Unbound Edition - Have You Googled Yourself Lately?

Googling my name brings up Michele Parrish the dentist, Michele Parrish the life coach and, most notable, Michele Parrish the “female prison inmate looking for pen pals and new friends with whom to exchange letters and experiences.” Yikes. I barely show up at the end of the second page of results.

Where do you show up? And don't give me that, "I've never searched for myself," line. Admit it, you’ve Googled yourself more than a few times.

According to survey findings released yesterday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 47 percent of Internet users have “Googled” themselves online, 36 percent said they have searched the Web for someone with whom they've lost touch, and 9 percent have dug up information on someone they were dating.

Only 47 percent? Those numbers seem a little low. How often do you Google someone, including yourself? Does the plethora of personal information available online frighten you? Share your thoughts and comments below, and click here to vote!

I stalk myself
written by kristin, December 17, 2007 06:34 PM

Yeah, fine. So I Google myself, too. Apparently I designed an award winning substance abuse poster for a high school and am a medalist in the floor exercise for gymnastics somewhere. Most of the stuff is about The Actual Me, but it's still kind of creepy to see personal and professional stuff popping up and waving a howdy so easily.

Hello, Michele.
written by Prisoner Number 24601, December 17, 2007 06:37 PM

I've been missing you. Please write back.

Check Yoself Foo!
written by Damp Duvet, December 17, 2007 08:40 PM

I'm a badass judo champion in the 81 kg class. What's that, 180 pounds? Shweet.

And apparently I once told a reporter "we don't promote a healthy menu," when repping for Panera Bread. That must have been someone else. Yessiree.

Patrick Davis, The Musical
written by ptd, December 20, 2007 02:14 PM

I am an indie band. www.patrickdavismusic.com

The Patrick Davis Story
written by jean, December 20, 2007 03:59 PM

Cleveland rocks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvIP-QGSJdU

Alternate Lives
written by JLP, December 21, 2007 02:12 PM

We need a word for a person who shares your name: how about a "googleganger"? Use this for creepy coincidences.

For me, it's one of Martin Sheen's brother's pseudonyms: he stars in a film called "South of Reno" (plot synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes: "The hero is a laconic loser, a man who stops cars by throwing sharp objects onto the highway just so he'll have someone to talk to. He lives in a trailer home in the desert and dreams of relocating to Reno. But before he can reach that neon paradise, he must do something about the fact that his wife is flagrantly pursuing an affair with an auto mechanic.")

My name is Joe Phelan. I live in Reno.

Brilliant, Joe!
written by Dasher, December 21, 2007 03:36 PM

Yes, we must coin "googleganger." Love it.

And remind me to stay far the hell off the highway if I'm ever driving through Reno, lest you be bored and find yourself holding a random box of antlers.

...
written by Fruit du Bois, December 27, 2007 09:16 AM

I googled one of my Oxford tutors to check out his credibility and such (making sure I was getting my money's worth). I initially saw his name come up on MySpace Music, but he's got a common name, so I figured that wasn't him.

I tried again a few weeks later and clicked on the MySpace Music hit. It turned out to be my tutor. He was at one point (perhaps still is) the writer and singer of whiney sorrow songs . . . and it's brilliant!

When you google my name, the first few hits are a guy who wrote something for McSweeney's. I'll steal that for my resume!

pack rat
written by Theresa Voyles, January 14, 2008 01:47 PM

The Do It Yourself network recently named "me" the biggest pack rat in America. God help me if, like my counterpart, I lose functionality of my home. Before renovation, the dining room served as a home cosmetic store and the family was unable to park a single car in a two car garage. At first I thought the google search gave me results for my mother, a surefire collector of crap. I hope the DIY network didn't give this woman a trophy for her accomplishments.

google images
written by Theresa Voyles, January 14, 2008 01:49 PM

Has anyone ever searched for their name on google images? This yields some odd results.

My results...the first five pictures were tombstones. Great omen.