Why My Name on Quora is a Unique Experience

My name, Varun, is rather common in India. So much so that I never really thought about the implications of having a common name, especially on specific online platforms like Quora. After all, if your name is so widespread, what else could it add to your life? It'd only make you feel more common, and I figured that'd be it.

Searching for My Name on Quora

One day, I decided to do a simple search for my name on Quora, just out of curiosity. To my surprise, the search results did not reveal any other users with the exact same name as me. This discovery had several implications:

Uniqueness in a Sense: Not having users with the same name meant that people wouldn't have a tough time finding me if I ever became famous. However, the absence of such names also meant that my online profile, while unique, was potentially harder to find. Verification System: This also made me wonder why Quora, like Twitter and Facebook, does not have a verification system. This lack of verification could lead to impersonation, which is a serious concern on a knowledge-sharing platform.

In short, I scratched my head over the point of this search, given the implications it had.

My Quora Search Results

After typing my name in the search box, the results were fascinating:

Me: The first and most expected result was my own profile. Topic: The second result was a topic related to or created by a user with my name. Second Wave: The third and fourth results were duplicates of my name, followed by some pseudo-generic Tom Robison accounts, which made me pause. This was when the real search began.

It was then that I discovered a remarkable fact: there are exactly 50 people on Quora with the same name as me. This number includes 'Tom Robinson,' as well as several variations like 'Thomas Robinson' or 'Tommy Robinson.'

Impressions and Takeaways

While the existence of 50 or more 'Tom Robinsons' on Quora might seem like a nightmare, the uniqueness of my name makes me feel both unique and lonely. Here are my takeaways from this search:

Uniqueness Feeling: Being unique is good, but it also makes me feel lonely. I often wonder if 'Choudhary' wanted his sons' names to be synonymous with the Line of Control (LOC). Verification Issues: This search made me question the need for a verification system on platforms like Quora. Verification would help in ensuring that users are who they claim to be. Impact of Common Names: It's clear that having a common name on a platform like Quora can be advantageous. For instance, when I Google 'Habib F,' multiple images pop up of a man who coincidentally shares the name with an English rock musician, a LGBT figurehead, and even with characters and bands.

In conclusion, the search for my name on Quora provided an educational and amusing experience, highlighting the unique and common aspects of online presence and the importance of identity verification on knowledge-sharing platforms.