Inspiration: Your Google Twin

Posted by Scalzi about 1 year ago | Permalink | Comments (8)

Something to get your creative juices flowing this fine first day of Spring: A story about finding your “Google Twin”—a person with the same name as you who is hogging all the search results:

Rebecca Roush Googled herself, expecting to be rewarded with a list of her own accomplishments. Instead, she was introduced to some other Rebecca Roush, a limelight-stealing, attention-hogging, overachieving Rebecca Roush who selfishly dominated the entries.

She had discovered her Google twin — that person who shares her name and her Google entry, and with whom she is saddled in the annals of Internet history like siblings forced to share a room.

“There is something offsetting about finding your Google twin,” the Davis, Calif., resident says in an e-mail. “It’s like all of your attempts at individuality get swept away.”

This is true – unless you are the dominant Google Twin. As I happen to be. There are other John Scalzis out there – a weatherman in Florida, a middle-weight boxer in Pennsylvania – but I’m the one clogging up the Internets with my Googlation. None of the other John Scalzis have tried to kill me yet. But the year is still early.

Have fun with this idea—ficlet away!

Comments

  1. Shawn Powers' Buddy IconShawn Powers

    Posted about 1 year ago

    Thanks a ton, John. I googled myself (not nearly as dirty as it sounds), and the top google hit for Shawn Powers is a woman chiropractor. There’s even a “click here to listen” button, where she sounds quite more girly than me.

    Maybe I’ll contribute to this thing called ficlet, just to vindicate my manhood…

  2. uselessness' Buddy Iconuselessness

    Posted about 1 year ago

    I’ve known “google twins” to be known as “googlegangers.” Much more fun to say. :-)

  3. Scalzi's Buddy IconScalzi

    Posted about 1 year ago

    Ooooh. Googlegangers. I like that.

  4. PixelFish's Buddy IconPixelFish

    Posted about 1 year ago

    I used to battle Elizabeth Mitchell the actress for the top Elizabeth Mitchell spot. Even had it for three years, before going into a decline. I get her fan emails too.

  5. SJHundak/S.J.Willing's Buddy IconSJHundak/S.J.Willing

    Posted about 1 year ago

    Heh you think that’s bad… try googling youself when you’re a Smith. Last attempt there were over 2 million of me…

    LOL

    S.J.

  6. Robotech_Master's Buddy IconRobotech_Master

    Posted about 1 year ago

    I’m lucky enough to be 5 out of the top 10 listings for Chris Meadows. I never really figured how common a name it was but there are football players and weightlifters who share my name, as well as the protagonist in a series of Florida drug-crime detective novels.

  7. Kevin Lawver's Buddy IconKevin Lawver

    Posted about 1 year ago

    My googleganger’s a prison preacher in Kansas, but I’ve totally demolished his positioning. I guess they don’t teach SEO in divinity school or prison.

  8. Mask By The Moon's Buddy IconMask By The Moon

    Posted 7 months ago

    I don’t like the other Nichole Elizabeth Patterson. She sucks eggs… My googleganger is mean.