it on the application.  What are the parameters for accepting that information?  When people start checking those boxes why are they doing it?  Run a survey, collate date, investigate, analyze and re-run the material.

 I don't think this check box at one college is going to make people "BE BLACK"  

 All I am saying is I don't know enough about how this check box will alter society, or the culture at that one college or if it wont have any influence.  However I do not believe it will override DNA evidence or make other people think one is a different gender or race based off the application if the observable data is different.

don't know.  I need to know what "identify" is considered by the organization placing it on the application.  What are the parameters for accepting that information?  When people start checking those boxes why are they doing it?  Run a survey, collate date, investigate, analyze and re-run the materia..

I would strongly expect
Identify as
To mean
I AM

And the cultural appropriation issue?
What are the parameters for accepting that information?  

Huhh?

 When people start checking those boxes why are they doing it?

No kidding.. why is a good question ,,
Why is it there is another question.

"If you're a minority, you have to file another form to get affirmative action.  That's where they'll scrutinize the 'boxes' more closely."

 That's pretty much what I am thinking.  This is one application at one college and I don't see anything about that application having influence elsewhere.

 That application doesn't change anything about how that individual is interpreted by the people around them as far as I can tell, but its new so we don't know what the effects might be.  I don't think it will change how people analyze one's gender or race.