I'm looking for writings about experiences that arise from having a name similar to a famous individual. Online sources preferred, but a trip to the library would be OK.
posted by jepler on Nov 18, 2009 - 19 answers

How can I become ok - content, even - with being alone? [more inside]
posted by blackcatcuriouser on Nov 10, 2009 - 31 answers

I'm in the process of signing up for PenFed account and it seems like they are asking for a lot of documentation to establish my identity. Is this usual for them? Or am I just being paranoid? [more inside]
posted by eatcake on Nov 9, 2009 - 4 answers

I'm half Dutch, but I've never been to The Netherlands. On my first trip there, where should I go, and what should I do, to get a better understanding of contemporary Dutch culture and language? [more inside]
posted by embrangled on Oct 8, 2009 - 11 answers

What can some people do that other people can't do? What can some see that others can't? [more inside]
posted by Pennyblack on Sep 30, 2009 - 129 answers

Is this odd cell phone phishing or normal wrong number? [more inside]
posted by sesquipedalia on Sep 3, 2009 - 13 answers

WeirdBugFilter: What is this bug? Entymologists please help! [more inside]
posted by fearnothing on Aug 31, 2009 - 10 answers

Help me help my fiancé recover from identity theft. (Please?) [more inside]
posted by mockjovial on Aug 20, 2009 - 6 answers

How have issues of cultural appropriation, stereotypes, and diversity been tackled in art and popular culture? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Aug 17, 2009 - 16 answers

Misdirected emails -- what to do about them, and can they have any impact on me beyond annoyance? [more inside]
posted by advil on Jul 25, 2009 - 19 answers

Please recommend 8-10 British design agencies known for their stellar brand identity book (work) especially for conservative entities such as solicitors. Many thanks. [more inside]
posted by ruelle on May 25, 2009 - 3 answers

I am trying to think of all possible popular cultural references to the following event: Person finds him or herself in a foreign land and is mistaken for the local/regional god. I can only think of two times when this happens but I know it happens quite a bit more in tv/fiction/movies etc. [more inside]
posted by allthewhile on Apr 3, 2009 - 48 answers

My application to a short course at a university never arrived. Are there any steps I should take to avoid possible identity theft? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 24, 2009 - 1 answer

Navel-gazing via literature: Tell me (arts-inclined new physician in an introspective mood) about novels or other literary works that deal with changes in personal identity, the processes which shape who we become, and the conflicts which arise along the way. [more inside]
posted by TheLittlestRobot on Mar 23, 2009 - 17 answers

Why/how do people cultivate mystique through Facebook profiles? [more inside]
posted by GIMG on Feb 25, 2009 - 28 answers

In eight years, I'm still not used to my married name. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 21, 2009 - 38 answers

Can I lend my girlfriend my debit card? She is visiting from overseas and might want to go buy groceries or stuff while I'm at work. We don't have a bunch of cash to hand nor any great desire to visit an ATM and withdraw some. Can I just lend her my debit card and tell her the PIN? It has my name on it, and it's pretty obviously not her name...
posted by hAndrew on Dec 30, 2008 - 23 answers

Is there a term for that feeling when you realize someone else notices (or notices in a particular way) something you had never thought of anyone else paying attention to, or viewing similarly? [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Dec 19, 2008 - 12 answers

A question about someone impersonating my uncle to steal money from his checking account, and how to guard against future attacks. [more inside]
posted by blueberry on Nov 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Help me make sure I don't get scammed after having my wallet and phone stolen. What am I missing? [more inside]
posted by media_itoku on Nov 11, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm looking for fictional stories (books, movies, short stories, plays, comic books, TV shows, etc) which involve a search for the identity of a mysterious person. [more inside]
posted by lockedroomguy on Nov 3, 2008 - 41 answers

Identity theft? [more inside]
posted by A189Nut on Oct 7, 2008 - 5 answers

Socializing “across the tracks”. My father grew up poor, and is now working a blue-collar job. My mother grew up upper-middle class (except the first 8-9 years), went to college, and is working in a decent profession. Because of their backgrounds, they’re really different people. Being their daughter, I take on the characteristics of both. As a result, I cannot fully identify with neither middle-class or working-class (or even poor) people. Nor, am I fully accepted by either group. [more inside]
posted by sixcolors on Oct 7, 2008 - 76 answers

My cousin's Facebook account was compromised and some person or bot is sending spam to his Facebook friend list. He canceled his Facebook account a month ago, but spam keeps arriving in my email box -- as if my cousin is still a Facebook member. The spam seems to be arriving from a legitimate Facebook domain. [more inside]
posted by valannc on Sep 12, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm pregnant, and having a horrible time coming to terms with this new maternal identity. I know having a baby changes everything, etc., etc., but is it possible to become a mom and still stay, well, yourself? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 - 33 answers

Help me find examples of literary criticism adopting the Jungian idea that all the characters are aspects of the same person. [more inside]
posted by leibniz on Aug 29, 2008 - 22 answers

We keep finding these caterpillars in our house - Philadephia, PA - and haven't been able to identify them. [more inside]
posted by Phillycook on Jul 11, 2008 - 7 answers

Someone has accessed a friend's Facebook account more than once, despite the fact that my friend changes passwords on a regular basis. How? [more inside]
posted by Slam I Am on Jul 10, 2008 - 18 answers

How do I build a stronger personality? [more inside]
posted by self on Jul 7, 2008 - 12 answers

Somebody is joining social networking sites using my personal email address. Should I be concerned? [more inside]
posted by cobra_high_tigers on Jul 1, 2008 - 19 answers

What is the font used by Pylon on all their records and singles and everything else? You know, this one. [more inside]
posted by activitystory on Jun 8, 2008 - 5 answers

Do I have some sort of identity-crisis? [more inside]
posted by sixcolors on Jun 4, 2008 - 25 answers

Lost my UK passport, travelling on Wednesday - am I screwed? [more inside]
posted by altolinguistic on Mar 1, 2008 - 21 answers

This one's for the Mrs: As a successful freelancer in a creative industry (writing-ish), is it enough to have a decent website and nice business cards, or is it worth it to a hire a graphic designer to come up with a business "brand" or "identity" for you? (And what should this involve besides just a logo?) [more inside]
posted by gottabefunky on Jan 8, 2008 - 11 answers

I would really like to get into brand and identity design. What are my best options? [more inside]
posted by milarepa on Dec 21, 2007 - 11 answers

If you had to walk away from your life in a split second, how would you start over? [more inside]
posted by Smarson on Dec 7, 2007 - 38 answers

Someone bought a telescope in my name on Nov 7th. That's all I know. How do I protect myself even though I don't know what store, or more importantly, what method of "payment" was used to complete the transaction? [more inside]
posted by JakeLL on Dec 4, 2007 - 11 answers

The financial problems of someone who shared my name and former address are showing up on my credit report! How do I even begin to go about disputing this, should the credit agency's investigation not go in my favor? [more inside]
posted by almostmanda on Dec 2, 2007 - 7 answers

I have recently discovered that my identity was stolen. Fifteen years ago. I know the person who did it, or I did ... fifteen years ago. [more inside]
posted by WolfDaddy on Oct 15, 2007 - 13 answers

Is my college being negligent about the safety of my housemate and myself? [more inside]
posted by SansPoint on Oct 3, 2007 - 27 answers

Now what? I disputed a debt as a case of mistaken identity, but I'm still hearing from the credit agency! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 16, 2007 - 10 answers

Who was Les Cripe? [more inside]
posted by seeka on Sep 10, 2007 - 13 answers

Identity Theft Filter: How do I convince debt collectors of my innocence concerning an outstanding debt in my name (that isn't mine)? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 25, 2007 - 15 answers

How much should I worry about having separate online and offline identities? [more inside]
posted by jacalata on Aug 7, 2007 - 35 answers

Can people access information on Geni.com to steal an identity? [more inside]
posted by GeneticFreek on Jul 19, 2007 - 2 answers

What are the benefits of affiliating or identifying with a subculture/culture? [more inside]
posted by philosophistry on Jul 8, 2007 - 28 answers

How exactly does authentication work in a website like Basecamp, or more generally, a site built on Rails or LAMP. When I sign-up, I enter a username and password. I presume this is stored in a database table. But after that, how does the server know who I am during the course of my 'visits' and how does the SQL database know what I have access to ( only my projects ) and what I don't have access to ( Other peoples projects)? Where do cookies, if at all, come into play. If cookies do come into play, can they not simply be forged? I am completely clueless regarding the subtleties of authentication, user sessions, and security. Please enlighten me.
posted by kaizen on Apr 27, 2007 - 20 answers

Should US DOJ I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms (and associated copies of ID) for employees of Company A transfer from Company A to company B if Company B buys Company A? Of course, there's [more inside]
posted by de void on Feb 6, 2007 - 4 answers

I've always been a late-blooming underachiever. Is it time to get off my butt and get out of my lousy part-time job, or should I keep my lousy part-time job because it gives me time to work on my book (I'm writing a novel)? [more inside]
posted by frosty_hut on Dec 15, 2006 - 10 answers

How can the identity of a web page creator be discovered?I have a problem with a local web page that is letting out sensitive cave locations and I want to try to contact the owner and let them know and perhaps inform/convince them to remove the problem. [more inside]
posted by plumberonkarst on Oct 21, 2006 - 11 answers