Reunions via the Internet
About ten years ago, someone posted a photograph of me on the internet as a picture of herself. I found this rather flattering, since she was ten years younger than I, and yet clearly thought that the photograph was, in some way, more flattering than her own.
About five years ago, this had a strange repercussion that led me to vow never again to admit to my own name on the internet, which in its turn has caused a few, but much less worrying problems.
Now I've been asked for advice from a young friend. She has seen a blog by someone who has the same rather unusual second name as a school friend with whom she has lost touch. The person has a striking resemblance to her school friend, but a completely different first name.
She wants to ask the person if she could be the sister or other relation of her friend.
My own experience on the net has been varied on this. Many bloggers simply and understandably ignore this kind of query, but occasionally it leads to happy reunions.
My worry is that my friend will obviously have to give some personal details in order to justify her query, and I'd hate her to have the sort of experience I had five years ago.
I could, of course, simply say that you have to be careful about personal details, but she obviously knows that - or she wouldn't have asked my advice. I could also tell her that one of the signs of middle-age is that everyone you see reminds you of someone you used to know, but that might not be a welcome insight.
About five years ago, this had a strange repercussion that led me to vow never again to admit to my own name on the internet, which in its turn has caused a few, but much less worrying problems.
Now I've been asked for advice from a young friend. She has seen a blog by someone who has the same rather unusual second name as a school friend with whom she has lost touch. The person has a striking resemblance to her school friend, but a completely different first name.
She wants to ask the person if she could be the sister or other relation of her friend.
My own experience on the net has been varied on this. Many bloggers simply and understandably ignore this kind of query, but occasionally it leads to happy reunions.
My worry is that my friend will obviously have to give some personal details in order to justify her query, and I'd hate her to have the sort of experience I had five years ago.
I could, of course, simply say that you have to be careful about personal details, but she obviously knows that - or she wouldn't have asked my advice. I could also tell her that one of the signs of middle-age is that everyone you see reminds you of someone you used to know, but that might not be a welcome insight.