Second Life Forums Archive - Another form of griefing?

Phineas Flanagan

Registered User

Join date: 25 Feb 2007

Posts: 65

03-14-2007 19:09

I was hanging out where I usually do and noticed someone there with almost the identical name as mine. Only one letter was different. I checked their profile and they were only a few days old.
Nearly same name. Hanging out at the same place I do. I can't help but think this person's sole intention is confuse people over our identities, and to sully my reputation somehow. I mean, what are the odds that someone would pick such a similar name so close to when I joined? About 4 billion to one is my guess.
What can I do about it? I'm going to tell everyone I know about them, so at least my friends won't be confused. That's probably all I can do though.

Brenda Connolly

Un United Avatar

Join date: 10 Jan 2007

Posts: 25,000

03-14-2007 19:16

Just hope they don't start looking like you. Then again, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

_____________________

Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen.

http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com

Gaybot Foxley

Input Collector

Join date: 15 Nov 2006

Posts: 584

03-14-2007 19:17

I have 2 suggestions.

1) Talk to them. Maybe you have a lot more in common, it was a coincidence, and you will be great friends.

2) Use an alt name and socially engineer information out of them. Talk to them with the alt; go up to them and say hello and make small talk without telling them about your regular name. If they are trying to impersonate you, confess to trying to impersonate your other name, and are rude/griefer-like; then abuse report them.

Daisy Rimbaud

Registered User

Join date: 12 Oct 2006

Posts: 764

03-15-2007 04:25

I'm not sure there's anything malicious here. Given the limited selection of surnames at join time, there's a high probability that two people will want the same name, and the second person will get round it by choosing a slight variant. "Phineas Flanagan" sounds like a good Irish name (Phineas Finn, anyone?) that could be arrived at by more than one person. If your name was Xxoxiotoryx Flanagan, it would be different.

Given that, Phineas2 Flanagan (let us call him) might be naturally curious about you, and want a look at you even if not to speak to you. In that case, how did they find you? If the place where you encountered your name-alike is somewhere deducible from your profile (Foobar Nightclub VIP, for instance) then you have your answer.

If not, then we have to suppose that you are being picked on - but it's so much trouble to go to for very little ends that I'm inclined to doubt it.

Stephanie Abernathy

Susan Ivanova Wannabe

Join date: 8 May 2006

Posts: 352

03-15-2007 07:49

From: Daisy Rimbaud

I'm not sure there's anything malicious here. Given the limited selection of surnames at join time, there's a high probability that two people will want the same name, and the second person will get round it by choosing a slight variant. "Phineas Flanagan" sounds like a good Irish name (Phineas Finn, anyone?) that could be arrived at by more than one person.

Or the person might simply be a fan of the book, "Around the world in 80 days", whom i believe Phineas Fogg was a main character.

Musicteacher Rampal

Registered User

Join date: 20 Feb 2004

Posts: 824

03-15-2007 07:53

Isn't there a character with that name in the musical Brigadoon?

Conifer Dada

Hiya m'dooks!

Join date: 6 Oct 2006

Posts: 3,716

03-15-2007 10:36

Maybe this person discovered their name was almost the same as yours by accident and then came to look for you out of curiosity!

iAndrew Bailey

Registered User

Join date: 8 Feb 2007

Posts: 87

03-15-2007 12:59

An interesting question. As you see I have a lowercase i in front of my name. Everyone I know calls me Andrew and skips the i. I just ran a search and there is Andrew, Andrew1, Andrew98, Andrew321, AndrewK, AndrewR and andrews. iAndrew is an Alt but I never use any other Avatar except for if I need something non transeferrable. I had a reason for wanting to use my own name, just nicer for my rl girlfiend / sl partner.

Oooops here somes Mirina. I better go before she sends an IM to Andrew!

iA

Phineas Flanagan

Registered User

Join date: 25 Feb 2007

Posts: 65

03-15-2007 18:56

From: Stephanie Abernathy

Or the person might simply be a fan of the book, "Around the world in 80 days", whom i believe Phineas Fogg was a main character.

Well that could be, considering that's why I picked it, in a roundabout way.

Thanks for the replies all. I'm probably just being unduly paranoid. In all fairness to Phileas, he was at the same location that I first went to after leaving the starting area.

Another form of griefing?
Phineas Flanagan Registered User Join date: 25 Feb 2007 Posts: 65	03-14-2007 19:09 I was hanging out where I usually do and noticed someone there with almost the identical name as mine. Only one letter was different. I checked their profile and they were only a few days old. Nearly same name. Hanging out at the same place I do. I can't help but think this person's sole intention is confuse people over our identities, and to sully my reputation somehow. I mean, what are the odds that someone would pick such a similar name so close to when I joined? About 4 billion to one is my guess. What can I do about it? I'm going to tell everyone I know about them, so at least my friends won't be confused. That's probably all I can do though.
Brenda Connolly Un United Avatar Join date: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 25,000	03-14-2007 19:16 Just hope they don't start looking like you. Then again, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. _____________________ Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen. http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com
Gaybot Foxley Input Collector Join date: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 584	03-14-2007 19:17 I have 2 suggestions. 1) Talk to them. Maybe you have a lot more in common, it was a coincidence, and you will be great friends. 2) Use an alt name and socially engineer information out of them. Talk to them with the alt; go up to them and say hello and make small talk without telling them about your regular name. If they are trying to impersonate you, confess to trying to impersonate your other name, and are rude/griefer-like; then abuse report them.
Daisy Rimbaud Registered User Join date: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 764	03-15-2007 04:25 I'm not sure there's anything malicious here. Given the limited selection of surnames at join time, there's a high probability that two people will want the same name, and the second person will get round it by choosing a slight variant. "Phineas Flanagan" sounds like a good Irish name (Phineas Finn, anyone?) that could be arrived at by more than one person. If your name was Xxoxiotoryx Flanagan, it would be different. Given that, Phineas2 Flanagan (let us call him) might be naturally curious about you, and want a look at you even if not to speak to you. In that case, how did they find you? If the place where you encountered your name-alike is somewhere deducible from your profile (Foobar Nightclub VIP, for instance) then you have your answer. If not, then we have to suppose that you are being picked on - but it's so much trouble to go to for very little ends that I'm inclined to doubt it.
Stephanie Abernathy Susan Ivanova Wannabe Join date: 8 May 2006 Posts: 352	03-15-2007 07:49 From: Daisy Rimbaud I'm not sure there's anything malicious here. Given the limited selection of surnames at join time, there's a high probability that two people will want the same name, and the second person will get round it by choosing a slight variant. "Phineas Flanagan" sounds like a good Irish name (Phineas Finn, anyone?) that could be arrived at by more than one person. Or the person might simply be a fan of the book, "Around the world in 80 days", whom i believe Phineas Fogg was a main character.
Musicteacher Rampal Registered User Join date: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: 824	03-15-2007 07:53 Isn't there a character with that name in the musical Brigadoon?
Conifer Dada Hiya m'dooks! Join date: 6 Oct 2006 Posts: 3,716	03-15-2007 10:36 Maybe this person discovered their name was almost the same as yours by accident and then came to look for you out of curiosity!
iAndrew Bailey Registered User Join date: 8 Feb 2007 Posts: 87	03-15-2007 12:59 An interesting question. As you see I have a lowercase i in front of my name. Everyone I know calls me Andrew and skips the i. I just ran a search and there is Andrew, Andrew1, Andrew98, Andrew321, AndrewK, AndrewR and andrews. iAndrew is an Alt but I never use any other Avatar except for if I need something non transeferrable. I had a reason for wanting to use my own name, just nicer for my rl girlfiend / sl partner. Oooops here somes Mirina. I better go before she sends an IM to Andrew! iA
Phineas Flanagan Registered User Join date: 25 Feb 2007 Posts: 65	03-15-2007 18:56 From: Stephanie Abernathy Or the person might simply be a fan of the book, "Around the world in 80 days", whom i believe Phineas Fogg was a main character. Well that could be, considering that's why I picked it, in a roundabout way. Thanks for the replies all. I'm probably just being unduly paranoid. In all fairness to Phileas, he was at the same location that I first went to after leaving the starting area.

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Another form of griefing?