Every now and then I get recognized by people whom I've never met. This usually happens within the context of the Microsoft puzzle community, sometimes within the context of board gaming, and it's even happened because of this blog.
It's weird.
Celebrities-- real celebrities, who make a living from being in the public eye-- come to expect this and learn how to respond to it. Fans don't expect celebrities to know who they are, and so the celeb can just smile graciously and thank the fan for his support. But when someone recognizes me and I have no idea who they are, I feel like a jerk.
It happened twice today at the company picnic while roaming through the annual puzzle event held there. At two different locations, staffers I'd never met (as far as I can recall) made comments implying a familiarity with who I am. Always in a complimentary way, but it was rather disorienting. I don't see myself as a celebrity, not even a minor one. But within a very small, niche community, I have a certain degree of visibility that apparently makes me a kind of microcelebrity. When I was publishing The Game Report I went through a period where people at gaming events recognized my name, and I understood that. But this recognition by sight is just... weird.
So to put my world back into balance, if you're reading this and we know each other, and we cross paths in the next day or so, I'd appreciate it if you'd feign unfamiliarity.
Posted by Peter at July 22, 2007 9:40 PMMy sympathies on this. I've found myself in similar situations, as I have some small amount of fame (or notoriety?) as both a fantasy novelist and videogame producer. My reaction in these circumstances is just to apologize profusely: "I'm sorry, I'm being a total space cadet today, could you say your name again?"
Honestly, though, overall, the fan reaction makes me rather uncomfortable. I don't feel like I've done anything to merit that kind of attention, and I have a pretty high level of discomfort with how our modern society deals with any form of celebrity, however minor.
---Ellen
Posted by: Ellen Beeman on July 23, 2007 6:31 AMI wouldn't mind so much if it weren't for the damned micropaparazzi! And those tiny little tabloid articles!
Posted by: Dug on July 23, 2007 7:07 AMSINCE THIS MUST BE GENETIC, PERHAPS YOU CAN DO WHAT I DO...."PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I AM AWFUL AT REMEMBERING NAMES AND WHERE HAVE WE MET BEFORE". tHIS HAPPENS TO ME LOTS AFTER I APPEAR IN A PLAY AND PEOPLE WHO MAY BELONG TO THE SAME GROUPS THAT I BELONG TO COME UP TO ME. I USUALLY HAVE NO CLUE WHERE I KNOW THEM FROM, SO I USE THIS STATEMENT. HOPE IT HELPS NEXT TIME. MOM
Posted by: Barbara Sarrett on July 23, 2007 1:18 PMI "knew" you before I actually met you, Peter, but I didn't realize it until I really knew you. So all weirdness was avoided. But the potential was there. I think your niche is a little bigger than you admit to.
Posted by: Nathan on July 23, 2007 4:02 PMi promise to dismiss your very presence the next time i see you. when they ask, "who is that tall fellow?" i'll respond, "why, i haven't the faintest idea. no one of significance i'm sure." and then glide away with an unimpressed air about me as i contemplate my next run on sentence.
Posted by: dana on July 23, 2007 5:48 PMI understand the comments, Peter, especially after having people walk up to me when I'm working a convention floor in L.A. with comments on how they liked the Puzzlehunt I helped host.
That said, however, I'm afraid I have little sympathy since I've had this problem for a very long time, even before I did anything of very minor "microcelebrity" noteworthiness.
Try being a twin.
I've had people walk up to me who apparently know me very well and talk to me for 15 minutes or more. All the time I'm wondering... you act like you know me, but I don't have a clue who you are. Should I be rude and tell you that? It could be that you know my twin. Or it could be that I really am quite rude. Is it you, or is it me? Hmm...
No sympathy.
Posted by: Jesse McGatha on July 25, 2007 2:21 PM