Googlegängers (google-gong-ers) is patterned on the German doppelgängers, a duplicate of yourself that is evil or bad luck. I don't know much about the German idea but Googlegängers are interesting, real and sometimes a bother. I learned the word from Prof. Anne Curzan but I learned the phenomenon from me and from my wife.
Check it out: bring up a Google search page and enter in your own name. If you are an unknown person AND IF YOU HAVE A UNIQUE NAME, there will be no results. But let's say that your name is "James Carpenter". If you Google your name (one that I thought I dreamed up randomly), you will find 14 Million results! Are you the James Carpenter who plays for the Seattle football team? Are you the James Carpenter of the New York design firm? Maybe you are James Carpenter, fifth grader in Franklin Elementary school and none of the other James Carpenters listed. Ok, then, 5th grader J.C., the others are your Googlegängers. That is, persons who might be confused with you because of the same names.
In today's world of connection and communication, it isn't easy for authors of fiction to use a name that is not the actual name of someone somewhere. Archer Mayor is a living, breathing author and writes about, among other things, what happens to the Vermont detective Joe Guenther. I don't know if Joe Guenther, certified financial planner of the state of New York is aware that he has a Googlegänger who is a fictional character or not. The planner may never refer to himself as Joe so that difference might enable people to separate one from the other.
When I try to think of unlikely names, I consider mixtures from different ethnic origins, such Pedro Guttenberg or Johan Scarpetti. I have wondered if there are any McGoldbergs or O'Wittsteins. I haven't Google them but I wouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere is already using those names.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
Check it out: bring up a Google search page and enter in your own name. If you are an unknown person AND IF YOU HAVE A UNIQUE NAME, there will be no results. But let's say that your name is "James Carpenter". If you Google your name (one that I thought I dreamed up randomly), you will find 14 Million results! Are you the James Carpenter who plays for the Seattle football team? Are you the James Carpenter of the New York design firm? Maybe you are James Carpenter, fifth grader in Franklin Elementary school and none of the other James Carpenters listed. Ok, then, 5th grader J.C., the others are your Googlegängers. That is, persons who might be confused with you because of the same names.
In today's world of connection and communication, it isn't easy for authors of fiction to use a name that is not the actual name of someone somewhere. Archer Mayor is a living, breathing author and writes about, among other things, what happens to the Vermont detective Joe Guenther. I don't know if Joe Guenther, certified financial planner of the state of New York is aware that he has a Googlegänger who is a fictional character or not. The planner may never refer to himself as Joe so that difference might enable people to separate one from the other.
When I try to think of unlikely names, I consider mixtures from different ethnic origins, such Pedro Guttenberg or Johan Scarpetti. I have wondered if there are any McGoldbergs or O'Wittsteins. I haven't Google them but I wouldn't be surprised if someone somewhere is already using those names.
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
