Will the real "Joshua Baer" please stand up?

For all of my childhood, I was the only Joshua Baer.

Sometime in high school, my cousin sent me a picture of the sign in front of Joshua Baer & Co, an art dealer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. And I realized that I was not the only Joshua Baer in the world. My innocence was shattered.

10 years later I set up a Google alert for "Joshua Baer". Except for the occasional message about the art dealer, I only received alerts about myself.

Then last year I joined Facebook and was surprised to see 26 other Joshua Baers! From their pictures and school info, they all seem to be much younger than me - most graduated after 2000. LinkedIn shows 5 other Joshua Baers. I can't figure out how to find Joshua Baers on MySpace.

Are my Google alerts doomed to be polluted with news about other Joshua Baers?

I have joshuabaer.com and joshbaer.com and @baer.name. I have joshuabaer on twitter and on MySpace and on Linkedin. But how long can I keep it up?

Will the real "Joshua Baer" please stand up?

Comments

[Damon Cali]

Just the other day, a woman contacted me looking for the other Damon Cali. Surely, there aren't more than two...

[joshua baer]

Dear Joshua Baer - Thank you for the invitation. I am standing up, but I think there is room in the world for more than one "real" Joshua Baer. (I happen to be the one in Santa Fe.) Here's an idea. Let's interview each other about the pros and cons of sharing the same name. We can give each other final cut rights to the interview. After we finish the interview, you can publish it in your world and I can publish it in mine. "Joshua Baer Interviews Joshua Baer." I would read that. Best wishes to you and your family. - Joshua Baer

[Kelly Kane]

I too, can relate. Kelly Kane is a SUPER popular name, but I never knew that. A few years ago, I was on vacation at a small island in Rhode Island, and another Kelly Kane was getting my mail and vice versa! I even called someone who sent a vague postcard because I thought I knew them... but I didn't.

At least you're winning the Google alerts battle!

[Silona]

Um yea I can sooo relate. The first time I ever found another silona was on the net. Actually chatted with a young gal in Israel for awhile since we both wanted silona@yahoo.com :-)

[Joe Doyle]

Fun post!

But you are lucky – you could have it the opposite way. I'm one of a bazillion Joe Doyles in the world, but I was the first to register my name (in '98). I get at least a half dozen requests per year – most notably was from the guitarist of the popular Irish band, The Frames.