I think that the mistaking of one human for another can just be to do with the amount of information we take in, and the connections we make. Eg when I was a child there were some fraternal twins in my class, and the teachers always mixed them up even though, apart from the broader features like height, colouring, eye-colour, the twins were very different, especially facially. I could never understand why the teachers mixed them up, but that was probably because the teachers were experiencing the children in a class of 32, so were just noticing the general features. If you have been mistaken for someone else (I have, a couple of times, but not as persistently as you were at college) I think you feel a worrying loss of control. What might the "other" do? Plenty of TV shows have played with this idea, where the hero acquires a doppelganger and all sorts of trouble ensues before the situation is resolved!
Did you ever read "William Wilson" by Poe, Kate? That's a good one.
Thanks again for a super podcast. Really enjoyed it.
I haven’t read that since university…completely forgot about it. Great rec to add to the mix! Thanks a lot Jules. Apologies, on the train home now and just getting back to messages. Thanks so much for listening. I think you’re right about the control aspect, and that was before social media.
Ha yes he’s been great! We continued watching him from France when we could. Thanks, I had a great time! Though we didn’t watch any finals, the races were exciting and the atmosphere was incredible. The crowd was cheering like mad for everyone in every event.
Great thoughts, Jules. I can attest to the teacher viewpoint: I've had several instances of twins in my cohorts over the last few years. This year I had a pair of twins split across two different classes and at first I thought it was just the same guy turning up for a second class to learn the material better (I run a large unit so have to teach across multiple workshops), but then I said this to him and he laughed and said "oh, no, haha, that's just my twin", which made me feel a bit stupid. But then by the end of semester I could also see how different they actually were.
It’s incredibly difficult with students! Sometimes not even twins. I always feel awful when I do this but it’s just human error. We try to laugh about it :)
I feel for you Nathan. It is really discombobulating when it becomes clear that you’ve got it wrong. It has happened to me. I’ve also had people swear to me that they have seen my absolute double in the local area. That is strangely unnerving too 😊
Didn't get to finish writing yesterday, but this was all excellent, in-depth and interesting Kate. Always been fascinated by the subject, but you take it to some extra places here!
Quite eerie to hear of your own doppelganger experience at uni. I've never had such myself, though Jo always jokes that I have facial blindness so I'd perhaps not even recognise myself! 😆
Ha, that’s funny. Maybe you don’t know about it! I do think sometimes it’s the mannerisms more than anything, but then this cannot be captured as well in a photograph or quick sighting. Thanks for the kind words, Nathan! Apologies for just getting to you both now. Busy week(s).
I think that the mistaking of one human for another can just be to do with the amount of information we take in, and the connections we make. Eg when I was a child there were some fraternal twins in my class, and the teachers always mixed them up even though, apart from the broader features like height, colouring, eye-colour, the twins were very different, especially facially. I could never understand why the teachers mixed them up, but that was probably because the teachers were experiencing the children in a class of 32, so were just noticing the general features. If you have been mistaken for someone else (I have, a couple of times, but not as persistently as you were at college) I think you feel a worrying loss of control. What might the "other" do? Plenty of TV shows have played with this idea, where the hero acquires a doppelganger and all sorts of trouble ensues before the situation is resolved!
Did you ever read "William Wilson" by Poe, Kate? That's a good one.
Thanks again for a super podcast. Really enjoyed it.
I haven’t read that since university…completely forgot about it. Great rec to add to the mix! Thanks a lot Jules. Apologies, on the train home now and just getting back to messages. Thanks so much for listening. I think you’re right about the control aspect, and that was before social media.
Hope you had a wonderful time! 😀I have, largely because of MJ but I watched a bit of the sport too! 😆
Have a safe journey x
Ha yes he’s been great! We continued watching him from France when we could. Thanks, I had a great time! Though we didn’t watch any finals, the races were exciting and the atmosphere was incredible. The crowd was cheering like mad for everyone in every event.
Ah that's excellent. Must have been great to be there. Very eventful - there's always a drama!
Great thoughts, Jules. I can attest to the teacher viewpoint: I've had several instances of twins in my cohorts over the last few years. This year I had a pair of twins split across two different classes and at first I thought it was just the same guy turning up for a second class to learn the material better (I run a large unit so have to teach across multiple workshops), but then I said this to him and he laughed and said "oh, no, haha, that's just my twin", which made me feel a bit stupid. But then by the end of semester I could also see how different they actually were.
It’s incredibly difficult with students! Sometimes not even twins. I always feel awful when I do this but it’s just human error. We try to laugh about it :)
I feel for you Nathan. It is really discombobulating when it becomes clear that you’ve got it wrong. It has happened to me. I’ve also had people swear to me that they have seen my absolute double in the local area. That is strangely unnerving too 😊
Didn't get to finish writing yesterday, but this was all excellent, in-depth and interesting Kate. Always been fascinated by the subject, but you take it to some extra places here!
Quite eerie to hear of your own doppelganger experience at uni. I've never had such myself, though Jo always jokes that I have facial blindness so I'd perhaps not even recognise myself! 😆
Ha, that’s funny. Maybe you don’t know about it! I do think sometimes it’s the mannerisms more than anything, but then this cannot be captured as well in a photograph or quick sighting. Thanks for the kind words, Nathan! Apologies for just getting to you both now. Busy week(s).
No need to apologise :)
Equally busy week(s) here!
Only just started this, but whew it's a scary thought to be imitated deliberately by someone!
Ha YES. For me as well.