internet screen name theft

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by EricH

Or, better yet, do a Google search on your real name and see what comes up. It's good for some fun if you've got some free time. (I've done it a time or two myself.)

It appears I'm a soccer player, a player in the NBA development league, a professional skateboarder, a wedding photographer, a prospective congressman, an interior designer, a movie producer, and a murderer currently on death row in Missouri.

[ZakuAce]

Originally Posted by boiler

It appears I'm a soccer player, a player in the NBA development league, a professional skateboarder, a wedding photographer, a prospective congressman, an interior designer, a movie producer, and a murderer currently on death row in Missouri.

Aww. I'm only a cyclist and some random guy on Facebook. And what's more funny is the cyclist with my name lives in my STATE! Perhaps a long lost relative?!

[ChristinaR]

Lucky for me that when I search my name, not too much comes up. Most of the results are my published photos, as well as my team's 2008 animation submission!
However, I do have a lesson learned. Many years ago my high school was having a huge amount of financial difficulties- they cut art, gym, music, everything but the "core" classes. In response, I posted a brief, yet somewhat angry review of the school on a school review site. Even though others had done the same, it still reflects poorly on me when it shows up in Google results. One of these days I'll contact the site asking for its removal. Remember, kids- everything appears on Google!

As for username theft...I'm still not sure why it's a problem. If the username I want isn't available, I just pick another. I generally don't see myself gaining any sort of fame or familiarity by using just one alias, but maybe that's just me.

[Wetzel]

The real trick is to add some things that are on your resume along with your name, and then see what pops up. It shouldn't take but a few tags to drill you out of the masses.


Wetzel

[Burmeister #279]

well, from googling my full name, i've come up with:

1: some jivespace thingy that i apparently signed up for cuz it has my psuedonym
2: the honor roll list from my school =))
3: early 1900's austrailian electoral rolls
4: UW office?
5: supreme court tax decision
6: uw office again.
and a band =)
man i get around.