Online virtual identity.

So, for a long time, since I can first remember going online in 1985 or 1986, I've been nielsg. I use that ID everywhere I go.  And until a couple of years ago, it was pretty exclusive territory.

Until recently... I've been going to more and more sites, and trying to use nielsg, only to be told that name is unavailable. So, instinctively, I click reset password, put in my username nielsg, and wait patiently at my e-mail inbox for the ubiquitious click here to reset password.

Only to sit waiting endlessly for an email that will never come. Because, you see, my online virtual identity has been 'dupli-claimed' by some other Niels, whose last name also starts with G.

So now I have a quandry. So I started using ngoldste, ngoldstein, and a host of other variations on that theme.

But what exactly will be the solution? I like, and take great pride in, the NielsG moniker, and take umbrage to some of the sites and links found when you google NielsG. How do I convince people that online ID as revealed by google searches is no longer and really never has been Unique?

I am NOT Niles, as in the NilesG who happens to be a Rabbi in New York, for whom someone typo'd his ID as NielsG and now has links and re-links all over the place.

I am not NielsG (Gabriel) a much younger man who spends alot of time playing online forst person competitive shooter games...

I am not NielsG (from Denmark) though funny, I also happen to be of Danish decent...

I am not the sculpting, web designer, who rides a skateboard as seen on this Flickr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32372690@N00/)...

I do not play Grand Tourismo with any skill what-so-ever (http://www.granturismobynumbers.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001809.html)...

So, who am I? Click here... http://www.facebook.com/#!/niels.goldstein or keep reading my blog to find out more...
- posted by nielsg @ 8:33 AM