Repurposed avatars spur identity confusion

Blog · 18 February, 2008 · By Alexandra Samuel

I knew this charade couldn't last forever. Like lonelygirl15 and fake Steve Jobs before me, I went to great efforts to create a compelling illusion: not only an Alexandra Samuel blog, but a consistent profile on every online community site from del.icio.us to Facebook. Even a complete fake company with me as the fake CEO.

But today, the illusion is at an end. Darrell Houle has unmasked m

Even the Wayback Machine couldn't recover this image. Original image: Highrise tour by 37signals

Highrise tour by 37signals

e as.....Suzanna Cavatrio, copywriter for Enormicom.

Huh?

That's right, Darrell came across my alter ego on the tour page for Highrise , a CRM product from 37Signals , the makers of Basecamp . Check it out:

Even the Wayback Machine couldn't recover this image. Original image: Highrise tour by 37signals

Highrise tour by 37signals

I'm happy to take this re-purposing as a sign that someone at 37Signals saw my obsessive blog post about Basecamp workflow . Or maybe it's a tribute to the talented man behind the camera -- Kris Krug , who took the original photo . Maybe this is kk+'s chance to become official photographer for 37Signals?

You don't touch up a baby picture—you're a baby! — Stephen Sondheim